Legacy of Kain: Ascendance

We deserve better than Legacy of Kain: Ascendance.

Is this a worthy addition to the Soul Reaver cannon? The retro action platformer design is a strange choice for a game world that inherently screams Metroidvania and the tacked on backstory is one I’m not sure we needed as much as we did a continuation. Don’t get me wrong, as a massive fan of the Soul Reaver franchise I feel like Nosgoth is one of the most underutilised game settings and, as with most fans, I’ve always wanted more games set in this universe. The Soul Reaver games has some of the best writing, music and voice acting in gaming and who wouldn’t want more on that level. And as much as I would love to continue immersing myself in Nosgoths fantastic world, I’m not sure this was the best way in which to have done it.

A lot of this could probably have been forgiven if Ascendance had delivered a stronger story. It wouldn’t magically fix the wildly inconsistent gameplay, but at least it would have given me a reason to come back for a second playthrough and really sink into the narrative. Unfortunately, that just isn’t the case, and good voice acting alone isn’t enough to carry a replay for me. This isn’t an interactive story where the narrative is the main attraction, like a Telltale game, nor does it have the storytelling weight of something like The Last of Us. When both the gameplay and the story stumble, all that’s left is the lingering question of why this needed to be a Legacy of Kain game at all.

Legacy of Kain: Ascendance is a painful example of how not to revive a legendary series. Phenomenal music, strong voice acting, and a few nostalgic flashes cannot save it from clumsy controls, repetitive 2D platforming, shallow combat, technical issues, and a story that feels painfully disconnected from what once made Nosgoth so special.

For players who want to delve a little deeper into the Legacy of Kain universe, this is a great opportunity to explore its lore.

Even setting aside the technical limitations and the artistic confusion, it is the narrative shortcomings that deliver the most painful disappointment. While I can appreciate the intention and the effort, this is definitely not the right direction to breathe new life into the saga.

Kain deserves more, and I hope this doesn’t deter them from revisiting it. Give the game to an established team with a larger budget and restore the legacy the series left behind. For now, I simply cannot recommend this game, even to hardest of hardcore fans.

Fast-paced 2D action game set in the beloved Legacy of Kain universe

Legacy of Kain: Ascendance is an excruciating disappointment that won’t satisfy fans or appeal to newcomers. There could be a good game within the prequel setting but what we got isn’t even close to that. Even if you could excuse the confusing story with it’s baffling choice to retcon certain plot points, it still doesn’t make up for the terrible gameplay, horrendous level design and bizarre presentation choices.

Legacy of Kain: Ascendance is a game that frankly doesn’t just tarnish the franchise but outright hurts it. It feels like a cheap cash-in based on a polarizing graphic novel with no love and care for the series it’s representing. Waiting twenty-three years for this to be released feels like a massive slap in the face for fans. ​There’s only a boring and trite time to be had with this title, where the only good aspects are the soundtrack and the voice acting. The only other accolade I can gift Ascendance is that it has managed to dethrone Legacy of Kain: Blood Omen 2 as the most dislikable title in the franchise. Hopefully, the fanbase can just emulate Raziel and forget this ever happened.