There's going to be a Legacy of Kain graphic novel released later this year. It's called Soul Reaver The Dead Shall Rise and will focus on Raziel's past as a member of the Sarafan and his turning by Kain. 😊
Legacy of Kain still providing content for people to this day, is still proof that the creators of the games put all their love, passion and energy to make this a unique IP Thank you Strictly Fantasy, always nice seeing/listening to one of your videos
Its ironic that Nupraptor's madness, which influenced Kain's decision to not sacrifice himself, ended up being a blessing in disguise. Since, as was established multiple times, if Kain had died, then the Vampire race would have disappeared along with him and the new Guardians, especially without the good-natured guidance of senior guardians like Mortanius and Ariel, would have inevitabely fallen to the Hylden and/or The Elder God's manipulation sooner or later.
I've never really liked the idea of the Hylden being the big bad of the series, considering they were just another race that l8ved on Nosgoth along with the ancient Vampires Their only true crime was living in a different way to their enemies The Vampires lived by the use of magic and obeyed the will of their "god" while the Hylden lived through technology and perhaps either by design or their natural physiology were practically immortal The Vampires started the war with them under the command of the Elder who either wanted the Hylden souls or merely wanted them wiped from the land as they were useless to him Their curse of immortality on their enemies and subsequent manipulations throughout history were justifiable in some ways considering they were treated as horrible monsters
@@SamuelBlack84 I think that was exactly the point: everybody is the righteous hero of their own story. We tend to align with the ancient vampires and only see their virtues. But if you analyze their behavior regarding the Hylden, you find they were basically the aggressors, attacking all who lived outside their view of the world. You can also see this moral relativism in all other factions: the Zarafan's righteous crusade is all about power,; Raziel's actions, while aiming to save Nosgoth, are driven by revenge; the Elder God claims to care about the cycle of life an death and the wheel of fate, but he's nothing but a parasite. I think that this is the greatest message in the series: good and evil are relative. This is awesome writing. This is why the appeal of this series has endured over the years.
"At the moment of my first cry, Ariel's beloved - the Guardian Nupraptor - finds her corpse. Wracked with grief and tormented with suspicions of treachery, Nupraptor plunges into a madness which overflows and infects all of the Guardians, who are symbiotically bound. Including me. The repercussions of Ariel's assassination were expertly calculated... The entire Circle descends into madness, and I am tainted at the moment of my birth - instantly rendered incapable of fulfilling the role destiny has prepared for me."
It was really sad to see that when Nupraptor’s girlfriend was murdered, He plunged into a madness and then the corruption infected the guardians. Even Kain himself.😞 But I’ll always pity Ariel’s boyfriend, Even if he has to be Kain’s first kill. I’ll let it be without suffering.😔
*"Shall I show you the same mercy you showed the rest of the Circle then? You blithely murdered them to restore their Pillars - yet your hand faltered when it came to the final sacrifice. What makes you exempt, Kain? You're merely the last man standing. Why condemn me - for simply carrying out what you hadn't the courage to do yourself?"*
"Let's drop the moral posturing shall we, we both know there is no altruism in this pursuit. Your own reckless indignation led you here, I Counted On It! There's no shame in it Raziel, revenge is motivation enough, at least it's honest! Hate me! But do it honestly!"
What I love about Kain character is that he doesn't seek redemption. He's pragmatic evil, that seeks only a better fate for himself. But through understanding and wisdom his egotistical ways, ironically, lead to the betterment of the world.
Pragmatic characters are my favorite in the media, both those in the spectrum of good (Naruto, Sora) as well as those in evil (Tanya, Kyubey), for they seek to balance fighting with words through the use of humanity's greatest asset. Our intelligence and the categories they're divided into. That's why my standards in media are pretty high. The hard headed good and the psychotic evil are boring and predictable. Yet those exist in abundance. Tell me. What's your favorite trope archetype ? How do you define your standards ?
Kain wanted to help the world hence why he was seeking another choice, he is the balance guardian after all. He pretty much says this about the choice he was given the choice of a rock and a hard place and neither choice led to an acceptable outcome but he knew the pillars needed to be fixed but he also knew that no one else would be able to do it. His vampirism and long life are what gave him the time to be able to figure out the game he was in but even then didn't understand the entirety of it all, and if a 1000+ year old vampire who has traveled through time couldn't grasp and obtain the knowledge of the scheme being played what chance did a human with our limited lifespan ever hope to grasp?
Kain lost it when Raziel was imprisoned in the Reaver at the end of Defiance. If we're ever to get a sequel to that, I suspect Kain will look for a way to free him, amongst other things regarding their fates.
Yeah, look at how horrific he was. Lincoln was basically a dictator and a horrible person. But he was awfully intelligent, and that quote is 100% true.
And boy did lincoln abuse his power. See suspension of habeas corpus, using the NY natty guard to kill citizens and quell riots, shutting down newspapers Critical of him (especially in New york), using executive order to bypass congress, imprisoning the senator from Ohio, etc...
It is somewhat of a theme in dark high fantasy literature. The all-consuming nature of corruption is often only noticeable by long-lived races and wise men. The tragedy of corrupt choices is that most people (most often humans) don't live long enough to see the results of their actions. There is also a theme of reversing this phenomenon on its head by introducing ancient villains who ended up tortured by the realization of their hubris. Ajunta Pall from KOTOR comes to mind.
Quick question. My Revan and Meetra go through methods to destroy both the Sith and Jedi orders, and use the Rakata and a few slaves to build a new order. Does that make them corrupt people ? For context regarding the slaves, Revan believed the Wookies should rebel without falling back on tradition, so he supported Chuundar to create further anger in them. Meetra took control of a slave ring to buy off some slaves from the Exchange in order to turn them into future soldiers. What type of characters does that make them ?
Given the opportunity, like Kain I too would welcome the chance to rule the entire world I have absolutely no empathy for others, and as long as I don't suffer the consequences, I couldn't care less about the fate of Man It may be selfish and arrogant, but I can't deny my nature or my ambitions Any sentient being with half a brain would always seek everything that they could at the expense of others
@@JabamiLain It can be argued, on paper, those are utilitarian means focusing on the wanted end by any means necessary. Although it is not exactly selfish, it is very much spreading evil and suffering. Now, taking into account the original nature that the True Sith were intended to have. The actions you describe are borderline benevolent and charitable. Saving people from themselves, you could say. What made Revan so badass is that he was the only one who realized the threat the Galaxy was facing. Because he was tactical, he realized that going Sith was the best way to prepare the Galaxy for the True Sith's assault.
@@SamuelBlack84 Then make sure you take into account the likely outcomes of your actions before you do them. The corrupt and power-hungry types generally don't live long because they bring on too much hatred or envy on themselves. Being ambitious and thirsting for power is not inherently wrong and can do a lot of good can be done through it. The classic irony of bringing about good for others while your actual aims were selfish. Moderation, patience of the hunter and taking everything into account are the key. I would advise you to think of what brings you satisfaction and genuine happiness though. Regardless, critical thinking and introspection are always good to practice.
@kainslegacy78618 Infinite wealth Beautiful women A black castle with opulent furnishings And, access to all the worlds secrets And, especially important l, the mass slaughter of all my enemies It's not to say that others won't benefit in some way You never know, they might like the end result I don't want a world in ruins I want the planet to rival Mount Olympus All I ask is to have the position of Zeus
It's safe to say he wasn't affect as much as the others. Mortanius held it at bay the whole thirty years whilst also fighting frequent possession. And it's been said that Azimuth was sadistic and cruel even before the corruption, so chances are it just amplified that trait in her.
My theory is that Mobius experiences all of the his life at once. He is talking with Kain in one time period while also experiencing talking with Raziel at another period. This causes Mobius to always be receiving Nurap attack. However it wasn't the cause of his evil that was all him.
@@zephon6745 Interesting theory; however that would mean the Time Pillar would have always been corrupted for as long as Mobius had been it's guardian until his death and the token returned, as the timeline is defined as a constant. The problem with the theory is that prior to Ariel's murder, said pillar was intact.
Basically, the corruption had three purposes: 1) make Kain unable to become the Scion of Balance 2) fool Kain into commiting hara-kiri, and if that failed 3) coerce Raziel into killing him Basically, every event from the games has the purpose to fuck Kain over - everyone looks at him and thinks 'imma mess this guy up'. Even time itself, went from being a concept to a literal force of nature and tried to make Raziel skewer him. Thats just how much the world of Nosgoth hates Kain.
If hyldens are as aware of the timeline as they appear to be, the corruption was also a strike against necrovampires. Right before Mortaneus created a new kind of vampires, the hylden added a new update to their curse that kept necrovampires from permanently inheriting the world. Instead, they devolved and were swept away. Cuz of the new nupraptor curse / booster shot.
When Ariel and Nupraptor had a relation, balance was destroyed because the guardian of balance was favouring another pillar. Through that the prison was weakend and the Hylden could possess Mortanius who then killed Ariel, knowing it would break Nupraptor and the rest of the circle. The pillars would break as a result. Actually a nice plot that went over 5 games to finally be completed.
that actually a good way to explain how the first corruption entered always wondered wtf happened to let the hylden break out of their prison before balance guardians murder
@@karljohan2300 It's part of some deleted dialogue. Mortanius confessed why he killed Ariel. The balance of the circle was destroyed because of the relation between two pillars. However it was taken out. It would also explain why the control of Mortanius by the hylden was so weak because the prison was still working, it just had some little cracks. As soon as the pillars broke the hylden lord took over Janus's body and had full control.
@@lyvekis8824Mortanius has no right to break Ariel and Nupraptor’s hearts.😠 Their child could’ve become the future Mind Guardian but didn’t happen after she was murdered.😠
chya tat mybe but kain killed the H.L once b4 wat makes chu tink he wont do it agains 🤨 at the end of defiance i would punder tat even tho the hyldan bwoke fwee kain would just kill em off again as he dids in B.O 2 altho i still havent found the answer yet still tuu say how even tho kains whole again how he will restore balance 🤔
@@shadowdragonx07kain probably won't interfere with the hylden unless they have something he needs He still needs them alive due to how time works the younger kain needs to be the one to kill the hylden lord and stop them from entering the world And now that kain is uncorrupted new guardian can be born/chosen what needs to happen is he need to initiate one last reaver convergence to fully restore nosgoth but at which point in time and what kind of effect does it need to have, their some possibility for it 1, do a reaver convergence with his younger self and purify him of corruption effectively stoping nosgoth complete destruction by soul reaver 1 2, return to the future and begin picking up the broken piece while searching for the new guardian
I must say I`m delighted seeing that there are others out there still showing love to this saga. It was so important to me growing up. Little did I know at the time what a rare phenomenon it would later turn out to be. I understood rather little english back then, thus missing out on the true complexity of the story, but the atmosphere captivated me utterly. Later I came to appreciate the quality of dialogue on display. Your in depth videos on this topic are much appreciated.
I would say this video perfectly describes Melciah's words to Raziel "you are the last to die" meaning the corruption that came with evolution that he was spared through his execution did not transform him into one of the monsters his brothers became. Though Melciah was a special case as he resented what he had become more then the others and he welcomed his death
@@dancreary3340 that would also give more speculation on what he meant by "upstart inheritance" to whom was he referring? It would make sense that he is either referring to Raziel or the Razielhim but it could also refer to Melciah and his brothers as he states that "everyone is afraid" including himself as he lives out of sight. I still stand by my theory of the "last to die" meaning but I do love how the dialogue is ambiguous allowing for different interpretations
@@2010jakeybgoode That upstart inheritance line is definitely about Raziel and his clan. Kain is most likely withholding information he gained from the chronoplast, so Raziels brothers think his punishment was about the wings, but for kain it was about engineering a set of circumstances that could result in the coin landing on it's edge. And they were probably in fear because they were likely facing starvation and the actual world they were living in was on the verge collapse. And Melchiah probably lives out of sight because even he finds what he has become to be disgusting.
@@dancreary3340 Close. It's not a choice Kain made, he had no choice. It was the predestined flow of things. On his own Kain has no ability to manipulate the events of predestination, this is why for the majority of the series Kain is the one being manipulated. Only Raziel has any free will. Kains real coin toss is whether Raziel will kill him. The coin landing on its edge is the paradox that results allowing him to in turn save Raziel. This starts the major breaking of the timeline. Prior to that they are only changing the future (allowing Kain to live) but saving Raziel changes the past allowing the re-writing of things. If the past (which from the story viewpoint is the future of the Reaver) was never changed it would never be possible to purify him.
1:39 very relevant point. Power definitely attracts the likes of narcissists and sociopaths. Unfortunately, our society is design to reward them rather than punish them. There's and old trope that the most suited to hold power are those who don't want it. And that is the difficult paradox: those who should rule, don't want to (for good reason), and those who do want power will lie their way to it.
the story of Legacy of Kain is Brilliant, so well written and voice acted it's beyond me how this series hasn't gotten a remake or more media in general, it's pure platiunum material
Mortanus had a plan to redeem the Circle and give Guardianship back to the Vampires, but then you have Ariel doing the opposite, her "redemption" involves Kain sacrificing himself and not giving a hoot that the Vampire race will go extinct and the Unspoken and his race will win in the long run. You really can't blame Kain, Vorador, and Janos talking crap about how the human guardians were prone to manipulation and corruption.
though in a way the poor woman held onto what little hope she had imagine being stuck at th epillars for 2k years alone seeing corruption destroy the world
The Corruption is what is going to happen to Legacy of Kain if it ever gets reimagined for modern audiences. It's sad that Defiance's ending remained open and the story will never conclude but do we risk modern day Crystal Dynamics with the series? I believe it's a better to have fond memories of something that is good instead of it returning and dropping to rock bottom. The 5 games will live forever in our souls. Vae Victus!
You!! You made me play all the games in the series recently and I'm grateful for it. The coin has landed on it's edge and the destiny of Nosgoth remains hidden in chaos... But Kain is now tormented by hope
You know i am kind of glad that LoK series has been asleep throughout these decades without anyone sabotaging it's purity by making a game for *modern audiences* whatever that means, at the same time i hate the fact that it has been asleep for so long and it's awakening has been long overdue. Good news is Crystal Dynamics has officially got the IP back under their wings but the bad news is their parent company is Embracer group who is known for closing studios left and right. One thing is certain, is that Crystal Dynamics still cared about this IP and we have been seeing some surveys and official artwork surfaced recently so, it is terrible taste of that illusion again.
I think this form of "corruption" is a fantastic idea that I haven't seen anywhere else. It makes the guardians feel like a big deal and not just bosses (some were admitedly not so good, lmao). It's like Elden Ring's rot but not just physical. Everything rots physically, mentally and metaphorically when Nupraptor's madness "blossoms". Even time kinda rots due to the events of timetraveling paradoxes.
I am amazed you are still able to find content to discuss regarding the Legacy of Kain. Your series is so masterfully crafted that it seems like you covered everything until suddenly here you are, putting out the work. Thank you so much!
10:27 "This reinforces the idea that power attracts pathological personalities." I'm reading a book about this, "Corruptible: Who Gets Power and How It Changes Us" by Brian Klaas, so it's super interesting to see the same kind of consideration reflected here. :] nice!
It makes sense. Power is often an ecossystem itself, or a disruptor of it. So people who find themselves unable to fit, or who possess a self-made system of how things should be, will feel the most attracted by it. I speak from self-experience.
You never cease to impress and entertain, and you did actually answers a question I ask in one of your videos. Why other guardians weren't born when Cain killed them...thanks for that and for such awesome videos I was missing your take on this game but I see it still a long ways to go. Thanks again and hope to hear from ya soon.💪🏽
Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver was almost the entirety of my teen years. The complex story telling, voice acting, and extensive world building is a primary factor for my desire to be an author. Great content!
I do like how each person in the story of Legacy of Kain, deal with corruption both in others and in themselves. With Kain. At first he deals with it as an young arrogant prince would in the first game. Then later he tries to mitigated its effects and rule over it with force as a king would. who now understand its nature better. And at last to an old emperor who has to deal with legacy.
Awesome video, I love legacy of kain all the way back when I saw the opening to soul reaver as a kid watching my dad play. I want to highlight how combining the concept/fan art with the gameplay really fleshes out the characters more. Man we need a legacy of kain revival
I feel like "Kingdom Hearts" lacks this. This kind of corruption that compells you to strive for change. As in "The Path", corruption is visceral, but inevitable and necessary.
This is the second high quality LOK video I've seen from you. IMMEDIATE sub. One is a warning, two is a sub, and my love. Please keep giving this level of love to the series, it deserves it so much 💜💜
As a long time LoK fan. I came onto RUclips today seeking inspiration to kick start painting a new set of canvases for an exhibtion. And there this video was waiting for me at the top of the list.... Perfect! Thankyou!
You just made my day with this new vid ! Always 1 pleasure to get notifications for new LOK contents ! Let's go during my break ! Thanks again for your incredible work ! Vae Victis
@@filipvadas7602true. However, Mobius is still prone to order. I need chaos for my fics to work, since they share a multiverse, but need to shatter the world order to make sure their routes are pleasable. The Eldritch gods who rule over my multiverse are good people who want to help others in spite of their pre-disposition to cause madness by their very presence, so they need Devils who force their interference.
Please we need to talk about the Wraith blade which purified Kain. Because during this vid I was expecting you to talk about Raziel's line during his sacrifice "And the Scion of Balance is healed".
Quick question: -I know the standard way to change the timeline in "LoK" is by causing a time paradox by having both Reavers touch. But if some being from other reality with properties similar to the Reaver interacted with it, do you think the timeline would mistake said being with the Soul Reaver ?
@@karljohan2300 which is precisely why I need to know if a being with the same powers as the Reaver could be mistaken as the Reaver, leading to its interactions with Raziel to cause changes in the timeline. I want my fic to be as accurate as possible in those terms.
@@JabamiLainsorry probably not though. The paradoxes are sparked by the impossible event of two identical raziel souls reaching out to devour each other when that can't happen according to the regular rules of the universe where a soul is supposed to be unique. Another item or spirit + RazSoul wouldn't force the issue the same way. If you can really make a case for how it'd be mistaken as a raz soul, maybe. And there's got to be other things out there that could defy physics all on their own without needing Raziel, the series just laser focussed on the sword, cuz "Soul Reaver" was the title.
It's said that Nupraptor's Madness also infected all the sensitive and intellectual beings in Nosgoth, not just the other guardians. Might that have played a role in William the Just's descent into the Nemesis?
Your videos never disappoint. You do amazing research on the topic at hand and really give a full account of all the factors involved. Can't wait for that reaver video. Great work mate!
The whole story is just a war between two factions, one to restore the guardians and vampires and the other to damn the world and let the hylden bsck in. So good.
I find the aspect of the Bloodspell/Curse of the Hylden, turning the Ancient Vampires into bloodsuckers, interesting, since, I assume, this spell that basically changed the entire physiology of the Vampires , is also reason why Kain and his offspring kept evolving, while Nupraptor's corruption was responsible that this evolution got more and more grotesque
Thank you my favorite channel, for continuing to create these analysis videos for my favorite series. A video about the Soul Reaver and the Wraith Blade would be wonderful. Their role, symbolism, ying and yang. I think there is a lot of lore to uncover.
You think plato qoute of"the true measure of a man is what he does with power" holds up in this case as well. Like power reveals character "as much as it corrupts it?
Thank You for the new video, and as Raziel once said in my favorite quote: "You'll forgive me if I don't naively devour every scrap of information you toss me." I love your content.
I'm happy to see my favorite series alive in the hearts of content creators even now. It amazes me how much time has passed since I finished defiance. The kinship I felt for Raziel despite being 11-15 is a testimonial to the masterful artistry and intrigue the team at Crystal Dynamics has in spades. Anyone know if there's been any new developments? I check a few times a year in the endless cycle that is being a LOK fanatic.
@pr0cy0n1 Not sure if you've heard, but a prequel comic set during Raziel's days as a Sarafan and Vampire is coming out next year. There's a Legacy of Kain Kickstarter, which has just ended for pre-ordering the novel, but I think they're still accepting late orders if you're interested. Just Google Legacy of Kain Kickstarter and it will be the first result. They have raised over 1.3 million usd so far.
Another interesting take would be that Kain could've staved off corruption by creating his sons, thereby passing the poison onto them, wittingly or not. Or he became cognizont of the corruption before it became too strong and found a way to halt it.
Other than the corruption and eventual shattering of the pillars, I'd argue that the only other moment as important to Nozgoth is the forging of the Reaver itself.
I always thought that Kain became corrupt after becoming a vampire. I mean, he was pretty nice in the intro of Blood Omen.......almost timid. Hell, Kain even mentioned how Mortanius "turned him from the light".
I think that Kain's arrogance made him fight the forces that sought to control his dominion over Nosgoth, as is evident from his fights with the Hylden lord. One thing led to another and his ambition led to him finding out about Mobius' and the Elder god's machinations, so he turned on them. He wanted to keep his descendant, Raziel, out of selfishness, even though it was clear that his imprisonment in the soul reaver would've purified Kain and given him a better fighting chance. He wanted to defy destiny itself. He wanted to break every ploy of his adversaries, and prove the prophecies wrong. He was ready to throw away his "winning hand" so that "the coin could land on it's edge" and offer him an even better one - a complete and utter victory in which he would suffer no losses. It was Raziel's wish to purify him and sacrifice himself. That's probably why he did it - why he thought that there was no other way - because if he kept listening to the corrupted, arrogant and ambitious Kain, their shot at winning probably would've been wasted. So by cleansing him, he truly set him on the path to victory and gave him a fighting chance. Thinking about it that way, Raziel's sacrifice finally makes sense to me. I used to think that it was unnecessary, but to me this seems to fit.
As Frank Herbert once said about the Dune Saga - it is not so much that power corrupts, as that power attracts the corruptible. Those who most strongly feel the allure of power are, by their very nature, vulnerable to moral corruption and arguably inherently ill suited to wielding power safely and responsibly. In our world, political and social power is obviously not some magically corrupting force with agency and malefic intent of its own, but it can very easily serve to reveal the failings already present in those exposed to it, and so it also is in Nosgoth in the Legacy of Kain series. When given (what appeared to Kain at the time at least to be) the true power of a weighty choice that would determine the fate of an entire world, the influence of the corruption that had settled into Kain before he was even born came to the fore and he chose his own narrow self interest over the well being of all of creation. Of course, the irony is that it is suggested in later games that, without vampire guardians, the pillars would have slowly fallen anyway, and so Kain was trapped with only the illusion of choice - if he refuses the sacrifice then his own corruption remains, the Balance Pillar cannot be healed, and so the world falls to corruption, but if he accepts the sacrifice then, as the last vampire in existence at that time, he condemns the vampire race to extinction and leaves the pillars solely in the hands of human guardians, which would still result in their fall, only delayed a little, so all that really changes is the timeline of the corruption of Nosgoth by a few decades or centuries. As for Kain's later redemption, flaws in the self are not set in stone and immutable. Self transformation may be the most difficult journey of all, but it is possible. Kain, as an immortal, had the benefit of long term perspective denied to most of us - he witnessed the full extent of the consequences of his impulsive, selfish choice. He saw the entire world rot around him, his every dream, ambition, and achievement reduced to ashes, and the world precariously balanced on the precipice of Armageddon. He had the opportunity to try to do something about that, to try to remedy the calamity brought about by a choice he made, and he still sought that redemption even after he realised that the alternative choice he repudiated would also have lead to the damnation of Nosgoth. For all his causal cruelty and extreme brutality, Kain still emerges as a hero of sorts, one who stands for free will and self determination in defiance of the tyranny of a fate engineered to service the unaccountable interests of would-be gods.
Love to see a new video from you on LoK. Trying to get a friend into the games and your videos are a great resource for things I've forgotten or just can't explain as eloquently as you do. Can't wait for the graphic novel that was recently announced.
Always enjoy these videos. Let's hope Crystal Dynamics ir whomever holds the ip rights now does this series justice and keeps their personal politics out of it
What I find interesting about one of the new mechanics introduced by the cancelled Defiance followup "Dark Legacy" is a new "beast form" for Kain, which could either act the same way the devil trigger from Devil May Cry worked, or even cooler, would pop up during different parts of the story the same way the Dark Prince from the third Prince of Persia game worked. Unless I missed something, this could indicate that Kain, too, was devolving into a bestial abomination.
Love this series, one of the first games I ever played. Didn’t understand the vastness of everything back then, but this game has some of the best lore and voice acting I’ve seen. Could only imagine if we got blessed with a real remake with modern graphics.
The Eldritch gods who rule over my fanfics' multiverse are good people who want to help others in spite of their pre-disposition to cause madness by their very presence. But they're cautious of it, so they need Devils who force their interference. Series like this are part of the reason for me to envision my stories this way.
Every time I hear anything at all involving Kain's corruption, I hear Raziel say "... and the Scion of Balance is healed. And I am not your enemy - not your destroyer - I am, as before, your right hand. Your sword." Goosebumps every time!
As Legacy of Kain content addict thank you
I was so happy , too :P
As a fellow Legacy of Kain addict, thanks for watching :)
There's going to be a Legacy of Kain graphic novel released later this year. It's called Soul Reaver The Dead Shall Rise and will focus on Raziel's past as a member of the Sarafan and his turning by Kain. 😊
same, ive already watched all the video 4 times, just for the vibes
Here Here!
Legacy of Kain still providing content for people to this day, is still proof that the creators of the games put all their love, passion and energy to make this a unique IP
Thank you Strictly Fantasy, always nice seeing/listening to one of your videos
The last time I was this early, the pillars stood uncorrupted and pristine
As I scanned the comment section, this statement glinted in my eye as a golden jewel, belying a cocky chuckle.
Its ironic that Nupraptor's madness, which influenced Kain's decision to not sacrifice himself, ended up being a blessing in disguise. Since, as was established multiple times, if Kain had died, then the Vampire race would have disappeared along with him and the new Guardians, especially without the good-natured guidance of senior guardians like Mortanius and Ariel, would have inevitabely fallen to the Hylden and/or The Elder God's manipulation sooner or later.
The whole series is a treasure pile with ironic and poetic justice moments, as well as the twist...love it.
As History proves, sometimes, insanity is simply a new perspective that was not explored yet.
I've never really liked the idea of the Hylden being the big bad of the series, considering they were just another race that l8ved on Nosgoth along with the ancient Vampires
Their only true crime was living in a different way to their enemies
The Vampires lived by the use of magic and obeyed the will of their "god" while the Hylden lived through technology and perhaps either by design or their natural physiology were practically immortal
The Vampires started the war with them under the command of the Elder who either wanted the Hylden souls or merely wanted them wiped from the land as they were useless to him
Their curse of immortality on their enemies and subsequent manipulations throughout history were justifiable in some ways considering they were treated as horrible monsters
@@SamuelBlack84they became the bad guys when they decided to work against Raziel and Kain.
@@SamuelBlack84 I think that was exactly the point: everybody is the righteous hero of their own story. We tend to align with the ancient vampires and only see their virtues. But if you analyze their behavior regarding the Hylden, you find they were basically the aggressors, attacking all who lived outside their view of the world. You can also see this moral relativism in all other factions: the Zarafan's righteous crusade is all about power,; Raziel's actions, while aiming to save Nosgoth, are driven by revenge; the Elder God claims to care about the cycle of life an death and the wheel of fate, but he's nothing but a parasite. I think that this is the greatest message in the series: good and evil are relative. This is awesome writing. This is why the appeal of this series has endured over the years.
"At the moment of my first cry, Ariel's beloved - the Guardian Nupraptor - finds her corpse.
Wracked with grief and tormented with suspicions of treachery, Nupraptor plunges into a madness which overflows and infects all of the Guardians, who are symbiotically bound. Including me.
The repercussions of Ariel's assassination were expertly calculated...
The entire Circle descends into madness, and I am tainted at the moment of my birth - instantly rendered incapable of fulfilling the role destiny has prepared for me."
It was really sad to see that when Nupraptor’s girlfriend was murdered,
He plunged into a madness and then the corruption infected the guardians.
Even Kain himself.😞
But I’ll always pity Ariel’s boyfriend,
Even if he has to be Kain’s first kill.
I’ll let it be without suffering.😔
*"Shall I show you the same mercy you showed the rest of the Circle then? You blithely murdered them to restore their Pillars - yet your hand faltered when it came to the final sacrifice. What makes you exempt, Kain? You're merely the last man standing. Why condemn me - for simply carrying out what you hadn't the courage to do yourself?"*
Gods the writing for these games rival even some of the greatest novels and films
"Let's drop the moral posturing shall we, we both know there is no altruism in this pursuit. Your own reckless indignation led you here, I Counted On It! There's no shame in it Raziel, revenge is motivation enough, at least it's honest! Hate me! But do it honestly!"
What I love about Kain character is that he doesn't seek redemption. He's pragmatic evil, that seeks only a better fate for himself. But through understanding and wisdom his egotistical ways, ironically, lead to the betterment of the world.
Pragmatic characters are my favorite in the media, both those in the spectrum of good (Naruto, Sora) as well as those in evil (Tanya, Kyubey), for they seek to balance fighting with words through the use of humanity's greatest asset. Our intelligence and the categories they're divided into.
That's why my standards in media are pretty high. The hard headed good and the psychotic evil are boring and predictable. Yet those exist in abundance.
Tell me. What's your favorite trope archetype ? How do you define your standards ?
Selflessness may help others in some way, but it does nothing for your own well-being
Selfishness shouldn't always be so readily demonised
Kain wanted to help the world hence why he was seeking another choice, he is the balance guardian after all. He pretty much says this about the choice he was given the choice of a rock and a hard place and neither choice led to an acceptable outcome but he knew the pillars needed to be fixed but he also knew that no one else would be able to do it. His vampirism and long life are what gave him the time to be able to figure out the game he was in but even then didn't understand the entirety of it all, and if a 1000+ year old vampire who has traveled through time couldn't grasp and obtain the knowledge of the scheme being played what chance did a human with our limited lifespan ever hope to grasp?
And sometimes, selflessness robs others of their self-sufficiency@@SamuelBlack84.
Kain lost it when Raziel was imprisoned in the Reaver at the end of Defiance. If we're ever to get a sequel to that, I suspect Kain will look for a way to free him, amongst other things regarding their fates.
Abraham Lincoln said it best: "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power."
Yeah, look at how horrific he was. Lincoln was basically a dictator and a horrible person. But he was awfully intelligent, and that quote is 100% true.
And boy did lincoln abuse his power. See suspension of habeas corpus, using the NY natty guard to kill citizens and quell riots, shutting down newspapers Critical of him (especially in New york), using executive order to bypass congress, imprisoning the senator from Ohio, etc...
It is somewhat of a theme in dark high fantasy literature. The all-consuming nature of corruption is often only noticeable by long-lived races and wise men. The tragedy of corrupt choices is that most people (most often humans) don't live long enough to see the results of their actions.
There is also a theme of reversing this phenomenon on its head by introducing ancient villains who ended up tortured by the realization of their hubris. Ajunta Pall from KOTOR comes to mind.
Quick question. My Revan and Meetra go through methods to destroy both the Sith and Jedi orders, and use the Rakata and a few slaves to build a new order. Does that make them corrupt people ?
For context regarding the slaves, Revan believed the Wookies should rebel without falling back on tradition, so he supported Chuundar to create further anger in them. Meetra took control of a slave ring to buy off some slaves from the Exchange in order to turn them into future soldiers.
What type of characters does that make them ?
Given the opportunity, like Kain I too would welcome the chance to rule the entire world
I have absolutely no empathy for others, and as long as I don't suffer the consequences, I couldn't care less about the fate of Man
It may be selfish and arrogant, but I can't deny my nature or my ambitions
Any sentient being with half a brain would always seek everything that they could at the expense of others
@@JabamiLain It can be argued, on paper, those are utilitarian means focusing on the wanted end by any means necessary. Although it is not exactly selfish, it is very much spreading evil and suffering. Now, taking into account the original nature that the True Sith were intended to have. The actions you describe are borderline benevolent and charitable. Saving people from themselves, you could say. What made Revan so badass is that he was the only one who realized the threat the Galaxy was facing. Because he was tactical, he realized that going Sith was the best way to prepare the Galaxy for the True Sith's assault.
@@SamuelBlack84 Then make sure you take into account the likely outcomes of your actions before you do them. The corrupt and power-hungry types generally don't live long because they bring on too much hatred or envy on themselves. Being ambitious and thirsting for power is not inherently wrong and can do a lot of good can be done through it. The classic irony of bringing about good for others while your actual aims were selfish. Moderation, patience of the hunter and taking everything into account are the key. I would advise you to think of what brings you satisfaction and genuine happiness though. Regardless, critical thinking and introspection are always good to practice.
@kainslegacy78618 Infinite wealth
Beautiful women
A black castle with opulent furnishings
And, access to all the worlds secrets
And, especially important l, the mass slaughter of all my enemies
It's not to say that others won't benefit in some way
You never know, they might like the end result
I don't want a world in ruins
I want the planet to rival Mount Olympus
All I ask is to have the position of Zeus
These videos are amazing and it's great to see this classic getting the attention it deserves.
Those videos are keeping the fandom alive. I think Mobius was evil LONG before nutraptor's insanity
It's safe to say he wasn't affect as much as the others. Mortanius held it at bay the whole thirty years whilst also fighting frequent possession.
And it's been said that Azimuth was sadistic and cruel even before the corruption, so chances are it just amplified that trait in her.
My theory is that Mobius experiences all of the his life at once. He is talking with Kain in one time period while also experiencing talking with Raziel at another period. This causes Mobius to always be receiving Nurap attack. However it wasn't the cause of his evil that was all him.
Yep that time streaming rat.😠
Helga Pataki: He’s gonna have to listen to old Betsy.
Like a vampire, we live off it. Praying for the day we can get a new meal😂
@@zephon6745 Interesting theory; however that would mean the Time Pillar would have always been corrupted for as long as Mobius had been it's guardian until his death and the token returned, as the timeline is defined as a constant.
The problem with the theory is that prior to Ariel's murder, said pillar was intact.
man, bless your heart for keeping what little heartbeat this franchise has alive.
Basically, the corruption had three purposes:
1) make Kain unable to become the Scion of Balance
2) fool Kain into commiting hara-kiri, and if that failed
3) coerce Raziel into killing him
Basically, every event from the games has the purpose to fuck Kain over - everyone looks at him and thinks 'imma mess this guy up'. Even time itself, went from being a concept to a literal force of nature and tried to make Raziel skewer him. Thats just how much the world of Nosgoth hates Kain.
He is the protagonist after all.
If hyldens are as aware of the timeline as they appear to be, the corruption was also a strike against necrovampires. Right before Mortaneus created a new kind of vampires, the hylden added a new update to their curse that kept necrovampires from permanently inheriting the world. Instead, they devolved and were swept away. Cuz of the new nupraptor curse / booster shot.
And instead it eventually looped back around into Kain making the universe his whipping boy.
Kain: Haters gonna hate.
This game will give u Stockholms syndrome. Make u feel something special for the bad guy like no other game hah😂
When Ariel and Nupraptor had a relation, balance was destroyed because the guardian of balance was favouring another pillar. Through that the prison was weakend and the Hylden could possess Mortanius who then killed Ariel, knowing it would break Nupraptor and the rest of the circle. The pillars would break as a result. Actually a nice plot that went over 5 games to finally be completed.
that actually a good way to explain how the first corruption entered always wondered wtf happened to let the hylden break out of their prison before balance guardians murder
@@karljohan2300 It's part of some deleted dialogue. Mortanius confessed why he killed Ariel. The balance of the circle was destroyed because of the relation between two pillars. However it was taken out. It would also explain why the control of Mortanius by the hylden was so weak because the prison was still working, it just had some little cracks. As soon as the pillars broke the hylden lord took over Janus's body and had full control.
@@lyvekis8824Mortanius has no right to break Ariel and Nupraptor’s hearts.😠
Their child could’ve become the future Mind Guardian but didn’t happen after she was murdered.😠
chya tat mybe but kain killed the H.L once b4 wat makes chu tink he wont do it agains 🤨 at the end of defiance i would punder tat even tho the hyldan bwoke fwee kain would just kill em off again as he dids in B.O 2 altho i still havent found the answer yet still tuu say how even tho kains whole again how he will restore balance 🤔
@@shadowdragonx07kain probably won't interfere with the hylden unless they have something he needs
He still needs them alive due to how time works the younger kain needs to be the one to kill the hylden lord and stop them from entering the world
And now that kain is uncorrupted new guardian can be born/chosen what needs to happen is he need to initiate one last reaver convergence to fully restore nosgoth but at which point in time and what kind of effect does it need to have, their some possibility for it
1, do a reaver convergence with his younger self and purify him of corruption effectively stoping nosgoth complete destruction by soul reaver 1
2, return to the future and begin picking up the broken piece while searching for the new guardian
I must say I`m delighted seeing that there are others out there still showing love to this saga. It was so important to me growing up. Little did I know at the time what a rare phenomenon it would later turn out to be. I understood rather little english back then, thus missing out on the true complexity of the story, but the atmosphere captivated me utterly. Later I came to appreciate the quality of dialogue on display. Your in depth videos on this topic are much appreciated.
I would say this video perfectly describes Melciah's words to Raziel "you are the last to die" meaning the corruption that came with evolution that he was spared through his execution did not transform him into one of the monsters his brothers became. Though Melciah was a special case as he resented what he had become more then the others and he welcomed his death
Im pretty sure he was just telling the Big R that his progeny were extinct.
@@dancreary3340 that would also give more speculation on what he meant by "upstart inheritance" to whom was he referring? It would make sense that he is either referring to Raziel or the Razielhim but it could also refer to Melciah and his brothers as he states that "everyone is afraid" including himself as he lives out of sight. I still stand by my theory of the "last to die" meaning but I do love how the dialogue is ambiguous allowing for different interpretations
@@2010jakeybgoode That upstart inheritance line is definitely about Raziel and his clan. Kain is most likely withholding information he gained from the chronoplast, so Raziels brothers think his punishment was about the wings, but for kain it was about engineering a set of circumstances that could result in the coin landing on it's edge. And they were probably in fear because they were likely facing starvation and the actual world they were living in was on the verge collapse. And Melchiah probably lives out of sight because even he finds what he has become to be disgusting.
@@dancreary3340 Close.
It's not a choice Kain made, he had no choice.
It was the predestined flow of things. On his own Kain has no ability to manipulate the events of predestination, this is why for the majority of the series Kain is the one being manipulated.
Only Raziel has any free will.
Kains real coin toss is whether Raziel will kill him. The coin landing on its edge is the paradox that results allowing him to in turn save Raziel. This starts the major breaking of the timeline.
Prior to that they are only changing the future (allowing Kain to live) but saving Raziel changes the past allowing the re-writing of things.
If the past (which from the story viewpoint is the future of the Reaver) was never changed it would never be possible to purify him.
I am glad you are managing to get more topics to write videos.
1:39 very relevant point. Power definitely attracts the likes of narcissists and sociopaths. Unfortunately, our society is design to reward them rather than punish them. There's and old trope that the most suited to hold power are those who don't want it. And that is the difficult paradox: those who should rule, don't want to (for good reason), and those who do want power will lie their way to it.
💯
I'm a simple person; I see a new Legacy of Kain video from this channel, so I click.
the story of Legacy of Kain is Brilliant, so well written and voice acted it's beyond me how this series hasn't gotten a remake or more media in general, it's pure platiunum material
I'm always super excited whenever I receive a notification for a new LoK video! Thanks you for all the good work you do!
Mortanus had a plan to redeem the Circle and give Guardianship back to the Vampires, but then you have Ariel doing the opposite, her "redemption" involves Kain sacrificing himself and not giving a hoot that the Vampire race will go extinct and the Unspoken and his race will win in the long run. You really can't blame Kain, Vorador, and Janos talking crap about how the human guardians were prone to manipulation and corruption.
The poor woman was too blinded by her love to see through the veil.
though in a way the poor woman held onto what little hope she had imagine being stuck at th epillars for 2k years alone seeing corruption destroy the world
Loved the series as a child literally had no idea Kain was corrupted before birth. Best lore video I have seen.
The Corruption is what is going to happen to Legacy of Kain if it ever gets reimagined for modern audiences. It's sad that Defiance's ending remained open and the story will never conclude but do we risk modern day Crystal Dynamics with the series?
I believe it's a better to have fond memories of something that is good instead of it returning and dropping to rock bottom.
The 5 games will live forever in our souls. Vae Victus!
You!! You made me play all the games in the series recently and I'm grateful for it. The coin has landed on it's edge and the destiny of Nosgoth remains hidden in chaos... But Kain is now tormented by hope
You know i am kind of glad that LoK series has been asleep throughout these decades without anyone sabotaging it's purity by making a game for *modern audiences* whatever that means, at the same time i hate the fact that it has been asleep for so long and it's awakening has been long overdue. Good news is Crystal Dynamics has officially got the IP back under their wings but the bad news is their parent company is Embracer group who is known for closing studios left and right. One thing is certain, is that Crystal Dynamics still cared about this IP and we have been seeing some surveys and official artwork surfaced recently so, it is terrible taste of that illusion again.
His back with a legacy of kain video once again
Also his front
Also his front
I think this form of "corruption" is a fantastic idea that I haven't seen anywhere else. It makes the guardians feel like a big deal and not just bosses (some were admitedly not so good, lmao). It's like Elden Ring's rot but not just physical. Everything rots physically, mentally and metaphorically when Nupraptor's madness "blossoms". Even time kinda rots due to the events of timetraveling paradoxes.
Grasp at the reins of influence & control? Someone is at that LoK level of writing
Keep the content coming. It's a good way to freshen the newcomers and excite the fans of LOK alike.
I am amazed you are still able to find content to discuss regarding the Legacy of Kain. Your series is so masterfully crafted that it seems like you covered everything until suddenly here you are, putting out the work. Thank you so much!
10:27 "This reinforces the idea that power attracts pathological personalities." I'm reading a book about this, "Corruptible: Who Gets Power and How It Changes Us" by Brian Klaas, so it's super interesting to see the same kind of consideration reflected here. :] nice!
It makes sense. Power is often an ecossystem itself, or a disruptor of it. So people who find themselves unable to fit, or who possess a self-made system of how things should be, will feel the most attracted by it.
I speak from self-experience.
Another wonder, your videos are a love letter to the long-forgotten franchise.
Thank you for continuing the legacy in such an honorable way.
Ahh loving the HD crisp footage and smooth editing, wonderful work
I'm so happy every time you make a new video about legacy of kain. This was awesome, thanks!!!
Let’s bring this series back.
Amazing work!
I thank you for keeping the beauty of this magnificent gem of a game alive. I learn something new everytime I watch your covering.
I like the fact that you make content fot this masterpiece of a game and mythos. Keep it up!
You never cease to impress and entertain, and you did actually answers a question I ask in one of your videos. Why other guardians weren't born when Cain killed them...thanks for that and for such awesome videos I was missing your take on this game but I see it still a long ways to go. Thanks again and hope to hear from ya soon.💪🏽
Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver was almost the entirety of my teen years. The complex story telling, voice acting, and extensive world building is a primary factor for my desire to be an author. Great content!
No way you uploaded today. For some reason I've rewatched some of your videos today and boom, new video.
Yes, its been a while I need these videos
As a lover of the Legacy of Kain series, thank you for your continued work
I’ve never clicked on a video so fast. Thanks for keeping these going. Can’t wait for the upcoming remakes!
I do like how each person in the story of Legacy of Kain, deal with corruption both in others and in themselves.
With Kain. At first he deals with it as an young arrogant prince would in the first game.
Then later he tries to mitigated its effects and rule over it with force as a king would. who now understand its nature better.
And at last to an old emperor who has to deal with legacy.
Awesome video, I love legacy of kain all the way back when I saw the opening to soul reaver as a kid watching my dad play. I want to highlight how combining the concept/fan art with the gameplay really fleshes out the characters more. Man we need a legacy of kain revival
I'll never get tired of your videos. As a lore junky and a LOK fanatic, finding this channel is like finding gold.
Thanks for what you do man!!!
I feel like "Kingdom Hearts" lacks this. This kind of corruption that compells you to strive for change. As in "The Path", corruption is visceral, but inevitable and necessary.
This is the second high quality LOK video I've seen from you. IMMEDIATE sub.
One is a warning, two is a sub, and my love. Please keep giving this level of love to the series, it deserves it so much 💜💜
Ty for your videos they are without a doubt great ❤
I am a simple man I see Legacy of Kain contents from you? I instantly click.
“can’t talk right now; new strictly fantasy is out.”
Me every time you drop a new Legacy of Kain video
As a long time LoK fan. I came onto RUclips today seeking inspiration to kick start painting a new set of canvases for an exhibtion. And there this video was waiting for me at the top of the list.... Perfect!
Thankyou!
love these videos. a way to relive this amazing story which might remain dormant forevermore
Can't wait to see that video about the Wraith Blade! I love your channel!
You just made my day with this new vid ! Always 1 pleasure to get notifications for new LOK contents ! Let's go during my break ! Thanks again for your incredible work ! Vae Victis
My teenage nostalgia, these games were so good.
Knowing the Reality Guardian was already messed up, even before her corruption, helps me lots ! Your videos are incredibly helpful !
To be fair, so was Moebius, the Time Guardian
@@filipvadas7602true. However, Mobius is still prone to order. I need chaos for my fics to work, since they share a multiverse, but need to shatter the world order to make sure their routes are pleasable.
The Eldritch gods who rule over my multiverse are good people who want to help others in spite of their pre-disposition to cause madness by their very presence, so they need Devils who force their interference.
Years later your videos still give me insight into this magnificent series. Thank you, profoundly.
Please we need to talk about the Wraith blade which purified Kain. Because during this vid I was expecting you to talk about Raziel's line during his sacrifice "And the Scion of Balance is healed".
Quick question:
-I know the standard way to change the timeline in "LoK" is by causing a time paradox by having both Reavers touch. But if some being from other reality with properties similar to the Reaver interacted with it, do you think the timeline would mistake said being with the Soul Reaver ?
@@JabamiLain a good question but only thing we know to change the course is the reaver so who knows?
@@karljohan2300 which is precisely why I need to know if a being with the same powers as the Reaver could be mistaken as the Reaver, leading to its interactions with Raziel to cause changes in the timeline. I want my fic to be as accurate as possible in those terms.
@@JabamiLainsorry probably not though. The paradoxes are sparked by the impossible event of two identical raziel souls reaching out to devour each other when that can't happen according to the regular rules of the universe where a soul is supposed to be unique. Another item or spirit + RazSoul wouldn't force the issue the same way. If you can really make a case for how it'd be mistaken as a raz soul, maybe. And there's got to be other things out there that could defy physics all on their own without needing Raziel, the series just laser focussed on the sword, cuz "Soul Reaver" was the title.
@@larrymcmacarroon9529thank you for your input. I'll see what I can do.
Magnificent work yet again, thank you for helping keep the LOK series alive ❤
I love your LOK videos. Thank you so much for making these. I’m obsessed.
The remake of Soul Reaver 1 and 2 is going to be released in December, and I hope and look forward to any content you make covering the remakes.
I'm glad you dove into the fact that corruption is a force rather than just something someone gains from their behavior.
It's said that Nupraptor's Madness also infected all the sensitive and intellectual beings in Nosgoth, not just the other guardians. Might that have played a role in William the Just's descent into the Nemesis?
Your videos never disappoint. You do amazing research on the topic at hand and really give a full account of all the factors involved. Can't wait for that reaver video. Great work mate!
The whole story is just a war between two factions, one to restore the guardians and vampires and the other to damn the world and let the hylden bsck in. So good.
Your videos keep this wonderous story alive for us all. Never stop.
I find the aspect of the Bloodspell/Curse of the Hylden, turning the Ancient Vampires into bloodsuckers, interesting, since, I assume, this spell that basically changed the entire physiology of the Vampires , is also reason why Kain and his offspring kept evolving, while Nupraptor's corruption was responsible that this evolution got more and more grotesque
I didn't even think about the corruption like that. Thanks for making this video, waiting to see the next one!
Thank you for keeping this series alive !
Thank you my favorite channel, for continuing to create these analysis videos for my favorite series.
A video about the Soul Reaver and the Wraith Blade would be wonderful. Their role, symbolism, ying and yang. I think there is a lot of lore to uncover.
You think plato qoute of"the true measure of a man is what he does with power" holds up in this case as well. Like power reveals character "as much as it corrupts it?
What an amazing game series. The Lore, the voice active are legendary and I hope they will recreate them, these gems are pure gems!
Awesome job with these deep dives! Absolutely love the Legacy of Kain series, and wish we would get a new game!
Thank You for the new video, and as Raziel once said in my favorite quote: "You'll forgive me if I don't naively devour every scrap of information you toss me." I love your content.
I'm happy to see my favorite series alive in the hearts of content creators even now. It amazes me how much time has passed since I finished defiance. The kinship I felt for Raziel despite being 11-15 is a testimonial to the masterful artistry and intrigue the team at Crystal Dynamics has in spades.
Anyone know if there's been any new developments? I check a few times a year in the endless cycle that is being a LOK fanatic.
@pr0cy0n1 Not sure if you've heard, but a prequel comic set during Raziel's days as a Sarafan and Vampire is coming out next year. There's a Legacy of Kain Kickstarter, which has just ended for pre-ordering the novel, but I think they're still accepting late orders if you're interested. Just Google Legacy of Kain Kickstarter and it will be the first result. They have raised over 1.3 million usd so far.
They got the remaster treatment. Releases in December.
"babe wake up ! Strickly Fantasy has posted again !"
We need a faithful remake of the series.
im happy ur still doing these videos ❤🎉
Fantastic video Vae Victis!!!!
You may have single handedly brought this game back to life
Another interesting take would be that Kain could've staved off corruption by creating his sons, thereby passing the poison onto them, wittingly or not. Or he became cognizont of the corruption before it became too strong and found a way to halt it.
Other than the corruption and eventual shattering of the pillars, I'd argue that the only other moment as important to Nozgoth is the forging of the Reaver itself.
I always thought that Kain became corrupt after becoming a vampire. I mean, he was pretty nice in the intro of Blood Omen.......almost timid. Hell, Kain even mentioned how Mortanius "turned him from the light".
Power not only corrupts, but it also reveals a persons true character.
I think that Kain's arrogance made him fight the forces that sought to control his dominion over Nosgoth, as is evident from his fights with the Hylden lord. One thing led to another and his ambition led to him finding out about Mobius' and the Elder god's machinations, so he turned on them. He wanted to keep his descendant, Raziel, out of selfishness, even though it was clear that his imprisonment in the soul reaver would've purified Kain and given him a better fighting chance. He wanted to defy destiny itself. He wanted to break every ploy of his adversaries, and prove the prophecies wrong. He was ready to throw away his "winning hand" so that "the coin could land on it's edge" and offer him an even better one - a complete and utter victory in which he would suffer no losses.
It was Raziel's wish to purify him and sacrifice himself. That's probably why he did it - why he thought that there was no other way - because if he kept listening to the corrupted, arrogant and ambitious Kain, their shot at winning probably would've been wasted. So by cleansing him, he truly set him on the path to victory and gave him a fighting chance.
Thinking about it that way, Raziel's sacrifice finally makes sense to me. I used to think that it was unnecessary, but to me this seems to fit.
As Frank Herbert once said about the Dune Saga - it is not so much that power corrupts, as that power attracts the corruptible. Those who most strongly feel the allure of power are, by their very nature, vulnerable to moral corruption and arguably inherently ill suited to wielding power safely and responsibly. In our world, political and social power is obviously not some magically corrupting force with agency and malefic intent of its own, but it can very easily serve to reveal the failings already present in those exposed to it, and so it also is in Nosgoth in the Legacy of Kain series. When given (what appeared to Kain at the time at least to be) the true power of a weighty choice that would determine the fate of an entire world, the influence of the corruption that had settled into Kain before he was even born came to the fore and he chose his own narrow self interest over the well being of all of creation.
Of course, the irony is that it is suggested in later games that, without vampire guardians, the pillars would have slowly fallen anyway, and so Kain was trapped with only the illusion of choice - if he refuses the sacrifice then his own corruption remains, the Balance Pillar cannot be healed, and so the world falls to corruption, but if he accepts the sacrifice then, as the last vampire in existence at that time, he condemns the vampire race to extinction and leaves the pillars solely in the hands of human guardians, which would still result in their fall, only delayed a little, so all that really changes is the timeline of the corruption of Nosgoth by a few decades or centuries.
As for Kain's later redemption, flaws in the self are not set in stone and immutable. Self transformation may be the most difficult journey of all, but it is possible. Kain, as an immortal, had the benefit of long term perspective denied to most of us - he witnessed the full extent of the consequences of his impulsive, selfish choice. He saw the entire world rot around him, his every dream, ambition, and achievement reduced to ashes, and the world precariously balanced on the precipice of Armageddon. He had the opportunity to try to do something about that, to try to remedy the calamity brought about by a choice he made, and he still sought that redemption even after he realised that the alternative choice he repudiated would also have lead to the damnation of Nosgoth. For all his causal cruelty and extreme brutality, Kain still emerges as a hero of sorts, one who stands for free will and self determination in defiance of the tyranny of a fate engineered to service the unaccountable interests of would-be gods.
Underrated comment
"Power corrupts, and Absolute Power corrupts absolutely"
And it's one's job to fight against that corruption, in order to be worthy of shaping the world. Not even humans are above natural selection.
Love to see a new video from you on LoK. Trying to get a friend into the games and your videos are a great resource for things I've forgotten or just can't explain as eloquently as you do. Can't wait for the graphic novel that was recently announced.
Well my day was going bad, now it seems like its turning around thanks to this video.
Nothing is free... Not even revenge.
The series of Legacy of Kain is so enjoyable, enthralling, & excellent; I truly love it thanks for putting it on here.
Always enjoy these videos. Let's hope Crystal Dynamics ir whomever holds the ip rights now does this series justice and keeps their personal politics out of it
One of the best plots ever made in video games history is like reading literature on how well made it was.
What I find interesting about one of the new mechanics introduced by the cancelled Defiance followup "Dark Legacy" is a new "beast form" for Kain, which could either act the same way the devil trigger from Devil May Cry worked, or even cooler, would pop up during different parts of the story the same way the Dark Prince from the third Prince of Persia game worked. Unless I missed something, this could indicate that Kain, too, was devolving into a bestial abomination.
Love this series, one of the first games I ever played. Didn’t understand the vastness of everything back then, but this game has some of the best lore and voice acting I’ve seen. Could only imagine if we got blessed with a real remake with modern graphics.
I'm excited that all the legacy of kain games are available for purchase on PlayStation Five
A work of art my friend.
The Eldritch gods who rule over my fanfics' multiverse are good people who want to help others in spite of their pre-disposition to cause madness by their very presence. But they're cautious of it, so they need Devils who force their interference.
Series like this are part of the reason for me to envision my stories this way.
Every time I hear anything at all involving Kain's corruption, I hear Raziel say "... and the Scion of Balance is healed. And I am not your enemy - not your destroyer - I am, as before, your right hand. Your sword."
Goosebumps every time!