Legacy of Kain: Defiance PS2

The ill-fated land of Nosgoth is again the setting for the latest chapter in Crystal Dynamics' gothic adventure series. As usual, dark forces are looming and threatening to condemn the realm to eternal damnation, but this time a new culprit is responsible, in the form of Hylden. And so, lending a new slant to the proceedings, long time arch-nemeses Kain and Raziel must unite, fight side-by-side and do battle with this new evil, which threatens to destroy their very existence. Consequently, the game's plot unravels in alternating chapters, with you taking control of each of the unholy protagonists respectively. The gameplay throughout borrows a great deal from past games in the series, having you explore and leap your way through gothic, platform-filled environments, defeating hordes of gruesome enemies, and making use of an array of supernatural powers. There's also the same emphasis on the sucking of blood (Kain) and devouring of souls (Raziel) in order to maintain energy levels and acquire abilities, meaning that each character must regularly take time out to 'feed' off his victims. Where Defiance treads new territory compared to previous chapters in the series is in its emphasis on fierce, fast-paced battles. The combat system has been completely re-vamped, providing each character with a great deal more fighting moves and allowing players to partake in large-scale battles with multiple enemies. A quick tap of the R1 button allows you to cycle through the different targets, onto which you can then unleash an array of combos, jump attacks and telekinetic assaults. Legacy of Kain: Defiance represents an obvious and well-conceived next step for the popular series, adding a gripping new chapter to the franchise whilst retaining its dark and involving themes, as well as its overly-serious attitude. After all, when all these bad dudes have British accents you know they mean business.