I tried to enjoy this remaster, but time and time again I ran into issues of things not functioning as intended, blocking progress until I close out of the game, reopen, and return to the area. I hadn't realized this was happening until I pulled up a walkthrough to see what I was supposed to do as well. Things like in the part where you ring two bells, the first would stop ringing a good 5 seconds earlier for me. Or when I needed to take a steam vent up, it'd stop raising me up less than half way up the distance. Or I'd put a block into place, it wouldn't register even after double checking it's correct, and not registering at all no matter what direction.

If it were once or twice I would've kept going, but after a point it turned into me spending more time checking guides than actually playing. I may have been incredibly unlucky with this happening so consistently, but it's enough that I cannot reccomend it based off my experience.

I won't comment on either Soul Reaver as a game; I think it's pretty well-established at this point that the atmosphere and quality of its prose/dialogue is sublime, even if the gameplay in both entries leaves something to be desired. I have my quibbles with how both handle their plots, but that's a separate discussion. So far as the substance of each game is concerned, the remaster preserves it pretty faithfully.

Otherwise, the remaster of Soul Reaver 1 far outclasses that of Soul Reaver 2. The updated textures, models, and day/night cycle really breath fresh life into a nearly 30-year-old game without infringing upon its original aesthetic. Things feel updated enough without feeling too different, like viewing things through a very high-fidelity lens. Some features, like the map, are semi-useful, but if you're looking for a good, modern way to play Soul Reaver 1, you can't ask for anything better. If the new textures aren't quite your style, you can always toggle them off.

Which is exactly what I did for Soul Reaver 2, because the impacts to the models there are... questionable. Capes and even characters eyeballs clipping through their limbs and face, stiff facial expressions, the list of complaints goes on. Raziel and Janos look pretty great, but everybody else is very, very rough (especially Kain and Moebius). Not to mention the fact that many of the textures in the game simply aren't updated at all. There's no worse feeling in a remaster than toggling the updated visuals on only to see next-to-nothing change. At the very least, the remaster delivers Soul Reaver 2 with a modern launcher and framework. Otherwise, there's not much to praise.

Overall, I'd still recommend the remaster collection, if only because, selfishly, it feels like a way to promote interest in a series that has long remained dormant. When it works well, it's one of Amy Hennig's best works.

I was 13 yo when I played SR1 & 2 for the first time. Now I'm almost 37, games are still perfectly fine unlike my effin back.

Ran in to a game breaking bug during the first few minutes of the first game. Couldn't even finish the tutorial.

Ports this bad shouldn't even be allowed to be sold. These games are great, but this port is absolute ♥♥♥♥.

Fabulous remaster. It looks like I REMEMBER it being back in the original release, rather than the actuality imposed by 30 years of game advancement showing up its flaws.

A game so beautifully written and masterfully voice-acted. A narrative so well crafted that it simply draws you in and devours your attention till’ the last cut-scene. The Remaster polishes this gem very well but what this series truly deserves is a faithful Remake, and most importantly, it deserves a proper conclusion.

Happy for the remake of this memorable game and I enjoyed playing it again.

LOVE THIS GAME GOT LOADS OF MEMORIES PLAYING

it's a classic, they need to remaster blood omen 2 and defiance as well!

Camera is very bad for the most of the time, but the game is still playable. Don't get me wrong - it's still a magnificent game with very nice puzzles and one of the best stories ever told.