Defiance was released in 2004 by Eidos and Crystal Dynamics and is so far the last game in the Legacy of Kain. It was released for the PC, PS2, and Xbox, with a revamped combat system that was both flash and fast paced, but suffered greatly from tedium. Puzzles were toned down and the story became the driving focus of the game. With nearly all plot points wrapped up by the end, it truly seemed like the final game, save for a few minor plot holes.

Starting off as Soul Reaver 3, Defiance departed in a new direction, uniting both Kain and Raziel's story's as one, to create a split of interests, as players took control of both the vampire lord and the wraith which hunted him. The title refers to Kain and Raziel's constant opposition of fate and destiny, which returned as themes for the series. While Defiance was a wonderful love letter to Legacy of Kain fans, it did not meet sales expectations and stands as the last game in a series known for peerless storytelling.

Kain and Raziel, the Master and His Sword

The story of Defiance is it's strongest point, however it also make the game impenetrable to neophytes. Taking place almost immediately after Soul Reaver 2, the story is a continuation of Kain's attempt to find an alternative to destroying Nosgoth and finding a way to save it, with Raziel's unwitting assistance. Players will control both Kain and Raziel, each with different motives and personalities, merging together in one grand encounter. In a series known for bizarre twists, the final moments of Defiance out does itself, creating one of the most shocking, poignant and unforgettable moments in gaming history. The true enemy of Kain and Raziel is revealed and most of the plot points are resolved, with threads from Blood Omen woven into the plot started by Soul Reaver, including the Hylden, introduced in Blood Omen 2. Unfortunately, due to time constraints, not all the answers could be revealed and some plot holes and story telling remains unresolved.

Taking control of both Kain and Raziel was a mixed bag for the series. Combat was faster and offered more variety, as Kain possessed finishing moves, Raziel could shift dimensions and glide, while both could use telekinesis to toy with their foes. Apart from the subtle differences though, controls for each character were roughly the same.

Kain's story focuses more on combat, while Raziel deals with puzzles. Raziel's story in particular has some astounding moments, such as when he bursts from a corpse to emerge in the physical realm, or uses elemental Reavers to freeze a wall of fire, or create a wall of wind to help him fly. It is unfortunate these inventive puzzle sequences are so few, replaced with tiresome puzzles and wave after wave of tedium inducing enemies, all looking the same as the previous batch.

Defying Fate

Bringing back characters from every end of the spectrum, from Blood Omen 1 and beyond, Defiance proves a truly story driven experience. Simon Templeman 's Kain is still a wonder to listen to, showing signs of fear, shock, and weakness, along with his snarky wit and brilliant tongue, making him seem much more down to earth.

Michael Bell's Raziel no longer seems arrogant and self righteous, but dogged and desperate, while Moebius and the Elder God, played by Richard Doyle and Tony Jay, seem as godly and arrogant as ever. Returning among other minor characters are Mortainius, Kain's master from Blood Omen, Ariel, Vorador, and Janos Audron. Each of the voices behind these characters seems to know the end is nigh and give their all to bring players a cinematic experience so divine that Defiance could almost be a film in its own right.