Legacy of Kain: Ascendance Review – Thin Blood

They are saying vampires don’t have any reflections, however Legacy of Kain: Ascendance definitely prompted plenty of it on my half. I’ve liked this collection since I used to be however a wee bairn, so the primary new entry in over 20 years naturally caught my consideration.

Ascendance looks like the best title for developer Bit Bot Media’s sidescroller, in portent if not in high quality. After lovingly-crafted remasters (though not everybody agrees) of three of Legacy of Kain‘s greatest releases, that is an all-new title that explores hitherto-unseen moments within the saga of Kain and Raziel.

Whether or not it was clever to is, after all, one other matter. Legacy of Kain: Ascendance clearly desires to honor its vampiric sires, but it surely’s combating some fairly main issues that threaten to defang what may in any other case be a lordly return to type.

I Do not Assume Legacy of Kain: Ascendance‘s Story Must Exist

Earlier than I proceed, let me put my playing cards on the desk. I have been an enormous Legacy of Kain fan since Soul Reaver confused and delighted me in equal measure again within the PlayStation days. With that stated, I am undecided I am fully following the more and more convoluted canon of the story.

Bear that in thoughts after I say that I simply do not suppose Ascendance tells a narrative that should exist. It is a prequel, which already places it on skinny ice, but it surely’s additionally a prequel that makes an attempt to fill in gaps that had been higher off unfilled.

The narrative revolves across the vampire Elaleth, who first appeared within the graphic novel The Useless Shall Rise. You will get the possibility to play as a pre-vampiric (and pre-wraith) Raziel, too, however that is Elaleth’s present.

I will not spoil an excessive amount of, however suffice it to say that I discovered Elaleth to be irritating in that Nero-from-Satan Might Cry manner; she feels an excessive amount of like a self-conscious try to fit a brand new character right into a narrative that does not want her, and that positive aspects nothing from her presence.

In true Legacy of Kain vogue, the story in Ascendance is somewhat tough to comply with should you’re not already well-versed within the franchise’s labyrinthine lore, however even if you’re, the methods it redundantly revisits scenes from throughout Soul Reaver‘s historical past feels somewhat smug.

Do not get me fallacious. It is good to be again in Legacy of Kain‘s world, and the highfalutin, quasi-Shakespearean tone of the collection is undamaged right here (barring one or two extraordinarily unlucky referential gags). I simply discovered that each time Ascendance confirmed me a scene from a earlier recreation, I wanted I had been taking part in that as a substitute.

Platforming in Legacy of Kain: Ascendance Is High-quality, however Uninspired

At its core, Legacy of Kain: Ascendance is a throwback pixel-art platformer alongside the strains of final yr’s Ninja Gaiden Ragebound. There’s nary a touch of Metroidvania to be discovered right here; every degree is strictly linear, and you’ll decide up collectibles without having to revisit phases armed with new powers.

The platforming itself is not a lot to write down dwelling about. It is a fairly simplistic affair through which you will navigate largely unremarkable ranges set in opposition to backdrops like a Sarafan vampire hunter camp or a lordly crypt.

A couple of minor annoyances mar the core platforming, nevertheless. There’s, so far as I am conscious, no solution to look down earlier than making a leap, and on condition that Ascendance expects you to leap into a few of its chasms for secrets and techniques and exploration, that is a difficulty.

It is also not potential to skip any of Ascendance‘s cutscenes (once more, so far as I am conscious). It is a Legacy of Kain recreation, so the cutscenes are prolonged and quite a few, and when you completely should not be skipping any of them the primary time round, it is a completely different story when collectible-hunting.

There’s additionally fight in Ascendance, and, very like the platforming, it really works okay. Enemies can reliably be trusted to die whenever you hit them a bunch of instances, and there is a very workmanlike parry mechanic that serves its goal, though it would not do something new or completely different.

Fight turns into routine shortly, although, due to an issue that appears to be affecting plenty of video games lately, particularly an absence of enemy selection. You will be combating the identical Sarafan vampire hunters and demonic beasties for many of Ascendance‘s criminally quick runtime.

There’s Not A lot Meat on Legacy of Kain: Ascendance‘s Bones

If you will get previous the aforementioned points and discover one thing to get pleasure from in Legacy of Kain: Ascendance, there’s not a lot so that you can do right here, sadly.

Ascendance packs a handful of short-to-medium-length ranges, and there are just a few collectibles to seek out in every, though doing so seemingly will not tax your mind too laborious. Some ranges culminate in boss fights which are over too shortly, whereas others simply finish abruptly.

There are additionally a grand complete of two PlayStation-inspired 3D sequences that really feel like tacked-on gimmicks; whereas one is a pleasant alternative to discover Legacy of Kain‘s backstory, the opposite is a glorified quick-time occasion that is over earlier than it is begun.

You will discover a vary of problem ranges right here, however they do not add a lot. This is not a Ragebound scenario whereby more durable difficulties add fully new enemy configurations; you are coping with elevated injury somewhat than elevated complexity.

You may, after all, all the time return to earlier ranges and hunt for secrets and techniques, but it surely’s not a lot enjoyable doing so. Collectibles are strewn throughout multi-stage ranges, and you’ll’t revisit particular phases, which, mixed with non-skippable cutscenes, means it is a chore to revisit ranges.

Legacy of Kain: Ascendance Assessment | Remaining Ideas

“Profoundly inessential” shouldn’t be the way in which I hoped to explain the primary Legacy of Kain recreation in over 20 years, however that is the phrase that involves thoughts, sadly. A strong rating by electro-industrial outfit Celldweller cannot reserve it, both.

It isn’t a horrible recreation by any stretch, however its rote platforming, weak and inconsequential story, and irritating lack of quality-of-life options imply it is one just for absolute Kain devotees. Sadly, Ascendance‘s greatest moments simply made me wish to return and play earlier video games within the collection as a substitute.

Legacy of Kain: Ascendance was reviewed on PC with a duplicate offered by the writer over the course of round 6 hours of gameplay. All screenshots had been taken through the technique of assessment.