Legacy of Kain: Defiance

November 11, 2003(22 years ago)·Full Release

★

8.1

75 user ratings

★

8.1

75 critic ratings

★★★★★★★★★★

⭐

VOTES

Genres: Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Adventure

Platforms: PC, PS2, XBOX

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Screenshots

ActionHorrorSingle playerThird personESRB RPPEGIUSK 16

Summary

Legacy of Kain: Defiance is an action-adventure title created by Crystal Dynamics and launched in 2003. It serves as the fifth installment in the Legacy of Kain series, furthering the connected narratives of Kain and Raziel. The gameplay allows players to switch between the two main characters, each offering unique skills and fighting techniques. Set in a dark fantasy world, the game blends exploration, problem-solving, and quick, intense hand-to-hand combat.

Storyline

Defiance picks up directly where Soul Reaver 2 left off. In Soul Reaver 2, Kain saved Raziel’s life by removing the Soul Reaver from him—Raziel was destined to be absorbed into the blade and become its spectral, soul-consuming counterpart. This act creates a paradox that distorts time and ultimately drives a wedge between Kain and Raziel. Kain’s journey in the game leads him to seek out Moebius the Time Streamer, a mystical time traveler, for answers about Raziel’s whereabouts and the changes he has made to time. Following a clue from Moebius, Kain ventures into a Vampire stronghold. Along the way, he locates and restores a shattered talisman belonging to a Vampire construct known as the Balance Emblem. As he progresses, Kain uncovers ancient murals that recount the earliest conflict in Nosgoth between the first inhabitants—the Ancient Vampires and the Hylden. After the Ancients imprisoned the Hylden in an alternate realm using the Pillars of Nosgoth, the Hylden retaliated by cursing the Ancients with bloodlust, sterility, and immortality, transforming them into the first Vampires. The murals also foretell the rise of champions from both races: a Vampire champion bearing the Soul Reaver, and a Hylden champion wielding a flaming sword. Since Kain wields the physical Soul Reaver, he comes to believe he is the prophesied Vampire champion. The result of the impending clash between the two champions remains uncertain.