A Slow Start That Might Put You Off
I’ll be honest, Legacy of Kain: Ascendance didn’t win me over right away.
The opening hours were disappointing. The combat felt very basic, the structure wasn’t what I expected, and it didn’t really lean into being a proper metroidvania. There’s very little backtracking and not many secrets to uncover, which might throw off fans expecting that style of gameplay.
At first, it feels limited… almost too simple.
Leaning Fully Into Retro Roots
But the more I played, the more something clicked.
This isn’t trying to be a modern metroidvania, it’s a true old-school side scroller. The visuals, level design, and overall structure feel like something pulled straight out of the 90s.
And honestly? I started to love it.
The retro presentation, especially during cutscenes, feels like pure nostalgia. It genuinely reminded me of playing Castlevania as a kid. It’s simple, but there’s a charm here that’s hard to ignore.
A Story That Takes Its Time (But Pays Off)
The story starts off slow and a bit confusing, especially if, like me, you haven’t read the comic this game follows.
But stick with it.
By around chapter five, things really start to come together, and the game does a solid job catching you up. From that point on, the narrative becomes a real highlight.
I genuinely wasn’t expecting to get as invested as I did.
Multiple Characters Keep Things Fresh
One of the biggest surprises is the multiple playable characters.
Playing as Raziel and his sister Elaleth is a lot of fun, with each bringing their own feel to gameplay. Human Raziel, however, felt a bit limited in comparison.
And then there’s the moment I didn’t see coming at all…
You get to play as Kain.
That reveal alone was a huge highlight and instantly hooked me even more.
Simple Gameplay That Grows on You
Gameplay starts off very basic, especially when it comes to movement and combat.
But as the game progresses, things become more engaging. Navigation gets more challenging, encounters feel more demanding, and the overall flow improves.
It’s also worth noting, the game is quite difficult, but thankfully includes options to make things more manageable if needed.
Presentation: Basic, But With Standout Moments
Graphically, the game keeps things simple.
That said, there are moments that genuinely stand out. One night mission in particular, with its use of silhouettes, looked fantastic and stuck with me long after.
The cutscenes are retro eye candy, and I absolutely loved them.
Voice Acting That Grows on You
The voice acting didn’t impress me at first, but over time, it really grew on me.
Hearing Michael Bell return as Raziel is something special. Yes, he sounds rough at times, but knowing he’s still performing at 88 years old adds a lot of respect to the performance.
Anna Gunn also makes an appearance and delivers a solid performance that helps round out the cast.
Music Is a Standout
One area where the game absolutely excels is the music.
It’s atmospheric, memorable, and perfectly complements the dark, gothic tone of the world. Easily one of the strongest aspects of the entire experience.
Final Verdict
Legacy of Kain: Ascendance is a game that doesn’t make the best first impression, but if you stick with it, it really starts to shine.
It’s not the metroidvania some might expect, and it definitely leans into old-school design in both good and bad ways. But between the engaging story, multiple playable characters, and strong retro charm, I found myself completely hooked.
What started as disappointment turned into something I genuinely couldn’t put down.
7.5/10
