"A new sister retcons Nosgoth, and the controls slide"
About
A 2D action-platformer set in the Legacy of Kain universe, built around vampiric powers, vertical wing-flap movement, and a parry. You play across twelve chapters as four characters, including new protagonist Elaleth alongside Kain and two versions of Raziel, with the original voice cast returning. The combat is melee-focused with collectible lore scattered through largely linear stages.
Verdict
The returning voice cast and a handful of crunchy Reaver swings can't dig this out from under sluggish controls, button-mash combat, and a retcon that bolts a new character onto events the series already settled. The promised Metroidvania never arrives, and the four playable characters all handle the same. Even fans buying it out of loyalty admit they overpaid.
You'll like it if …
- +the original Legacy of Kain voice cast returning is enough to pull you in
- +you enjoy short 2D action-platformers carried by pixel art and a strong soundtrack
You'll dislike it if …
- −you want combat that rewards precision and tactical thought over button-mashing
- −you expect the promised Metroidvania exploration rather than linear stages
- −retcons that reshape established series lore bother you as a longtime fan
Breakdown
- +The Reaver's swing delivers satisfying impact on connect
- −Heavy, unresponsive movement makes basic navigation feel sluggish
- −Combat collapses into button-mashing well before the end, with the parry and vertical flap never deepening into anything requiring thought
- −Bad hit detection and unreliable attack registration turn fights into frustration rather than skill
- +Four playable characters across twelve chapters offer structural variety
- −All four characters share one identical, shallow moveset with no meaningful differences
- −A first run lands around four hours, and a second playthrough exists only to mop up achievements with no reason to engage with collectibles again
- −The promised Metroidvania never arrives
- +Original voice cast returns and anchors the story
- −Elaleth's retcon rewrites established events and reads as fan fiction that diminishes Kain and Raziel's agency
- −Lore collectibles drew accusations of AI-generated filler, and even sympathetic reads call it nostalgia without coherence
- −Repetitive enemy barks and rough audio mixing chip at dialogue clarity
- +Pixel art and character portraits show genuine craft
- +Soundtrack largely works and earned near-universal agreement
- −Walk cycles draw mockery and character faces sit oddly proportioned
- −Tonal mismatch between 2D, 3D, and animated segments leaves the presentation unsettled
- −Bad hit detection, softlocks, and failed checkpoint saves stack up into constant friction
- −Missing basics: no options menu, no rebinds, no cutscene skip, suggesting a release shipped before finishing
- −Twenty euros for three to twelve hours at this quality is poor value, with reviewers advising a heavy discount or to skip entirely
score
