Soul Reaver Remasters Top 5 Controversial Changes Explained

[@nicolascornejo7753]

For now, my only issue with the remaster is that now soul reaver went from a dark goth kinda edgy game to a more kid friendly look, I wont be surprised if spyro is hidden somewhere there and the enemies now spill strawberry jam instead blood when you hit them. Im begging they dont change the voices because if something was god damn perfect in the original, even if its old, is the voice actors.

[@Citizen_JV]

Definitely, see your point of view

[@darkjaden2]

When your PS1 low poly statue looks more feminine then the remastered version, I think that's the main issue, nosgoth is a grim and dark place so those small doses of beauty really pop, so making the statue less faminine takes a little from the impact that it had

[@HerrCohonez]

Yet the human woman (SR1, Human Citadel) looks more like a woman in remaster than on PSX.

[@Miekk4]

They manlified the statue, plain and simple. Female beauty is offensive to the mythical modern audience

[@k-yo]

dear lord not this kind of whining again...

[@darkjaden2]

@@k-yo it's not whining it's just an opinion, I'm still buying this day 1

[@pandapower3076]

​@k-yo You do know people can like something and still not like EVERYTHING about it, right?

[@fundyproductions5927]

They said fuck the uglie stick and used the entire tree on that statue instead.

[@2236gaming]

I think fans wants to see again the OG designs in better texture quality, and not what the bosses "were supposed to look like" in previous stages of the game's development. It doesn't look like the game I played so much back in 1999. For instance the remastered Rahab looks hilarious compared to the more darker design from the released game. You could add those alternative looks in the form of a neat extra-content unclokables or something, but they should keep the tone and artistic choices of the original creators. If they are changing that it's because they don't really care about the og game. I think they are making a few good things with this remaster but also a lot of weird choices that, at this point, is preventing me from considering buying the game. Also I don't like they they changed the altar statue, and you know the change was not because of an artistic choice.

[@randyburger2424]

@@2236gaming unfortunately, I am not a pc gamer, but there are a lot of great pc mods to this game that deliver exactly what you’re talking about.

[@Manterok]

Word son

[@maltesefalcon85]

my biggest issue with the redesigns is that they are changing the designs in some places like the statue looks like its a completely different person with a different face and body. i wish they had made the faces more like the vampire forms of the brothers so it made sense raziel recognised them oh and raziels eyes need to be slightly bigger

[@Hynotama]

People don’t “complain too much”. If anything, they’re boot licking too much and they’re too afraid to voice any criticism. Putting that statue and the word “appealing” in the same sentence, is clown speak. Fortunately Raina Audron is directing the project and had the good sense to fix it.

[@charg1nmalaz0r51]

I'm not sure why people arent complaining about some other stuff. Like the soul reaver itself seems to be a slightly better version of soul reaver 2. But the only reason soul reaver1 and 2s reaver looked that way were due to limitations, they should have made it like the one in defiance where it actually looked like a spirit sword again like in the original soul reaver 1 cutscene when it exploded

[@MiguelAviles175]

Funny that the Dreamcast version was already a "remaster"

[@Citizen_JV]

True

[@Snowfreak357]

Ayeeee you played on Dreamcast to??? Helllll yea brotha. Was the best way to play it

[@Citizen_JV]

Most Definitely

[@studiomaz]

Facts

[@retnuhretsnom96emanymton18]

God has blessed us all with this new opportunity for the Mod Nation to answer the yet another call to action; im so glad we are being blessed with not just one but two updated LOK games! I really do not like the approach the development undertook BUT this just means true fans of the series have a new toolkit to make it more nostalgic/dark as the orignals were with their modding. Nice try on the "remasters", now let the fans take over and give us their interpretation ss of these glorious lasts from the past. My God, this is so awesome! I never thought that this would actually happen.... what's next???? Could it be Blood Omen and Blood Omen 2 "remaster"(s)? Could we get an unnecessary continuation of the LOK series? As long as LOK is coming back, I am stoked. What a fucking time to be alive!!! Vae Victis!

[@Thedrysurrealbloke]

Thats what I was thinking. People could make and on to it.

[@zore5872]

6:46. Opinion can't be wrong, because Opinions are not fact they are subjective by nature, even if objectivity is used to influence the Opinion

[@Citizen_JV]

Agreed

[@Kain9407]

Opinions can 100% be wrong...

[@zore5872]

@@Kain9407 you cant be serious? An opinion is a subjective statement, not an objective thruth. Pokemon is the most profitable media franchise in the world and its true . Me saying that despite all the flaws megaman x6 is more fun then the rest of the X games is my opinion, many people would say im wrong because of how bad the game is yet thats not true since i would rather play it over the other 7 games which is why my opinion of the game isnt wrong. Its just that in my opinion what x 6 does right is enough for me to come back to it again and again.

[@Kain9407]

@@zore5872 Some people have the opinion that it's ok to own another human being or that taxes are theft. Both of those are clearly wrong but subjective to a point for people who don't have 2 brain cells to rub together. So, again, opinions can 100% be wrong.

[@zore5872]

@@Kain9407 Taxes can be theft if not used properly for majority, its like if you paid for a service and it was not only subpar but dreadfully incompetent or non-existent at delivering what they said they would provide, if you cant do your job get out the way. A good example of theft is super mayor tiffany henyard. Now thats a bit of an extreme example but people like her do exists. As for ownership of lives you are right that opinions can be wrong because owning someone is ok as long as you live in certain countries, and it doesn't get in the way of the actual free world and even better if it facilities the freedom and power of the free world. My example is the colbalt in the batteries of our phones we use thats dug up by african slaves. We know thats messed up but its obviously overlooked because they have no bargaining power over there and its cheap useful labor. Let me be clear that I think thats wrong but its also very clear that ppl who think our opinion is wrong on this mater would laugh in our face with their blood diamond money that comes from the pockets many first world countries.

[@ChronicDreamer1st]

Concept art is not the holy grail, it is only the basis from which to take artistic direction. Ultimately the finalized forms in-game are more valid than what was present in the conceptual stage because they represent the finished and finalized design.

[@darkestfugue]

the statue looks awful, they uglified it, everything else looks fine, however i would have preferred a remake of the best game in the series, blood omen 1

[@mr.mediocregamer9653]

One of my favorite games. Really fun, amazing voice acting. I wish we'd get a new one (but not made for a 'modern audience') rather than a remaster.

[@Citizen_JV]

I, attest to that

[@notthatguy1447]

remastered statue looks masculine

[@murkyspectre]

Agreed

[@bruceygaming]

I have a thought there's a new collection of the next Tomb Raider games announced which is by same company for this game which if i had a guess was due to first collection doing well, if Soul Reaver Remastered does well they could do Blood Omen 1&2 and Defiance too which i would love and a new one later on, it just depends on interest and whether enough buy the product

[@jeanogato3327]

I have read that they are adding the lost levels in Soul Reaver 1 & 2. Do you know if the lost levels will be playable or not?

[@Citizen_JV]

Yes, the "Lost Levels" environments from the original Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver game will be included in the remastered version of the game.

[@XVI_Legion]

The fix versions piss on the remaster versions which are cartoonish af.

[@JuanDiaz-jo1rw]

Let me put it like this. If someone were to combine the Remaster and the fix into one image, it would be perfect. Y'all can't tell me the remaster just looks prettier, not scary. With that said, I like the art style of remaster, but I don't like the rubber texture of it. And that's where the fix comes in, highlighting certain texture details better. The remaster has a glowing vivid color aspect to it. The fix had a dead color palette. What they need to do is something in between the remaster and the fix.

[@franciscor390]

Luckily the colors and rubbery tone issue are one of the easiest things to fix as it's a matter of contrast. Devs can tone down the colors before release date.

[@Manterok]

That's the same thing I was thinking. The remaster is too damn bright and colorful. It needs to look more dismal and depressing lol.

[@JuanDiaz-jo1rw]

@Manterok Exactly, the same thing happened with TR Remaster. Everything looks colorful, like if they are making the game for children. Soul Rever is supposed to have a dead color pallet, as if everything is already old and withered away. Raziel was dead for a couple of hundreds of years while everything went to shit. The vampires killed most humans, and the couple of survivors were actually hiding from the vampires. I bet you they removed the blood on the remaster. Looks like a kids' game.

[@charg1nmalaz0r51]

@@JuanDiaz-jo1rw i disagree, defiance was very colourful and it worked amazing in that game, especially the spectral realm

[@doclouis4236]

Rahab looks goofy. I've seen the prototype screenshots of him and this new remaster model does not do him justice in making him look like a scary underwater predator. He looks like godzilla.

[@Citizen_JV]

@@doclouis4236 LOL 😆

[@petersharplin4118]

came here to also say rahab looks goofy

[@DeadEndScreamer]

He looks like that gremlin muppet in star wars cantina, wtf did they do to him, this is just awful.

[@DeadEndScreamer]

@@petersharplin4118 Good news, thankfully they redesigned his looks, he looks good now.

[@Citizen_JV]

@DeadEndScreamer Agreed

[@sigmasuke9989]

Many of these little things can changed with texture mods if some just don't like the new eyes color of bosses. I myself created mods for tomb raider remastered, but for Soul Reaver seems they do even a better work. 0:50 For this statue i just complain the waist and hips, not much feminine but ok

[@zore5872]

But if you dont have a pc then you can't mod 0:45 the shoulders are broader, the torso larger the chin not as sharp, the overall face is bigger, the lips aren't as pursed. They changed that statue. Edit: fixed some grammar and compared the statues

[@sigmasuke9989]

@@zore5872 Yup now look a little bit transgender, hope they not do that on purpose

[@zore5872]

​@@sigmasuke9989with the way things are now i would not be suprised.

[@zore5872]

10:41 he looks cute in the remastered, he looks like a gremlin from furbie

[@Shiv.141]

This game deserve a remake not a remaster but it's better than nothing.

[@kukukachu]

it didn't just deserve it, it needed it. The game play sucks, but the story is AMAZING!

[@Shiv.141]

@@kukukachu nothing was wrong with the gameplay

[@kukukachu]

@@Shiv.141 pretty damn boring actually, also very unrewarding. Its combat is probably its worst feature.

[@Shiv.141]

@@kukukachu think about it like this in 1998 it wasn't a problem

[@kukukachu]

@@Shiv.141 I'd say it was less of a problem, but it was still a problem. Everything about the game is good, other than the combat lol. One of the problems with it, is that there isn't any reason to fight at times. You can just blast past. You don't get anything from the fights, so there's no incentive for them. That's one BIG thing that needed change since its creation.

[@MiguelDeMarchena]

Comparing the two female statues the new version looks sort of weird with wider shoulders, chad chin, flat breast, wider waist and lack of hips etc. why make the statue so androgynous?

[@kizaruthegreat]

rahab lookin like a gremlin

[@razieltempest]

lets put in a bit of perspective a few things the vampire clan didnt devolve they pretty much evolved they live so many years after raziel;s death. rahab for his design tho others may like it however it makes it look less vampire compared to the original. rahab if you look close at the face on the original reminds me of the creature of the black lagoon but more humanistic. the statue oi do i have a slight issue with this not everything has to look like a potato betting nuked its called pixel swap all they had to do is drag the face over and clean it not that hard not that difficult for someone like me whos done mudding seriously the remaster looks like something out of a horror movie. vampire games and movies have strived on just a few things tho the vampire is evil and more intent on ripping off the face of its victims the morality is within the beauty of what the vampire represented immortality. better frames yes better graphics yes, but short cutting graphic details shows the mentality of the game scene, short cuts, laziness, and so on. i dearly love this collection and loved the story but butchering not acceptable at least in my eyes. however im going into the game optimistic when its released. who knows maybe just maybe some more changes to the statue and rahab will give it justice we will see.

[@Manterok]

I don't like how bright the remastered colors are. If they gotta change it, the fix looks better on everything. The new models with the classic colors. Just do that. Or remake it. Remake it with modern models and textures. Why not?

[@Citizen_JV]

True

[@murkyspectre]

You obviously haven't watched the new video that came out 4 days ago.

[@murkyspectre]

​@@Citizen_JVNeither have you.

[@Citizen_JV]

@murkyspectre I've watched it more than twice and analyzed it

[@murkyspectre]

So then you would know that the issues that OP describes have already been fixed. Why agree instead of simply saying that it's been fixed?

[@tonts5329]

I think it's just the brighter colours of the remaster so far, that concern me a little. The updated models for Soul Reaver look fantastic though, so I'm confident in this remaster. These two games were some of my favourites on PSX/PS2, mostly due to the strong story and characters. Hopefully the combat is a bit more fun and engaging in the remaster.

[@murkyspectre]

It has already been fixed.

[@tonts5329]

@@murkyspectre Yeah I saw it later that night. Rahab looks better and Melchiah seems a bit blurrier in places now? Hopefully the final release won't disappoint.

[@TheRatzor]

I prefer Raziel Rib cage design from defiance and the Soul reaver blade from defiance was also much better!

[@raymondlopez833]

You got my sub.

[@razorbulan]

the Remaster looks great i cant wait to play this:D i wonder if they gonna fix the flying glitch from SR1

[@twisteddevotio2456]

With the first pic comparison I tried to see your perspective when it comes making the feminine statue less feminine, but just do not see it, and is a warning sign of what is to come later down road. Because I seen this happened to franchises before in general. Plus a remaster is so suppose build without conflict and/or causing much change to original art. If it was an actual remake than I can see. Other than that rest of the art from the remastered I like. Great upload.

[@Hunter-jo8ud]

So i better should buy the old games.

[@OpenDoorEnglish]

Welcome back LoK!

[@betterexiled4373]

Don't speak too soon. This could be one of those remade retro games where you can switch between the new and the old versions on command. Like the recent Tomb Raider, The secret of Monkey Island, or Halo TMCC.

[@charg1nmalaz0r51]

Thats already a confirmed feature

[@nokkprime]

anyone complaining needs to STFU! We're lucky to even be getting this. NOW, support the shit out of this remaster so we can finally get new games in the series.

[@Citizen_JV]

Agreed

[@malwd6321]

EXACTLY THIS!!! , this series is literally number one favorite for me, the games lore was was intricate and deep

[@Citizen_JV]

@malwd6321 Agreed

[@Skeemac]

As long as Crystal Dynamics stays far, far away

[@antoniocanchani6972]

Exactly. I'm happy we are getting it. It was too long of a wait

[@Peter_Hodge]

I hope we get a SR3

[@Citizen_JV]

Definitely would be Interesting for sure

[@Peter_Hodge]

@Citizen_JV I hope because these were good games I played the first on Dreamcast and the second on ps2 I never completed them so I'm hoping to get the full experience this time

[@AngerOfTheLand]

Back when women game developers were GOD TEIR. Thanks Amy.... a person who cared more about the game she made rather than pushing some disgusting queer message.

[@murkyspectre]

Amy Hennig was truly essential for the amazing story and awesome quality of the original. For decades I have wished that she would one day revive the series.

[@ChronicDreamer1st]

The fixed versions all look WAAAAY better. They need to hire whoever did those on as a member of the art direction team.

[@ChaosRaziel]

Be happy that we even got a remaster. God you people nitpicking everything

[@Cheff-oc4wu]

Ya be happy our ghey overlords let us play games at all, right?

[@antoniocanchani6972]

Amen brother

[@mrinsane9994]

I don't like the statue the left hand side statue is a woman and the statue on the right is trans I'm not interested in trans fix it

[@DBCooper-copi]

this "remaster" as it's being titled as, is not just a remaster. the work that's been put into "updating" the world and models is more like a visual overhaul. if it were only just a remaster, they would not have updated models for higher polygon counts. this is a great modern updated version of these 2 games that i'm really stoked to see coming out. definitely pre-ordering this!

[@Citizen_JV]

Agreed

[@afgncap]

That fixed version of Raziel is silly considering he doesn't have a lower jaw. I think remastered version shows this better. Fixed version not only shows lower jaw but it seems like he has a severe underbite or some ridiculously pointy chin.

[@Citizen_JV]

Agreed

[@sigmasuke9989]

Infact Raziel doesn't have jaw at all. Hope devs don't listen those "fixers" on web

[@Citizen_JV]

Agreed

[@ChronicDreamer1st]

I think he looks better with a fake jawline made up of hanging cloth from his scarf. Fantasy isn’t always about pure logic, aesthetics don’t always have to make perfect sense to look good

[@neonnemesis3267]

The statue is product of modern times, that statue is a man that identified himself as a woman. Those are the shoulders of a man, those are the hips of a man, that is a face of a man, it is hilarious how a PS1 manages to portray a woman, but 2024 you can have women with curves so lets shove a man and call it a woman... I wonder if that demon with multiple arms will also identify as a female... ugh modern gaming... If the Priestess made it to the final cut she would look like a bodybuilder and they would cover her body to avoid showing any skin... Thankfully this game is more about monstruous Vampires, so moving to Raziel, sorry but I'll have to go with the Remaster version for the face, PS1 was due to limitations at the time, but the fixed version is forgetting about the reason why Raziel wears his banner as a mouth cover. My man has no lower jaw so why does the "fixed" version gives him a chin like he's the gigachad? Remaster took that into account, the bend happens exactly where the upper jaw ends. It even beats Defiance model on that area because it also ends in a chin that doesn't exists, although the Defiance model completely BTFO on the rest of the body. Defiance has some ribs sticking out while the Remaster like the OG has a too perfectly aligned ribcage, also defiance Raziel was kinda skeletal and had those huge claws, the Remaster looks like it has bends at the claws that never existed? And looks less skeletal for someone that took an acid bath. Melchiah, call me crazy but the OG beats both, for some reason nowadays highly detailed models simply can't emulate old models when it comes to distorted gory bodies. I saw that in Resident Evil 2, the new model for William Birkin can't capture the OG's gory vibe of being a completely distorted body, instead it looks like it is made out of plastic. Look at the shoulder spikes on Melchiah, in the OG despite the lower res textures you can see that the skin makes an irregular zigzag effect because the spike is pushing out of the skin ripping it apart, in the Remaster it has a perfect curve. the fixed face looks better than the Remaster, but the OG makes it look like the lower jaw goes over the upper one due to how Melchiah is so distorted. Rahab... like... huh... is that a Pokemon? What hek is that? First, the OG barely has fingers, the Remaster has huge cartoonish fingers that don't even fit the fins. Then that face looks like it was taken out from a cartoon for kids, OG Rahab looks like a snake, not some dragon from a kids show. The fixed tries to blend a bit of both which is a huge mistake since nothing from the remake should be even remotely considered. That simple head with little details reminds me of those snakes with simple heads that look way scarier than scaly ones. Also another thing, the Soul Reaver, as in the blade. Both of these remasters are going to suffer from the issues of the OG games. in SR1 the Soul Reaver was a huge white spike with a blue aura. In SR2 it was a small piece of energy that looked like a flame. That was due to technical limitations back then, so WHY? Why is the remaster doing the exact thing? Why is it doing it when freaking Defiance mastered the energy soul reaver so well? I'm not asking for the combat style of Defiance, just the model. And to make it consistent to both games. In SR1 it looks like a massive great sword in SR2 it looks like a short sword or a dagger (more like a small flame coming from Raziel's arm). It doesn't even look like the same weapon. Why can't the remaster copy the model of defiance and shove it in there, or at least add the details of the sword.

[@randyburger2424]

I’m tired of the internet haters who have to ruin everything. I don’t understand why everyone is complaining about the graphics being cartoonish. THEYVE ALL BEEN CARTOONISH. SR1 is a little darker because of the lighting limitations of the ps1. If you were a fan of the OG series, then you are not justified in complaining about the art style. Stop knit picking. If you don’t like it, don’t buy it. I’m saying all this due to Prince of Persia remake got canceled from all the whining. I’m a die hard fan and was super excited from the trailer, but all the haters had to voice their ridiculous knit picking opinions and now it will never be. Thanks, a$$ holes.

[@Citizen_JV]

I agree with you and I'm not hating at all on the Remasters. Non whatsoever. Feelings mutual on your part and I made this video to bug off to the person I'm criticizing who made this video in the first place. He goes by Replayrs on KZbin. He's the Knit Picker not me.

[@randyburger2424]

@@Citizen_JV heard. To clarify, i wasn’t trying to call you out. I noticed you were critiquing the critic. I agree with you and am super excited about this remake. Even if it looked half as good as it does, I would still buy it, cuz it still looks better than og and I can play it on my current console!

[@Citizen_JV]

@randyburger2424 Thank You for the Positive feedback

[@k-yo]

THANK YOU

[@firefly44220]

Ha “don’t like it, don’t buy it” doesn’t work out too well lately, does it? 😂 because we don’t and people lose their jobs

[@Kain9407]

There a no real legitimate complaints about this remaster. There is a reason we don't get to have nice things. People want to cry about anything.

[@LaytatoClips]

This comment section is a yikes. Kudos to you for breaking all these down. I didn’t even realize there was so much pushback on some of the designs in the remaster considering it is remaster of a 20+ year old game. Like its just weird. I can see where some of the og designs look more menacing vs. the remaster but if they’ve had the opportunity to actually go with the intended designs, then kudos to the team for pulling that off. I’m hype af.

[@Citizen_JV]

Thank You, Sir. Much Appreciated. I'm very Excited for this, too...

[@Citizen_JV]

To be honest, I've expected some pushback or criticism I've been receiving lately on my LOK videos. If I haven't, it would be less fun, and I wouldn't be laughing about it. That's the Fun part.

[@LaytatoClips]

@@Citizen_JV thats fair. I do enjoy a good discourse and try my best to converse when folks are being respectful with their opinions.

[@ChronicDreamer1st]

I don’t think this comment section is a yikes, I see lots of valid criticism and the points being made are changing my opinion.

[@LaytatoClips]

@@ChronicDreamer1st I won’t say it’s all bad. There’s definitely some good conversation here overall and it’s good to have friendly discussion about the things we enjoy.

[@Chelaxiancitizensgroup]

I must tell you I don't give a fuck about the changes in this video. Best news ever

[@WilliamAdams89]

You're right, it IS just you. The Fixed versions look better.

[@TheFranzkfk]

WTF?! So it is NOT a remaster 1:1, but another modern politically correct PG bullshit.

[@firefly44220]

Ugh. Bro I’m so tired of that shit. We all are. A damn remaster isn’t even safe

[@Unknown_User174]

@@firefly44220You can toggle to the PS1 graphics of Soul Reaver at anytime.

[@whovegas]

Lmao you guys love being the victim

[@murkyspectre]

​@@whovegasIt's just that a lot of us are tired of what wokeness has done to our games. So a lot of passionate fans like myself are on high alert. So many of the characters and stories are being affected or rather infected with pandering to mentally insane activists, idiots and others who neither respect nor enjoy the lore and atmosphere of the original franchises they "work" on. I'm sure we all know by now how many titles fall in this class. I am a huge fan of LoK and played all the games ages ago. Still own them on disc, except for Blood Omen 2 which I didn't particularly care for. Personally, I'm not standing down whilst the issue persists.

[@whovegas]

@@murkyspectre hey, thats fair. This next part is really just me rambling. So feel free to disregard nobody ever tells you guys to just make your own shit. I hear that one a lot when it comes to casting minorities. Hell, even that new captain america movie, based off a change that happened in the comics, was met with "well, maybe blacks should make their own heroes and stop stealing ours." I like big titty bitches as much as the next dude, but i also know that none of this shit is just getting made for made sake. People can say go woke go broke all they want, but at the end of the day, capitalism is king. Aint no minority loud enough to beat money. Money always wins. So somewhere along the line, these changes must be seen as a way to get more money....in which case theres really nothing you can do, except for scream into the void, or make your own shit. Im certain theres a grass roots movement of people out there trying to make the least woke thing possible. Find it. Support it. Yelling into the void helps nothing. This is coming from a guy who gets to yell the word "faggot" in public forums and people clap. I guess i just havent been effected by "woke" the same way as some of you have.

[@worldsbestpantz3445]

If I didn’t know better, I’d think this whole video and its comment section was a joke. An intentional joke, I mean.

[@stranger5877]

the statue on the right is clearly representative of a trans woman rather than an actual woman.

[@firefly44220]

Bingo. That’s a fuckin man face. The og looks like a woman

[@franciscor390]

Black trans woman.

[@murkyspectre]

Undoubtably

[@stranger5877]

why are you defending this slop?

[@firefly44220]

He’s a shill or he loves woke man jaw women. Which ever. Not sure

[@murkyspectre]

I think he's just excited to finally get a remaster. Same here, pre-ordered immediately after watching the trailer. I have to admit, I was disappointed with the brightness, art style and most importantly the change made to the female form of the statue's proportions and facial features. Glad I'm not the only one.