Latest classic PS1 remaster is a perfect example of how not to update a game

People frequently express their want to forget certain experiences and tales, whether they be from games, movies, or novels.

They were so wonderful that they wished they could relive it for the first time, not because they were horrible.

The issue with this is that these stories are frequently not what you recall them to be when you go back and read them again.

While the things you love are magnified, problems are frequently overlooked as nostalgia covers up the flaws.

Some experiences are better enjoyed when they were first released, aside from memory tricks.

This is because preferences evolve throughout time, and items that were deemed appropriate at one point may no longer be so now.

I’m referring to the elements that contemporary gamers have grown accustomed to over time, not cultural attitudes.

Features including fast travel, accessibility settings, tiny maps or hints to the next goal, auto save or save anywhere, and more.

When we were children, we lived in a world without the internet or even double-digit TV stations, and we had what seemed like endless leisure.

With fewer entertainment alternatives you wanted what you had to endure as long as possible, which meant the backtracking, grinding, and butting your head against the wall were all part of the process.

People are always encouraged to be active in today’s hustling culture, and if you’re not making progress, you’re told you’re squandering your valuable life.

This explains why games have changed and why console remakes and remasters are so popular, bringing classic games to a contemporary audience.

The Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver games, which were first released in 1999, are regarded by many as some of the greatest of the PS1 period.

As you find more power-ups, you can explore the open world in these 3D metroidvanias.

Additionally, it features a rather unusual system in which Raziel, the main character, alternates between two planes of existence and is able to do various acts in both.

Even if I don’t recall much about Legacy of Kain, I still have good recollections of playing it, and it merits its ardent fan base.

I was thrilled to play the remaster collection because of this. I was thrilled to see quality-of-life changes, but I don’t need flashy new graphics to enjoy an old game.

Although Soul Reaver allows you to save anywhere, restarting the game leaves you from the beginning and requires you to use teleporters to return to where you left off.

You must look around to find all of these teleporters because they are not on the critical path.

Although dropping you off where you last saved looked like a simple solution, this isn’t the case.

There don’t seem to have been any improvements made to the quality of life, except from the graphics.

There is a map screen, which seems essential in a world that is so vast that you have to go back and forth through it, but it serves no purpose whatsoever.

The map in the remaster serves more as a list of place names, but throughout the years, fans have created stunning maps that make it obvious how the world interacts.

Then, although I don’t recall much, there are certain alterations that I don’t recall being in the original.

When I got stuck, I had to look for a guide, and I discovered that the reason I couldn’t finish the puzzle was because the necessary blocks weren’t present.

The blocks appeared once I reset, however as I noted earlier, this forced me to start over.

There were also several visual errors, such as sections where I phased through the walls and passageways that appeared blocked off when they weren’t.

To be completely honest, I never finished the Soul Reaver remake because I was always filled with a sense of dread when I considered using my Steam Deck.

Considering how much useless running I would have to do, wondering if I would run into a game-breaking problem and have to restart, and knowing that I would be sent back to the beginning.

Remasters are about adding features for the modern player and honoring the moment in the ever-eclipsing hustle culture, not about plastering games with a beautiful new coat of paint.

Check out our review of Stray for further game reviews.