Remake Legacy of Kain: Blood Omen

Little Green Box - ep 039
Today Sony is set to announce remastered of The Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver games, and while that's exciting to some, I would prefer to see Blood Omen make a comeback.

[@waynetemplar2183]

Remaking Blood Omen as a full 3D 3rd person game would be a big undertaking and I'd buy it at the drop of a hat

[@LittleGreenBoxShow]

In AAA song prestige style? Take my money. I’ll buy the stupid deluxe edition.

[@porkins1202]

I think if anything Blood Omen deserves the full remake treatment. Providing they keep the story as it was, but I would be OK with them changing the ending or fixing it to one of the endings to make it line up with the rest of the franchise. However I think some of the reasoning for the Soul Reaver remasters came from that you cannot currently purchase the first game anywhere. The rest are on GOG and might require a bit of fiddling but you can purchase them. They would run on my mobile phone better than the original hardware. Edit* Just remembered the first blood omen is also available on the evercade system. I know its a £100 entry fee but the option is there

[@gilgamesh310]

The final encounter with Mortanius should be changed, as the dialogue in the version that got made, doesn’t make much sense. The Hylden seem undecided on whether they want Kain dead or alive too. That could be made more clear.

[@takerweapon1]

I'm hoping that's the route they're going for the other games of the series. However they might want to pour a lot more story elements in terms building the other remakes. Like becoming open world action rpgs similar to God of War: Ragnarok. A large open world with side quests and other content.

[@LittleGreenBoxShow]

I saw that on evercade. That’s a fairly recent development, yeah?

[@arturdobosz1999]

@@LittleGreenBoxShow Blood Omen is also available on GOG nowadays.:)

[@Ponce1656]

I agree. I've always thought this. Seriously, just re-release an HD port of Blood Omen and pair it with this remaster bundle. Or with updated graphics if you prefer, but how are you gonna introduce new people to the series and its world through its second installment with no prior context? That was understandable back in the day because Blood Omen was readily available ALONGSIDE Soul Reaver on hardware perfectly capable of running it without hassle or hurdles to jump. But I'm betting most people unfamiliar with the series didn't even pick up on the state of play announcement that it's on PS plus because they don't even know it is a part of the series. It wasn't even positioned as the prequel to the remasters they just announced. Now, even if they don't get PS plus, they still won't know Blood Omen's relevance to the soul reaver experience unless they decide to research the series. All in all, i'm so happy we're getting these remasters but it strikes me as odd we couldn't even hype up Blood Omen or bundle it with this package to give new players the full story. I just want the whole franchise remade/ported so you can go through it in a single weekend. Sorry, that was a bit long and more vitriolic than I intended.

[@LittleGreenBoxShow]

I feel you. I know the Soul Reaver games are likely more popular and what people think of when they think "PlayStation" but it feels like a missed opportunity.

[@The_Elbinho]

I would also have preferred Blood Omen. On a completely different note: If the games wouldn't have had fully voiced audio, not only wouldn't they have been the masterpieces they are, also you would have me seriously doubting how to pronounce Raziel 😂

[@LittleGreenBoxShow]

I guess I should go back and listen to how they say it in game. Haha

[@Soul_Free]

Where did you get those concept pictures? Are they really from some lost project? I would like to find them and learn more. An d about Blood Omen, it will be a tragedy for prospective new players to entirely jump into the series from Soul Reaver and never look back, because the series uses the plot and lore of Blood Omen as a backbone, and every single reveal, twist and comeback from the rest of the series carries so much more weight and drama if you played the first game. You truly feel, when Raziel speaks of Kain's past, or when Kain himself speaks of it, that you were there, that you lived through these plot shaping events, as Kain himself.

[@LittleGreenBoxShow]

Being able to see why Kain is the way he is, also re-contextualizes his actions you might think purely villainous.

[@LittleGreenBoxShow]

Also, these are concepts I generated using a combo of reference footage from the game, and Midjourney.

[@thequestion210]

Isn't DEI in the title? Legacy of Kain: BlooD OmEIn

[@Kain9407]

You people are ridiculous...

[@emanuelfigueroa414]

I'm with you there. (If these were books), why would you start in the second book of a (with defiance) four book set? There might be more, but I digress. People are going to miss the setup and have no idea why the characters are the way they are and are doing what each on their way were motivated to do. Also, please don't kill it with dei nonsense

[@LittleGreenBoxShow]

It's true, you're skipping important stuff. But I don't really know what you mean by "DEI nonsense."

[@emanuelfigueroa414]

@LittleGreenBoxShow sweet baby inc. Kotaku and all that other gender bending/swapping. "transfat" ingredients ruining the appetite of gamers (myself included) today

[@LittleGreenBoxShow]

@@emanuelfigueroa414 Sorry to disappoint, but my personal feelings are game developers should infuse whatever level of personal beliefs and values they want into their work, and the market will decide wether or not it succeeds. I personally support the LGBTQ+ community, and believe the rights of the transgender community are human rights. I appreciate you checking out my video and engaging with me in this discussion though, and I hope we can find some common ground to agree on.

[@emanuelfigueroa414]

@LittleGreenBoxShow how are you disappointmenting me? Being a gen x, I actually come from a time where we can all have a civil conversation with differences of opinions and still be friends and friendly. This is why me and my couple of L and G friends get along so well. (spoiler alert they are tired of the BS in gaming, too) my point, and this was actually a conversation we were having, is that they are so wrapped up in the diversity that they forgot that what makes a good book, movie, game, whatever is the damn story it's trying to sell. I don't care that you're gay, fat, or whatever as long as there is a reason for/in the story. If developers and such want to just push an agenda instead of a good story, then don't complain when the buyer's are spending their money elsewhere and companies are going broke. Case and point look at the movie The BirdCage. That movie is my top ten movies. The movie had a great story. If you don't understand my point then watch the movie Hopefully, we can have this conversation with deferring opinions, understand one another, and walk away better people for it.

[@CommanderRedEXE]

​@LittleGreenBoxShow You can support the community and dislike the forced representation and uglyfying of females, and the activism as it's clearly at this point Bern causing more harm to relations than good, but also every game SBI and DEI are used in (except BG3 as that one game didn't force it down everyone's throat like say Dustborn did) have been financial flops to the point most dev teams are not refusing to work with these activists SBI type companies. Games need to be fun first and foremost, well written Secondly. Politics should never be of any importance in gaming except where tying into the story. If your personal beliefs cannot fit coherently and unforced into the story, without breaking immersion, then no, they don't belong. Mind you, I have plenty of LGBT and even Trans friends who agree with this sentiment.

[@Krooksbane]

If they remastered the same game (BO) with updated UI and graphic redesign, I’d still buy and play it. However! If they actually remade the game into a 3D version, I’d be over the moon.

[@xXxArcher13xXx]

I agree, I mean obviously they remastered the Soul Reaver games bc they are the most well known or remembered titles with the most unique hero... but I hope this is only one of the first steps to bringing back this IP! I'd love a Blood Omen full on remake with third person and a world that plays like Metroid Prime ode the Jedi Fallen Order Games....so not a full open word that wouldn't fit and would take away from the story. And the story must stay untouched of course. Honestly I think it would be a big success SR 1 also deserves a full remake and I hope it all leads to a new title!

[@KasperSOlesen]

I can only recommend Blood Omnicide a Blood Omen engine remake... only made it to version 0.1 but you can at least play some of the game this way making it more 3D and support more modern effects. Seems its the closest thing we will probably get to a remake of the game the next 3-5 years.

[@LittleGreenBoxShow]

Thanks for the tip

[@henningeide8355]

The main voice actor (who later voiced the abyss) sadly passed, he'll be hard to replace.

[@waynetemplar2183]

Simon Templeman who voiced Kain is still alive to my knowledge. Tony Jay who played the role of the Elder God in Soul Reaver sadly passed away a number of years ago

[@Thedamnram44]

I at least need a combo system

[@gilgamesh310]

There is a version of this coming to PlayStation premium. I’m not sure if it will have the fucked up loading times of the earlier PlayStation releases, though. I’m replaying it on PC now.

[@williamfields8452]

Blood omen remake would be insane! Let's do away with the birds eye view and go completely 3D and immerse ourselves in the darkest, bloodyist atmosphere. I can't even begin to imagine what this art would look like. But I know one thing, it would be eye candy!

[@evilsohn]

Blood Omen was such an awesome game. While there are no remakes/remasters announced yet, the State of Play DID announce that you can play the OG via PS plus

[@Kain9407]

The new games are remasters, not remakes. If they sell well there is a chance we might get an actual Blood Omen remake.

[@dartfrogger]

OMG I had no idea about the remake announcements... but I was thinking they should remake Blood Omen the other day!!! What are the chances?!? At least we can support the soul reaver remakes.. and maybe we'll get to see a blood omen release

[@donzela2464]

I agree. A blood Omen one in style of God of war would be incredible.

[@Marcustheseer]

o am glad they remade the soulreavers i already pre ordered but i was never realy that much a fan of raziel my main guy is kain. if we also get a blood omen remake i wil lose my shit and be very happy,and i dont get that exited fast. did you know that the beginning red letters of blood omen are actualy from alistar crowly,look the guy up not so much of a fun guy abit of a strange satanist but it does fit blood omen. what i realy want is a final chapter to the series i want kain to restore the balance of the land whatever that is and takes,i want a follow up to defiance. i dont want them to rush it and make it crap i want them to take as long as they need to come up with a good quality story ending. the thing with the soulreavers is there pretty easy to remake blood omen isnt not if you want to make it like soulreaver,i would even be happy if they remade it from above again just with better graphics,if they made it like diablo 4 id be oke with it. for those who wanna play the classic blood omen its on gog on pc,i started playing it again but i didnt finish it yet.

[@LittleGreenBoxShow]

Same! I also preordered to show support for Kain. Haha

[@Slampbell]

Also who designed (or generated) those remake stills? They look AI but they're itching a very satisfying spot in my brain.

[@LittleGreenBoxShow]

I did. Combining cutscene shots with dozens of iterations in Midjourney.

[@Slampbell]

@@LittleGreenBoxShow As an artist, I'm not pessimistic about applications for AI. I think this is great because it inspired me to do some of my own work and communicates the idea well.

[@LittleGreenBoxShow]

@Slampbell good take. I’m certainly against replacing artists. But I like to embrace new tech and tools for the use of storytelling.

[@FeastOvAnubis13]

I wish,it's the best game

[@Fluckinoob]

I love the series but i think soul reaver does things that blood omen doesnt. You have the realm switching, the puzzles, the combat. Outside of it being more known and things its also just easier without having to reinvent the wheel. This could also mean buying this COULD support a blood omen remake tho. Id say buy this if your a fan because it means MORE from this franchise

[@Slampbell]

@LittleGreenBoxShow I agree BO needs an overhaul to keep it more consistent with the later titles and to make it more appealing to modern audiences. It also lays a lot of framework for the later games' story. That being said, i think the game would require WAY more heavy lifting than the Soul Reaver reskin. The game would have to be overhauled graphically and storywise (as they would probably want to retcon and homogenize some of the original elements). The game would also certainly have to be open-world, as originally envisioned. I think they should pull a Silence of the Lambs. Establish the sequels then go back and pour love into the prequels once there's clear interest and no threat of studio heads canning it over profit projections.

[@plo617]

Bravo! I 100% agree. Blood Omen has been overlooked for far too long. That said, Soul Reaver is being remastered. If they were to make Blood Omen, it was have to be completely remade from rhe ground up. It would have to lose its top down dungeon crawler gameplay and have a more Witcher 3 style world/gameplay. That is a lot more money and most people came into the series with Soul Reaver/Raziel. I believe a Blood Omen remake should end with an epilogue (RDR2 style), where the player takes control of a younger vampire Raziel, who just got his wings and is about to present it his new gifts to Kain.

[@VikingVern7]

if the SR remakes does well now I can't decide what ide want to happen next. Finally getting a new final chapter next project, finishing off Kains Legacy while we get the chance. Or a remaster of Bo1 Bo2 and Defiance would be pretty amazing, and then risking hope that does well enough to help fund a final chapter project.

[@BelartWright]

I got into the series through the two Soul Reaver game but after playing SR2 and hearing about all the events of BO I knew I had to go back and play the first game in the series. After playing the entire series, I have to say that they need to always start with BO. I'm hoping that a modern game in the series is being planned and I hope its a BO remake.

[@robertkenyon5383]

The whole series needs the fans support ATM. They will be looking at how well this remaster and the graphic novels perform. If they do well enough we could get a full remake, including blood omen.

[@AkatsukiCerberus]

Blood Omen remaster/remake would be incredible, and absolutely deserves some love and care. I know that there was a survey sent out a few years ago and one of the questions was, overall, if a game was remastered and brought back to the forefront of things, which would you choose. I have a feeling Soul Reaver came as a majority vote because of how it looks and feels, and it would be friendly to new players. I do not believe for a second that anyone *didn't* want Blood Omen remastered, but we also wanted more people on board with the games again so that the chance it *could* be remastered was on the cards again, y'know? Definitely absolutely show some love to the remastered Soul Reaver 1&2/etc, then hopefully we can push for the remake Blood Omen deserves - it's such an incredible and fun game even now, I would LOVE to see more of it, for SURE! It just has so much content that would look and feel stunning if shown in a different light, but baby steps. We'll get there! Also unrelated, but you have a great voice for videos, I'm new here haha but I thought I'd mention. Great calm voice xD

[@F3n3gy3r3k]

Honestly I was beyond happy when I saw the Soul Reaver remastered trailer. Except for the 1st Blood Omen game I own and played all the others from Reaver 1-2 to Omen 2 to Defiance. The way I see the original Blood Omen needs a complete remake Final Fantasy VII style. With the current tech an open world hack'n slash game Witcher 3 style would be an amazing sight to behold but honestly I don't think there's any developer right now who can do it justice. And lets not forget that Amy Hennig should be heading development.

[@darklord1349]

If the SR1&2 remaster is a success. Then I'm sure the rest of the games in the series will likely get a remaster, and hopefully, the franchise continues.

[@JoeyTorrens-t2q]

Shiiiiit! Your right. I'm too an huge fan of blood omen since it was my very first game I've played on the ps1 back in 97. I'm happy that their finally bringing this back out for the current gens and remaster soul reaver! But for omen they need to start from scatch leaving the storyline and dialog intact. Even keeping kains wardrobe but a bit modified like your concepts as well present. They truly need to work on this in full. As for omen 2! Unfortunately I couldn't feel it the story was everywhere the character designs was awful, hell kain didn't even look like himself it was like playing an entirely new vampire with the legacy kain title. If they decide to remake this game i say start from scatch and show how young kain started to mutate to the kain we see in soul reaver

[@kenpe1455]

It could be possible, it will depend on how well the remasters will sell I'm afraid. But a good remake of Blood Omen will cost a lot...

[@kipperhips1706]

I totally agree they should make a legacy of Kane blood Oman Remake I would buy it,to this day I still play blood Oman on my ps 1 but I’ll pay the soul reaver games as well I loved playing them

[@benjaminduthu8996]

Man I don’t even want to THINK about a movie about this game. The games have some of the best storytelling I’ve ever heard from pretty much any media format. A movie would take too many creative liberties and ruin a perfectly good narrative. Looking at you borderlands

[@leophoenix1452]

Theresm's nothing like thw legacy of kain lore... Not even in hollywood... Let them maintain the lore and then bring a new octane combat and epic setting redesign... And pkease they should use an alternative engine that is competitive to UE5...

[@viktor-rp7xl]

blood omen could get it right this time and have the popularity baldurs gate, fallout, and diablo had. It would be perfect timing for them to release it when all the other companies have left where they started and have lost fans

[@jesusbaez4390]

hoping the remake gets them enough cash to make a Defiance/Blood omen collection, finish the story and see where it all began, yes there is blood omen 2 but that one can be left out even though the ending of Defiance explains how Janos was possesed by the Hilden, but I do agree, Blood Omen would have been great, they can even keep it isometric but maybe update the gameplay to a modern diablo style of gameplay. I can play it on my PSP still which gets the job done.

[@eltadashi1]

I´ve just played and completed the game recently. It is a pretty good game. The story is stunning and I would love to see this been remade!

[@michaelzehendner8904]

It was easier to probably remaster soul reaver one and two because they're 3D base games now with blood omen and they're probably going to have to do it from the grown up remake cuz they're probably seeing how well the remaster of these two do Heck we might even see a new installment in the series

[@zhenyulei1316]

Simply update the visuals a bit. Don’t change the gameplay or view. The game is perfect as is

[@chrisrichardson1600]

Always loved both SR and BO.. personally I say SR is the better option for them mainly because SR+2 tie perfectly into Defiance.. whereas BO and BO2.. well.. we all know what the community think of BO2.. if they did BO that's a single game.. whereas SR has the follow ups.. better from a business standpoint. From a story point.. I'd love things to start from the beginning.. with BO..

[@MinuteManGameReviews]

They can't remake blood omen without silicon knights. The lawsuit from back then will never let crystal dynamics make a new one.

[@buckrogers-lk3yr]

I don't want to play duck feet soul reaver, please remake LOK blood omen.

[@jokergallagherchannel]

If they remake it. They should make it look/play more like bo2 that way the two games are more in line

[@dsmith4658]

lets hope they make the others next BUT Not for a new audiences ! that would KILL EM

[@k2d271]

Blood Omen is too archaic for a remaster, and none of the games are getting remade. We can only hope for some fresh new entries in the series.

[@happyguycol]

They're not remaking any of them atm. But they should remake blood omen, yes

[@josflorida5346]

"He wasn't really a bad guy, he was a product of his society".... so... he was a bad guy lol. Heroes and villains both go through tragedy. What seperates them is what they become. Having a bad life doesn't "redeem" a villain. Good lord lol

[@LittleGreenBoxShow]

I don’t know. I think he does bad things. But what informs his character is a decaying world set up before he’s even a part of the story. Still I hear you

[@ladynightmare7401]

I'm hopeful that Blood Omen will get a full remake if the Soul Reaver remaster does well. When I entered the Legacy of Kain fandom, I did so via Soul Reaver. It's because I loved Soul Reaver so much that I sought out Blood Omen and I think my story is similar to many others. The updated SR games does not take away or diminish from Blood Omen. It actually opens doors to it. I will remain hopeful ☺️

[@usern4metak3ns]

theyre remastering soul reaver intentionally, because of the silicon knights vs crystal dynamics lawsuit. also because they can't just upscale blood omens top down graphics.

[@emanuelfigueroa414]

@@usern4metak3ns hell if they would just pc port it on steam I'd pick it up, have me a retro gaming weekend and be cool with it

[@cory2016]

If these remastered, do well, we might see more

[@masihaasghar6505]

I want a remaster of all 5 games

[@tomo2807]

You're actually fully wrong about Kain post Blood Omen, it's totally the opposite way!! At first in Blood Omen he was a petty arrogant vampire, post finding the Chronoplast Kain switches to a total fate defying HERO! Raziel's execution is part of fighting the deterministic horror, sorry I had to write this comment because your statement was not factually correct

[@LittleGreenBoxShow]

I love that take. I haven’t gone deep with the series past soul reaver 1 so thanks for the info.

[@tomo2807]

@@LittleGreenBoxShow yeah, it's a huge twist, Kain in SoulReaver 2 becomes infinitely more interesting then ever before, though that being said you're right about Kain's early story needing a proper remaster/remake treatment

[@Ixxmantisxxl]

Game companies have proven they are not to be entrusted with remakes. Just update them like nintendo did to super mario rpg and paper mario thousand year door Also huge shoutout to my frownds on the nosgoth community :) 2014 was a wild year.

[@LittleGreenBoxShow]

Capcom is the gold standard at the moment. But I’m hopeful for the new batch of Konami MGS3 and SH2.

[@Ixxmantisxxl]

@@LittleGreenBoxShow yes dude omg, one more castlevania 3 set and we got all of them updated and amazing... Delta, me and a lot of others are paitently waiting... with hopes they can change assets for a MGS2 n 1 conversion :) 😀 😃 🙂

[@hadeseye2297]

No.

[@Deadforge]

One at a time haha

[@brianspalliero]

10000000000000%

[@captainstinkyvonpoopberg4925]

Remaster != Remake

[@LittleGreenBoxShow]

Yes. I’d love love a Capcom style remake. But I’d also take a remaster with a widescreen presentation updated UI some upscaling and audio remastering.

[@2236gaming]

I'm scared of remakes, they come full of modern day agenda. Even remasters are full of crap.

[@StoopidSnot]

Sorry but I can’t listen to someone who is using the words remaster and remake interchangeably and using them incorrectly. Not pronouncing the names correctly is another thing ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@gilgamesh310]

You say that, yet there are some remakes that are pretty much identical to remasters. The one of Crash Bandicoot being a key example.

[@danmad83]

remake/remastered correct. However, names are names and there's no language rule to those plus some people just have more than one language in their heads so I would let that one go. The only thing that needs to happen in order for the Blood Omen remake to happen next is that Soul Reaver needs to sell well enough to please its corporate masters.

[@LittleGreenBoxShow]

I know there’s a huge difference. But I use them interchangeably because I’d like to see either. 😊

[@danmad83]

@@LittleGreenBoxShow fair enough. But you know the right corporate move after a dormant franchise is to spend as little as possible on something (remaster) and if that sells well then you green light the remake