My top game ever created. I have all physical media from Soul Reaver. Thank you for letting Raina Audron direct the Remaster. Another thank you to her and the team :D This is the way you do a Remaster for the new generation. Soul Reaver is a true definition of a game, a true first metroidvania. I would write more ... but give this gem a chance, I mean you...new generation of players :D For the old school gamers - happy days, we have a preserved awesome game,from the better times!

I've never played Soul Reaver 1 & 2, and when I caught wind that they were getting remastered, I held off a little longer. I've heard that they are both fantastic games, and now that I've gotten to play them, I can say that what I've heard is 100% true.

The puzzles are enjoyable and spread out enough that they're not a chore. Their complexity feels just right.

The world itself feels large for a game from it's original time. There is fast travel, but it's restricted. There is not a great deal of direction, so you rely heavily on your compass. There are metroidvania aspects to it in that there are collectables that you can't acquire until you have a certain power.

Combat is where it feels weakest imo. Raziel's fists are very short ranged (understandably so), but once you get a weapon, that range doesn't feel like it improves. He holds something like a spear so close to his body that it's still difficult to get a hit in. I often found it better to just run and swing your weapon instead of trying the intended combat mechanics.

Characters, voice acting, and dialogue are all top notch, though. It really puts the writing in modern games to shame. The creativity and picturesque descriptors in the dialogue are refreshing.

I feel like I've missed out on this game for decades, but I am so grateful to have played it now. I'd rate it a good 5/7.

The remaster is quite good. I've completed SR1 so far, and I’m impressed. The controls are fluid and responsive, especially compared to the PS1 version. The character models, surrounding objects (like the figures in cocoons in the Cathedral or the dead bodies scattered around), weapons, and statues near the glyphs are all incredibly detailed—10/10. The addition of cut content is a nice touch too.

I didn’t notice many changes in the environment, aside from some AI textures towards the end of the game. The Dumah room features the same statues as the original, but the statue you rotate outside is now highly detailed. It’s possible that future patches may improve this, similar to the Tomb Raider 1-3 remasters (it seems like the developers were in a bit of a rush here too).

I didn’t encounter any bugs, although I did fall out of bounds once by mistake, which caused me to lose some progress since saving while out of bounds corrupts the save file.

The compass felt somewhat useless, and the map was only helpful for checking if I had collected everything. When it came to navigation, it didn’t really assist with figuring out where to go next.

Overall, I’m happy with the remaster. It’s great to finally play the game on modern hardware and software.

My biggest complaint so far is the day/night cycle—it’s just too dark. I expected the restored cycle to be a cool addition, but at night, it’s pitch black, and I could barely see anything in the game.

Other minor complaints include some AI textures in the late game and a lack of environmental upgrades, like the Dumah statues (though these may be patched in the future).

I hope that Blood Omen 1 and Defiance will also receive some love and attention in the future. (oke BO2 too)