<s>
Legacy	B-Application
of	I-Application
Kain	I-Application
is	O
a	O
series	O
of	O
dark	O
fantasy	B-Application
action-adventure	O
video	O
games	O
primarily	O
developed	O
by	O
Crystal	O
Dynamics	O
and	O
formerly	O
published	O
by	O
Eidos	O
Interactive	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
first	O
title	O
,	O
Blood	B-Application
Omen	I-Application
:	I-Application
Legacy	I-Application
of	I-Application
Kain	I-Application
,	O
was	O
created	O
by	O
Silicon	O
Knights	O
in	O
association	O
with	O
Crystal	O
Dynamics	O
,	O
but	O
,	O
after	O
a	O
legal	O
battle	O
,	O
Crystal	O
Dynamics	O
retained	O
the	O
rights	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
intellectual	O
property	O
,	O
and	O
continued	O
its	O
story	O
with	O
four	O
sequels	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
date	O
,	O
five	O
games	O
comprise	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
all	O
initially	O
developed	O
for	O
video	B-Application
game	I-Application
consoles	I-Application
and	O
later	O
ported	O
to	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Focusing	O
on	O
the	O
eponymous	O
character	O
of	O
Kain	O
,	O
a	O
vampire	B-Application
antihero	B-Application
,	O
each	O
title	O
features	O
action	B-Application
,	O
exploration	O
and	O
puzzle-solving	O
,	O
with	O
some	O
role-playing	O
game	O
elements	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
series	O
takes	O
place	O
in	O
the	O
fictional	O
land	O
of	O
Nosgoth	B-Protocol
—	O
a	O
gothic	O
fantasy	B-Application
setting	O
—	O
and	O
revolves	O
around	O
Kain	O
's	O
quest	O
to	O
defy	O
his	O
fate	B-Application
and	O
restore	O
balance	O
to	O
the	O
world	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Legacy	B-Application
of	I-Application
Kain	I-Application
:	I-Application
Soul	I-Application
Reaver	I-Application
introduced	O
another	O
antihero	B-Application
protagonist	O
,	O
Raziel	O
;	O
the	O
adventures	O
of	O
both	O
characters	O
culminate	O
in	O
Legacy	B-Application
of	I-Application
Kain	I-Application
:	I-Application
Defiance	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Themes	O
of	O
destiny	B-Application
,	O
free	O
will	O
,	O
morality	O
,	O
redemption	O
and	O
the	O
hero	O
's	O
journey	O
recur	O
in	O
the	O
storyline	O
,	O
which	O
was	O
inspired	O
by	O
ancient	O
literature	O
,	O
horror	O
fiction	O
,	O
Shakespeare	O
's	O
plays	O
and	O
gnosticism	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Legacy	B-Application
of	I-Application
Kain	I-Application
games	O
have	O
enjoyed	O
critical	O
success	O
,	O
particularly	O
receiving	O
praise	O
for	O
high-quality	O
voice	O
acting	O
,	O
narrative	O
,	O
and	O
visuals	O
,	O
and	O
,	O
as	O
a	O
whole	O
,	O
had	O
sold	O
over	O
3.5	O
million	O
copies	O
by	O
2007	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Legacy	B-Application
of	I-Application
Kain	I-Application
intellectual	O
property	O
was	O
owned	O
by	O
Square	O
Enix	O
Europe	O
after	O
2009	O
and	O
mentioned	O
under	O
Square	O
Enix	O
Collective	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2022	O
,	O
Square	O
Enix	O
sold	O
the	O
rights	O
of	O
the	O
series	O
to	O
the	O
Embracer	O
Group	O
,	O
who	O
have	O
expressed	O
interest	O
in	O
developing	O
sequels	O
,	O
remakes	O
and	O
remasters	O
of	O
Legacy	B-Application
of	I-Application
Kain	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Blood	B-Application
Omen	I-Application
:	I-Application
Legacy	I-Application
of	I-Application
Kain	I-Application
was	O
created	O
by	O
Silicon	O
Knights	O
under	O
the	O
direction	O
of	O
Denis	O
Dyack	O
,	O
with	O
assistance	O
from	O
publisher	O
Crystal	O
Dynamics	O
,	O
and	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
1996	O
on	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
1997	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
ported	O
to	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Dyack	O
conceived	O
the	O
"	O
vampire	B-Application
project	O
"	O
under	O
the	O
title	O
The	O
Pillars	B-Application
of	I-Application
Nosgoth	I-Application
in	O
1993	O
,	O
and	O
Crystal	O
Dynamics	O
producer	O
Lyle	O
Hall	O
chose	O
this	O
fantasy	B-Application
concept	O
over	O
two	O
other	O
proposals	O
(	O
one	O
of	O
which	O
was	O
Too	B-Application
Human	I-Application
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Developed	O
as	O
a	O
2D	O
action-adventure	O
game	O
with	O
role-playing	O
game	O
elements	O
,	O
it	O
debuted	O
to	O
positive	O
critical	O
and	O
commercial	O
reception	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Blood	B-Application
Omen	I-Application
introduces	O
Nosgoth	B-Protocol
,	O
a	O
fictional	O
land	O
designed	O
with	O
novel-like	O
complexity	O
,	O
and	O
gives	O
the	O
player	O
control	O
of	O
Kain	O
,	O
a	O
newly	O
resurrected	O
vampire	B-Application
seeking	O
revenge	O
against	O
his	O
murderers	O
and	O
a	O
cure	O
for	O
his	O
vampiric	O
curse	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Legacy	B-Application
of	I-Application
Kain	I-Application
:	I-Application
Soul	I-Application
Reaver	I-Application
was	O
released	O
in	O
1999	O
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
and	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
,	O
and	O
was	O
ported	O
to	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
in	O
2000	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
originated	O
as	O
an	O
independent	O
concept	O
inspired	O
by	O
Biblical	O
themes	O
called	O
Shifter	O
,	O
devised	O
by	O
Crystal	O
Dynamics	O
 '	O
Amy	O
Hennig	O
and	O
Seth	O
Carus	O
,	O
but	O
,	O
at	O
the	O
request	O
of	O
company	O
executives	O
,	O
was	O
integrated	O
into	O
the	O
Legacy	B-Application
of	I-Application
Kain	I-Application
universe	O
in	O
pre-production	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Hennig	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
director	O
,	O
likened	O
the	O
technological	O
advance	O
from	O
Blood	B-Application
Omen	I-Application
to	O
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
to	O
the	O
evolution	O
of	O
The	B-Application
Legend	I-Application
of	I-Application
Zelda	I-Application
series	O
from	O
the	O
Super	B-Application
Nintendo	I-Application
to	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
64	I-Operating_System
—	O
bringing	O
the	O
franchise	O
into	O
3D	O
while	O
maintaining	O
a	O
similar	O
style	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
was	O
hailed	O
as	O
a	O
technical	O
achievement	O
for	O
its	O
plane-shifting	O
gameplay	O
mechanics	O
and	O
its	O
data-streaming	O
game	O
engine	O
,	O
which	O
eliminated	O
the	O
loading	O
pauses	O
that	O
were	O
prevalent	O
in	O
PlayStation-era	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
elaborates	O
on	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
two	O
endings	O
to	O
Blood	B-Application
Omen	I-Application
,	O
taking	O
place	O
in	O
Nosgoth	B-Protocol
's	O
dark	O
future	O
where	O
Kain	O
rules	O
an	O
empire	O
of	O
vampires	B-Application
,	O
and	O
introduces	O
a	O
new	O
protagonist	O
,	O
his	O
lieutenant	O
Raziel	O
,	O
who	O
is	O
executed	O
by	O
Kain	O
and	O
resurrected	O
to	O
exact	O
revenge	O
on	O
his	O
brethren	O
and	O
his	O
master	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
2	I-Application
had	O
an	O
accelerated	O
development	O
cycle	O
and	O
was	O
released	O
after	O
two	O
years	O
,	O
despite	O
a	O
switch	O
to	O
sixth	B-Application
generation	I-Application
consoles	I-Application
early	O
in	O
the	O
project	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
initially	O
targeted	O
for	O
release	O
in	O
late	O
2000	O
on	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
and	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
,	O
but	O
was	O
reworked	O
and	O
released	O
in	O
2001	O
as	O
a	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
exclusive	O
,	O
and	O
was	O
ported	O
to	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
later	O
that	O
year	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
plot	O
serves	O
as	O
a	O
direct	O
sequel	O
to	O
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
,	O
picking	O
up	O
immediately	O
after	O
its	O
ending	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
controls	O
Raziel	O
as	O
he	O
uncovers	O
the	O
mysteries	O
surrounding	O
Nosgoth	B-Protocol
's	O
distant	O
past	O
and	O
his	O
own	O
destiny	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Meanwhile	O
,	O
Kain	O
attempts	O
to	O
subvert	O
fate	B-Application
and	O
restore	O
the	O
world	O
by	O
manipulating	O
history	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
was	O
still	O
in	O
development	O
,	O
Crystal	O
Dynamics	O
initiated	O
another	O
project	O
-	O
a	O
successor	O
to	O
Blood	B-Application
Omen	I-Application
-	O
and	O
when	O
the	O
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
team	O
had	O
started	O
work	O
on	O
their	O
follow-up	O
in	O
late	O
1999	O
,	O
two	O
Legacy	B-Application
of	I-Application
Kain	I-Application
games	O
were	O
in	O
simultaneous	O
development	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Blood	B-Application
Omen	I-Application
2	I-Application
's	O
"	O
creative	O
seeds	O
were	O
sown	O
"	O
in	O
1999	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
finished	O
product	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
2002	O
,	O
six	O
months	O
after	O
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
,	O
Xbox	B-Application
,	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
and	O
GameCube	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
not	O
produced	O
with	O
the	O
involvement	O
of	O
the	O
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
crew	O
,	O
instead	O
being	O
created	O
by	O
a	O
new	O
team	O
at	O
Crystal	O
Dynamics	O
under	O
the	O
direction	O
of	O
Glen	O
Schofield	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Shifting	O
the	O
focus	O
of	O
gameplay	O
towards	O
action	B-Application
,	O
gore	O
and	O
combat	O
instead	O
of	O
puzzle-solving	O
,	O
it	O
retains	O
several	O
of	O
the	O
qualities	O
which	O
made	O
the	O
previous	O
games	O
popular	O
,	O
but	O
was	O
criticized	O
for	O
lacking	O
innovation	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Despite	O
middling	O
critical	O
reception	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
four	O
platforms	B-Device
and	O
sold	O
well	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
released	O
after	O
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
actually	O
happen	O
after	O
Blood	B-Application
Omen	I-Application
but	O
before	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
,	O
in	O
an	O
alternate	O
timeline	O
created	O
from	O
the	O
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
2	I-Application
events	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Blood	B-Application
Omen	I-Application
2	I-Application
players	O
control	O
a	O
younger	O
Kain	O
after	O
an	O
unsuccessful	O
campaign	O
to	O
conquer	O
Nosgoth	B-Protocol
,	O
as	O
he	O
is	O
opposed	O
by	O
traitorous	O
vampires	B-Application
and	O
a	O
new	O
enemy	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Legacy	B-Application
of	I-Application
Kain	I-Application
:	I-Application
Defiance	I-Application
,	O
the	O
most	O
recent	O
entry	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
2003	O
on	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
,	O
Xbox	B-Application
and	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
First	O
conceptualized	O
as	O
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
it	O
represented	O
a	O
combined	O
effort	O
from	O
the	O
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
2	I-Application
and	O
Blood	B-Application
Omen	I-Application
2	I-Application
teams	O
to	O
consolidate	O
and	O
re-balance	O
the	O
storytelling	O
,	O
puzzle-solving	O
and	O
combat	O
aspects	O
of	O
its	O
predecessors	O
,	O
fusing	O
elements	O
from	O
the	O
two	O
sub-series	O
into	O
one	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
chose	O
a	O
new	O
title	O
under	O
the	O
Legacy	B-Application
of	I-Application
Kain	I-Application
banner	O
to	O
reflect	O
this	O
new	O
focus	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
alternates	O
between	O
control	O
of	O
Raziel	O
and	O
the	O
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
2	I-Application
incarnation	O
of	O
Kain	O
in	O
each	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
chapters	O
,	O
under	O
the	O
premise	O
that	O
only	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
two	O
will	O
survive	O
—	O
emphasis	O
was	O
placed	O
on	O
cinematic	O
presentation	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nosgoth	B-Protocol
,	O
a	O
multiplayer	O
game	O
,	O
was	O
formally	O
announced	O
by	O
Square	O
Enix	O
London	O
Studios	O
community	O
manager	O
George	O
Kelion	O
to	O
be	O
in	O
development	O
in	O
June	O
2013	O
,	O
in	O
response	O
to	O
a	O
series	O
of	O
internet	O
leaks	O
and	O
resultant	O
speculation	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Kelion	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
to	O
be	O
set	O
in	O
the	O
same	O
universe	O
as	O
previous	O
Legacy	B-Application
of	I-Application
Kain	I-Application
titles	O
,	O
but	O
would	O
not	O
be	O
"	O
a	O
traditional	O
or	O
even	O
single-player	O
LoK	O
experience	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
intended	O
to	O
be	O
viewed	O
as	O
"	O
very	O
much	O
on	O
a	O
separate	O
branch	O
to	O
both	O
the	O
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
and	O
Blood	B-Application
Omen	I-Application
series	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
Crystal	O
Dynamics	O
were	O
not	O
involved	O
in	O
its	O
development	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Kelion	O
stated	O
that	O
Nosgoth	B-Protocol
would	O
be	O
more	O
formally	O
announced	O
and	O
revealed	O
at	O
a	O
future	O
date	O
,	O
sometime	O
beyond	O
the	O
Electronic	O
Entertainment	O
Expo	O
2013	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
Nosgoth	B-Protocol
was	O
never	O
officially	O
released	O
,	O
but	O
began	O
open	O
beta	O
in	O
January	O
2015	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Legacy	B-Application
of	I-Application
Kain	I-Application
games	O
fall	O
into	O
the	O
action-adventure	O
genre	O
,	O
utilizing	O
a	O
balance	O
of	O
action	B-Application
,	O
puzzle-solving	O
and	O
exploration	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Starting	O
from	O
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
,	O
the	O
series	O
also	O
features	O
platforming	O
elements	O
from	O
a	O
3D	O
,	O
third-person	O
perspective	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Whereas	O
Blood	B-Application
Omen	I-Application
and	O
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
employ	O
an	O
open	O
world	O
system	O
in	O
the	O
style	O
of	O
The	B-Application
Legend	I-Application
of	I-Application
Zelda	I-Application
or	O
Super	B-Application
Mario	I-Application
64	I-Application
,	O
the	O
latter	O
three	O
games	O
are	O
divided	O
into	O
chapters	O
,	O
and	O
are	O
more	O
linear	O
in	O
progression	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
main	O
character	O
's	O
health	O
constantly	O
declines	O
in	O
each	O
game	O
—	O
Kain	O
must	O
consume	O
blood	O
to	O
sustain	O
his	O
strength	O
,	O
whereas	O
Raziel	O
requires	O
souls	O
—	O
prompting	O
combat	O
,	O
which	O
focuses	O
on	O
hack	B-Application
and	I-Application
slash	I-Application
techniques	O
,	O
and	O
allows	O
the	O
player	O
to	O
kill	O
and	O
feed	O
from	O
enemies	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Blood	B-Application
Omen	I-Application
2	I-Application
and	O
Defiance	O
include	O
experience	O
point	O
systems	O
,	O
and	O
in	O
the	O
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
games	O
and	O
Defiance	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
must	O
shift	O
between	O
the	O
material	O
and	O
spectral	O
planes	O
of	O
existence	O
to	O
progress	O
–	O
both	O
realms	O
have	O
unique	O
physical	O
laws	O
,	O
geometry	O
and	O
enemies	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
sword	O
,	O
a	O
recurring	O
ultimate	O
weapon	O
and	O
soul-devouring	O
blade	O
inhabited	O
by	O
a	O
ravenous	O
entity	O
,	O
appears	O
in	O
all	O
five	O
titles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Tony	O
Jay	O
played	O
Mortanius	O
in	O
Blood	B-Application
Omen	I-Application
,	O
and	O
returned	O
as	O
The	O
Elder	O
God	O
in	O
subsequent	O
games	O
;	O
in	O
Defiance	O
,	O
Mortanius	O
was	O
recast	O
as	O
Alastair	O
Duncan	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Gordon	O
Hunt	O
and	O
Kris	O
Zimmerman	O
provided	O
voice	O
direction	O
from	O
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
and	O
onward	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
developers	O
coordinated	O
the	O
actors	O
by	O
ensuring	O
they	O
were	O
involved	O
as	O
collaborators	O
,	O
recording	O
their	O
dialogue	O
together	O
rather	O
than	O
in	O
isolation	O
,	O
and	O
thus	O
established	O
techniques	O
which	O
would	O
later	O
carry	O
over	O
to	O
Naughty	O
Dog	O
's	O
Uncharted	B-Application
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
thumb|right|Raziel	O
(	O
left	O
)	O
and	O
Kain	O
(	O
right	O
)	O
as	O
they	O
appear	O
in	O
Legacy	B-Application
of	I-Application
Kain	I-Application
:	I-Application
Defiance	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Both	O
are	O
armed	O
with	O
the	O
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
sword	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
health	O
of	O
the	O
land	O
of	O
Nosgoth	B-Protocol
is	O
inextricably	O
tied	O
to	O
nine	O
edifices	O
known	O
as	O
the	O
Pillars	B-Application
of	I-Application
Nosgoth	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
prologue	O
of	O
Blood	B-Application
Omen	I-Application
,	O
Ariel	O
,	O
the	O
guardian	O
of	O
balance	O
,	O
is	O
killed	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
resulting	O
chain	O
of	O
events	O
leads	O
to	O
the	O
spiritual	O
corruption	O
of	O
the	O
Pillars	O
and	O
their	O
guardians	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Thirty	O
years	O
later	O
,	O
Kain	O
,	O
a	O
young	O
nobleman	O
,	O
is	O
murdered	O
by	O
brigands	O
,	O
and	O
resurrected	O
as	O
a	O
vampire	B-Application
by	O
a	O
necromancer	B-Operating_System
,	O
Mortanius.Kain	O
:	O
Vae	O
victis	O
–	O
suffering	O
to	O
the	O
conquered	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Necromancer	B-Operating_System
Mortanius	O
offered	O
me	O
a	O
chance	O
for	O
vengeance	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
You	O
must	O
destroy	O
the	O
sorcery	O
that	O
is	O
now	O
poisoning	O
Nosgoth	B-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
Now	O
he	O
spreads	O
misery	O
and	O
pain	O
among	O
the	O
Circle	O
,	O
crumbling	O
the	O
very	O
foundation	O
of	O
Nosgoth	B-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
You	O
must	O
right	O
the	O
Pillars	B-Application
of	I-Application
Nosgoth	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
hunting	O
Moebius	O
,	O
the	O
guardian	O
of	O
time	O
,	O
he	O
defies	O
the	O
advice	O
of	O
Vorador	O
(	O
a	O
senior	O
vampire	B-Application
)	O
,	O
and	O
travels	O
back	O
in	O
time	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Using	O
the	O
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
,	O
he	O
prevents	O
a	O
tyrant	O
king	O
from	O
coming	O
to	O
power	O
,	O
Kain	O
:	O
The	O
stronghold	O
of	O
William	O
the	O
Just	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
'	O
Twas	O
time	O
for	O
me	O
to	O
pay	O
a	O
visit	O
to	O
he	O
who	O
would	O
become	O
the	O
Nemesis	O
and	O
force	O
Nosgoth	B-Protocol
on	O
its	O
knees	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
but	O
the	O
temporal	O
paradox	O
which	O
this	O
causes	O
results	O
in	O
a	O
new	O
timeline	O
where	O
Nosgoth	B-Protocol
's	O
humans	O
have	O
hunted	O
the	O
vampires	B-Application
to	O
extinction.Kain	O
:	O
In	O
my	O
youth	O
,	O
I	O
witnessed	O
William	O
's	O
rise	O
to	O
power	O
,	O
and	O
his	O
transformation	O
into	O
the	O
'	O
Nemesis	O
 '	O
who	O
laid	O
waste	O
to	O
Nosgoth	B-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
my	O
wisdom	O
,	O
I	O
seize	O
this	O
opportunity	O
to	O
murder	O
the	O
young	O
king	O
before	O
he	O
can	O
ravage	O
Nosgoth	B-Protocol
...	O
and	O
thereby	O
provide	O
the	O
catalyst	O
Moebius	O
needs	O
to	O
ignite	O
a	O
genocidal	O
war	O
against	O
our	O
race	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
I	O
,	O
the	O
vampire	B-Application
assassin	O
,	O
become	O
the	O
author	O
of	O
my	O
own	O
species	O
 '	O
extinction	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Kain	O
realizes	O
that	O
he	O
himself	O
is	O
the	O
final	O
corrupt	O
guardian	O
,	O
born	O
as	O
Ariel	O
's	O
successor	O
,	O
and	O
is	O
left	O
to	O
decide	O
between	O
sacrificing	O
himself	O
to	O
restore	O
the	O
world	O
(	O
but	O
destroying	O
the	O
vampire	B-Application
race	O
)	O
,	O
or	O
ruling	O
Nosgoth	B-Protocol
in	O
its	O
damnation.Kain	O
:	O
I	O
am	O
the	O
last	O
Pillar	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
But	O
as	O
the	O
last	O
surviving	O
vampire	B-Application
in	O
Nosgoth	B-Protocol
,	O
this	O
would	O
mean	O
the	O
annihilation	O
of	O
our	O
species	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
establishes	O
that	O
Kain	O
,	O
disgusted	O
by	O
the	O
humans	O
 '	O
machinations	O
,	O
chose	O
the	O
latter	O
option	O
and	O
embraced	O
vampirism	O
as	O
a	O
blessing	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
raised	O
a	O
cadre	O
of	O
vampire	B-Application
lieutenants	O
to	O
conquer	O
Nosgoth	B-Protocol
's	O
human	O
kingdoms	O
,	O
Raziel	O
:	O
Kain	O
is	O
deified	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
fate	B-Application
of	O
this	O
world	O
was	O
preordained	O
in	O
an	O
instant	O
,	O
by	O
a	O
solitary	O
man	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Unwilling	O
to	O
martyr	O
himself	O
to	O
restore	O
Nosgoth	B-Protocol
's	O
balance	O
,	O
Kain	O
condemned	O
the	O
world	O
to	O
the	O
decay	O
you	O
see	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nosgoth	B-Protocol
teeters	O
on	O
the	O
brink	O
of	O
collapse	O
–	O
its	O
fragile	O
balance	O
cannot	O
hold	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
1500	O
years	O
after	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
Blood	B-Application
Omen	I-Application
,	O
Raziel	O
,	O
his	O
first-born	O
follower	O
,	O
transgresses	O
against	O
Kain	O
,	O
and	O
is	O
consequently	O
executed.Raziel	O
:	O
I	O
am	O
Raziel	O
,	O
first-born	O
of	O
His	O
lieutenants	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
I	O
,	O
Raziel	O
,	O
was	O
to	O
suffer	O
the	O
fate	B-Application
of	O
traitors	O
and	O
weaklings	O
–	O
to	O
burn	O
forever	O
in	O
the	O
bowels	O
of	O
the	O
Lake	O
of	O
the	O
Dead	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
And	O
that	O
Raziel	O
,	O
is	O
the	O
demise	O
of	O
Nosgoth	B-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
I	O
can	O
not	O
spin	O
them	O
in	O
the	O
wheel	O
of	O
fate	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
can	O
not	O
complete	O
their	O
destinies	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Free	O
their	O
souls	O
and	O
let	O
the	O
wheel	O
of	O
fate	B-Application
churn	O
again	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Become	O
my	O
soul	B-Application
reaver	I-Application
,	O
my	O
angel	O
of	O
death	O
...	O
Kain	O
strikes	O
Raziel	O
with	O
the	O
Reaver	O
,	O
Raziel	O
:	O
The	O
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
,	O
Kain	O
's	O
ancient	O
blade	O
–	O
older	O
than	O
any	O
of	O
us	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
thousand	O
times	O
more	O
deadly	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
all	O
our	O
bravado	O
,	O
we	O
knew	O
what	O
it	O
meant	O
when	O
Kain	O
drew	O
the	O
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
in	O
anger	O
–	O
it	O
meant	O
you	O
were	O
dead	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
and	O
reaver	O
of	O
souls	O
,	O
your	O
destinies	B-Application
are	O
intertwined	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Raziel	O
murders	O
his	O
lieutenant	O
brethren	O
,	O
and	O
discovers	O
that	O
Kain	O
resurrected	O
them	O
all	O
from	O
the	O
corpses	O
of	O
the	O
Sarafan	O
,	O
an	O
ancient	O
vampire-hunting	O
spiritual	O
brotherhood.Raziel	O
:	O
These	O
crypts	O
...	O
defiled	O
caskets	O
of	O
Sarafan	O
saints	O
...	O
bearing	O
my	O
brothers	O
 '	O
names	O
...	O
And	O
my	O
own	O
...	O
</s>
<s>
Kain	O
–	O
Nosgoth	B-Protocol
's	O
solitary	O
,	O
self-declared	O
monarch	O
–	O
plundered	O
this	O
tomb	O
and	O
raised	O
you	O
from	O
these	O
crypts	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Fate	B-Application
promises	O
more	O
twists	O
before	O
this	O
drama	O
unfolds	O
completely	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Welcome	O
...	O
to	O
your	O
destiny	B-Application
...	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
Raziel	O
conspires	O
with	O
Moebius	O
to	O
destroy	O
Kain	O
,	O
but	O
—	O
after	O
realizing	O
that	O
Kain	O
wishes	O
to	O
restore	O
the	O
Pillars	O
,	O
Raziel	O
:	O
We	O
agree	O
then	O
that	O
the	O
Pillars	O
are	O
crucial	O
,	O
and	O
must	O
be	O
restored	O
?	O
</s>
<s>
Unearth	O
your	O
destiny	B-Application
,	O
Raziel	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
advice	O
from	O
Vorador	O
,	O
he	O
seeks	O
Janos	O
Audron	O
,	O
an	O
infamous	O
,	O
long-dead	O
vampire	B-Application
who	O
holds	O
the	O
key	O
to	O
his	O
destiny.Vorador	O
:	O
But	O
you	O
see	O
,	O
even	O
if	O
you	O
are	O
who	O
you	O
appear	O
to	O
be	O
,	O
it	O
no	O
longer	O
matters	O
...	O
You	O
're	O
simply	O
too	O
late	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Raziel	O
assists	O
Kain	O
in	O
triggering	O
another	O
paradox	O
which	O
changes	O
Kain	O
's	O
fate	B-Application
,	O
prolonging	O
his	O
life	O
,	O
and	O
travels	O
Nosgoth	B-Protocol
's	O
history.Kain	O
:	O
History	O
abhors	O
a	O
paradox	O
,	O
Raziel	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Beginning	O
to	O
unearth	O
the	O
secrets	O
of	O
his	O
past	O
,	O
he	O
briefly	O
meets	O
with	O
Janos	O
in	O
the	O
era	O
of	O
the	O
Sarafan	O
,	O
but	O
realizes	O
that	O
his	O
own	O
,	O
human	O
former	O
self	O
murdered	O
the	O
ancient	O
vampire.Raziel	O
:	O
I	O
would	O
pursue	O
the	O
Sarafan	O
dogs	O
to	O
their	O
loathsome	O
fortress	O
,	O
and	O
avenge	O
Janos	O
Audron	O
's	O
murder	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
it	O
was	O
I	O
who	O
put	O
these	O
bastards	O
in	O
their	O
tomb	O
–	O
thus	O
providing	O
the	O
corpses	O
for	O
Kain	O
to	O
raise	O
as	O
his	O
vampire	B-Application
sons	O
a	O
millennium	O
from	O
now	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
a	O
final	O
epiphany	O
,	O
he	O
discovers	O
that	O
he	O
is	O
the	O
ravenous	O
spirit	O
destined	O
to	O
become	O
imprisoned	O
in	O
the	O
Reaver	O
—	O
that	O
the	O
cycle	O
of	O
his	O
destiny	B-Application
will	O
never	O
end.Raziel	O
:	O
With	O
all	O
other	O
foes	O
exhausted	O
,	O
the	O
conjoined	O
blades	O
turned	O
themselves	O
on	O
me	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
So	O
–	O
this	O
was	O
my	O
terrible	O
destiny	B-Application
–	O
to	O
play	O
out	O
this	O
purgatorial	O
cycle	O
for	O
all	O
eternity	O
...	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
the	O
last	O
minute	O
,	O
Kain	O
saves	O
Raziel	O
from	O
this	O
fate	B-Application
and	O
takes	O
the	O
empty	O
Reaver	O
,	O
but	O
the	O
paradox	O
that	O
this	O
causes	O
changes	O
history	O
for	O
the	O
worse.Raziel	O
:	O
Behind	O
Kain	O
's	O
eyes	O
,	O
I	O
could	O
see	O
new	O
memories	O
blooming	O
and	O
dying	O
,	O
as	O
history	O
labored	O
to	O
reshuffle	O
itself	O
around	O
this	O
monumental	O
obstruction	O
...	O
And	O
I	O
could	O
see	O
by	O
the	O
dawning	O
horror	O
on	O
his	O
face	O
that	O
perhaps	O
we	O
had	O
strained	O
history	O
too	O
far	O
this	O
time	O
...	O
that	O
by	O
trying	O
to	O
alter	O
my	O
fate	B-Application
,	O
he	O
may	O
have	O
introduced	O
a	O
fatal	O
paradox	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
Blood	B-Application
Omen	I-Application
2	I-Application
and	O
Defiance	O
expand	O
the	O
backstory	O
of	O
the	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Initially	O
,	O
alongside	O
the	O
humans	O
,	O
two	O
other	O
major	O
races	O
existed	O
in	O
Nosgoth	B-Protocol
's	O
distant	O
past	O
:	O
the	O
ancient	O
vampires	B-Application
and	O
the	O
Hylden.Janos	O
:	O
You	O
must	O
delve	O
further	O
back	O
into	O
history	O
,	O
Kain	O
,	O
to	O
know	O
the	O
truth	O
of	O
our	O
heritage	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Long	O
ago	O
,	O
and	O
long	O
before	O
I	O
first	O
walked	O
the	O
earth	O
,	O
vampires	B-Application
were	O
god-like	O
,	O
and	O
our	O
kind	O
ruled	O
the	O
land	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
race	O
that	O
fought	O
the	O
vampires	B-Application
was	O
the	O
Hylden	O
,	O
the	O
very	O
Hylden	O
that	O
you	O
have	O
just	O
encountered	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
are	O
striving	O
to	O
wipe	O
out	O
the	O
vampires	B-Application
,	O
enslave	O
the	O
humans	O
,	O
and	O
reclaim	O
all	O
Nosgoth	B-Protocol
as	O
their	O
own	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Vampires	B-Application
exalted	O
the	O
spiritual	O
and	O
the	O
wheel	O
of	O
fate	B-Application
,	O
whereas	O
the	O
Hylden	O
were	O
technologically	O
inclined	O
beings	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Though	O
the	O
vampires	B-Application
worshiped	O
The	O
Elder	O
God	O
,	O
the	O
Hylden	O
rejected	O
his	O
doctrine	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
vampires	B-Application
declared	O
war	O
in	O
response	O
to	O
this	O
blasphemy.Raziel	O
:	O
History	O
is	O
written	O
by	O
the	O
victors	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
was	O
the	O
work	O
of	O
the	O
enemy	O
race	O
,	O
and	O
revealed	O
what	O
the	O
Vampire	B-Application
histories	O
had	O
conveniently	O
omitted	O
–	O
how	O
the	O
noble	O
Vampires	B-Application
,	O
god-ridden	O
and	O
righteous	O
,	O
had	O
started	O
the	O
wars	O
that	O
would	O
destroy	O
both	O
races	O
–	O
victor	O
and	O
vanquished	O
alike	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Their	O
adversaries	O
opposed	O
the	O
Vampires	B-Application
 '	O
god	O
,	O
and	O
refused	O
to	O
submit	O
to	O
the	O
Wheel	O
of	O
Fate	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
And	O
my	O
resemblance	O
to	O
the	O
Vampires	B-Application
 '	O
enemy	O
no	O
longer	O
seemed	O
so	O
accidental	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Using	O
incredible	O
magic	O
,	O
the	O
vampires	B-Application
erected	O
the	O
Pillars	O
,	O
banishing	O
the	O
Hylden	O
into	O
another	O
dimension	O
,	O
and	O
forged	O
the	O
Reaver	O
as	O
a	O
safeguard.Raziel	O
:	O
These	O
murals	O
left	O
no	O
room	O
for	O
doubt	O
–	O
these	O
winged	O
creatures	O
were	O
indeed	O
the	O
architects	O
of	O
the	O
Pillars	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Hylden	O
retaliated	O
by	O
afflicting	O
the	O
vampires	B-Application
with	O
a	O
blood	O
curse	O
,	O
which	O
transformed	O
them	O
into	O
immortal	O
,	O
sterile	O
predators	O
of	O
humankind	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Divorced	O
from	O
the	O
wheel	O
of	O
fate	B-Application
and	O
their	O
god	O
,	O
many	O
vampires	B-Application
turned	O
to	O
suicide	O
,	O
and	O
as	O
their	O
race	O
died	O
out	O
,	O
the	O
humans	O
of	O
Nosgoth	B-Protocol
seized	O
control	O
of	O
the	O
Pillars.Raziel	O
:	O
In	O
their	O
defeat	O
,	O
the	O
Vampires	B-Application
 '	O
enemy	O
retaliated	O
with	O
a	O
terrible	O
curse	O
–	O
afflicting	O
the	O
Vampires	B-Application
with	O
a	O
bloodthirst	O
that	O
turned	O
their	O
once-noble	O
race	O
into	O
ravenous	O
predators	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
curse	O
plunged	O
the	O
Vampires	B-Application
into	O
despair	O
,	O
and	O
apparently	O
drove	O
many	O
to	O
madness	O
and	O
self-annihilation	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Kain	O
's	O
spiritual	O
corruption	O
hinders	O
him	O
from	O
realizing	O
his	O
role	O
as	O
the	O
balance	O
guardian	O
—	O
he	O
seeks	O
to	O
somehow	O
resolve	O
the	O
dilemma	O
he	O
faced	O
at	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
Blood	B-Application
Omen	I-Application
by	O
both	O
restoring	O
the	O
Pillars	O
and	O
returning	O
them	O
to	O
vampire	B-Application
rule	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Raziel	O
's	O
execution	O
was	O
necessitated	O
—	O
his	O
unique	O
,	O
cyclic	O
destiny	B-Application
affords	O
him	O
free	O
will	O
,	O
enabling	O
Kain	O
to	O
create	O
paradoxes	O
and	O
defy	O
history	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Blood	B-Application
Omen	I-Application
2	I-Application
pursues	O
a	O
younger	O
Kain	O
in	O
the	O
altered	O
timeline	O
created	O
at	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
depicting	O
his	O
war	O
against	O
the	O
leader	O
of	O
the	O
Hylden	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
cruel	O
masters	O
of	O
Nosgoth	B-Protocol
,	O
the	O
Sarafan	O
,	O
now	O
leaderless	O
,	O
still	O
had	O
to	O
be	O
put	O
down	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
last	O
,	O
Nosgoth	B-Protocol
would	O
be	O
mine	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Defiance	O
covers	O
earlier	O
points	O
in	O
the	O
same	O
timeline	O
,	O
directly	O
after	O
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
2	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Kain	O
and	O
Raziel	O
each	O
discover	O
evidence	O
that	O
the	O
ancient	O
vampires	B-Application
and	O
Hylden	O
had	O
prophesied	O
two	O
champions	O
—	O
one	O
representing	O
each	O
race	O
—	O
who	O
would	O
decide	O
the	O
fate	B-Application
of	O
Nosgoth.Kain	O
:	O
Here	O
,	O
no	O
doubt	O
,	O
was	O
the	O
evidence	O
Moebius	O
wished	O
me	O
to	O
have	O
...	O
For	O
the	O
Vampires	B-Application
had	O
prophesied	O
not	O
one	O
,	O
but	O
two	O
champions	O
–	O
one	O
destined	O
to	O
be	O
Nosgoth	B-Protocol
's	O
redeemer	O
,	O
the	O
other	O
,	O
its	O
destroyer	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Vampires	B-Application
 '	O
hero	O
wielded	O
the	O
Reaver	O
,	O
forged	O
for	O
this	O
very	O
purpose	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
foretold	O
outcome	O
was	O
unambiguous	O
:	O
the	O
Vampire	B-Application
hero	O
would	O
fall	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Whereas	O
Raziel	O
is	O
bent	O
on	O
resurrecting	O
Janos	O
to	O
escape	O
his	O
destiny	B-Application
,	O
Kain	O
strives	O
to	O
stop	O
him	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
two	O
are	O
drawn	O
into	O
battle	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
vampire	B-Application
savior	O
?	O
</s>
<s>
I	O
thought	O
the	O
vampires	B-Application
were	O
simply	O
a	O
plague	O
upon	O
mankind	O
,	O
a	O
pestilence	O
we	O
had	O
to	O
control	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
resulting	O
breach	O
enables	O
The	O
Hylden	O
Lord	O
to	O
possess	O
Janos	O
(	O
facilitating	O
his	O
invasion	O
in	O
Blood	B-Application
Omen	I-Application
2	I-Application
)	O
,	O
and	O
Raziel	O
is	O
defeated	O
in	O
the	O
ensuing	O
battle	O
,	O
trapped	O
by	O
The	O
Elder	O
God.Hylden	O
Lord	O
:	O
You	O
pathetic	O
creature	O
–	O
you	O
have	O
n't	O
got	O
a	O
clue	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
concludes	O
that	O
the	O
Elder	O
,	O
sustained	O
by	O
the	O
souls	O
of	O
Nosgoth	B-Protocol
,	O
is	O
the	O
ultimate	O
cause	O
of	O
all	O
the	O
conflict	O
and	O
strife	O
throughout	O
history	O
,	O
Raziel	O
:	O
All	O
the	O
conflict	O
and	O
strife	O
throughout	O
history	O
,	O
all	O
the	O
fear	O
and	O
hatred	O
,	O
served	O
but	O
one	O
purpose	O
–	O
to	O
keep	O
my	O
master	O
's	O
Wheel	O
turning	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
His	O
free	O
will	O
,	O
and	O
his	O
destiny	B-Application
to	O
enter	O
the	O
Reaver	O
(	O
consuming	O
himself	O
)	O
,	O
ensures	O
that	O
neither	O
champion	O
can	O
win	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
encounters	O
Raziel	O
,	O
and	O
they	O
reconcile	O
;	O
Raziel	O
enters	O
the	O
Reaver	O
willingly	O
,	O
but	O
first	O
uses	O
his	O
spiritual	O
powers	O
to	O
cleanse	O
Kain	O
of	O
the	O
corruption	O
he	O
had	O
inherited	O
at	O
birth	O
as	O
a	O
member	O
of	O
the	O
Circle	O
of	O
Nine.Raziel	O
:	O
The	O
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
–	O
pure	O
of	O
all	O
corruption	O
–	O
this	O
is	O
what	O
it	O
is	O
for	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
is	O
what	O
I	O
am	O
for	O
–	O
The	O
two	O
become	O
one	O
–	O
both	O
Soul	B-Application
Reavers	I-Application
–	O
together	O
–	O
and	O
the	O
Scion	O
of	O
Balance	O
is	O
healed	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
he	O
looks	O
out	O
over	O
Nosgoth	B-Protocol
,	O
Kain	O
contemplates	O
Raziel	O
's	O
sacrifice	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
first	O
bitter	O
taste	O
of	O
hope	O
it	O
has	O
given	O
him.Kain	O
:	O
Now	O
,	O
at	O
last	O
,	O
the	O
masks	O
had	O
fallen	O
away	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Each	O
of	O
the	O
Legacy	B-Application
of	I-Application
Kain	I-Application
games	O
concerns	O
distinct	O
themes	O
and	O
dilemmas	O
,	O
but	O
their	O
overarching	O
philosophical	O
topic	O
involves	O
fatalism	O
and	O
man	O
's	O
struggle	O
for	O
free	O
will	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Blood	B-Application
Omen	I-Application
was	O
intended	O
to	O
ask	O
"	O
what	O
is	O
evil	O
?	O
</s>
<s>
Perhaps	O
it	O
is	O
merely	O
a	O
perspective	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
to	O
"	O
address	O
morals	O
,	O
evil	O
and	O
good	O
,	O
propaganda	O
and	O
fate	B-Application
in	O
ways	O
that	O
have	O
never	O
been	O
explored	O
in	O
a	O
computer	O
game	O
before	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
and	O
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
Amy	O
Hennig	O
identified	O
"	O
the	O
question	O
of	O
free	O
will	O
in	O
a	O
universe	O
apparently	O
ruled	O
by	O
fate	B-Application
"	O
as	O
the	O
core	O
of	O
the	O
story	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Silicon	O
Knights	O
conceptualized	O
Kain	O
,	O
a	O
vampire	B-Application
antihero	B-Application
inspired	O
by	O
Clint	O
Eastwood	O
's	O
Unforgiven	O
,	O
as	O
an	O
atypical	O
"	O
gray	O
"	O
protagonist	O
,	O
neither	O
good	O
nor	O
evil	O
,	O
despite	O
being	O
advised	O
in	O
1993	O
that	O
such	O
a	O
character	O
would	O
not	O
appeal	O
to	O
gamers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Defiance	O
portrayed	O
Kain	O
and	O
Raziel	O
as	O
Sophoclean	B-Application
Oedipus-like	O
figures	O
,	O
"	O
being	O
railroaded	O
by	O
fate	B-Application
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
and	O
after	O
the	O
completion	O
of	O
Dark	B-Application
Legions	I-Application
,	O
Silicon	O
Knights	O
spent	O
several	O
months	O
working	O
on	O
the	O
design	O
of	O
Blood	B-Application
Omen	I-Application
without	O
a	O
particular	O
platform	B-Device
in	O
mind	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Major	O
inspirations	O
behind	O
the	O
project	O
included	O
The	O
Wheel	O
of	O
Time	O
,	O
Necroscope	O
and	O
Shakespeare	O
's	O
plays	O
,	O
while	O
the	O
concept	O
of	O
the	O
Pillars	B-Application
of	I-Application
Nosgoth	I-Application
was	O
derived	O
from	O
cover	O
art	O
for	O
The	B-Application
Pillars	I-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Earth	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Crystal	O
Dynamics	O
agreed	O
to	O
publish	O
the	O
game	O
in	O
1993	O
,	O
and	O
although	O
there	O
was	O
indecision	O
as	O
to	O
whether	O
it	O
should	O
be	O
produced	O
for	O
the	O
3DO	B-Device
Interactive	I-Device
Multiplayer	I-Device
or	O
the	O
Sega	B-Device
Saturn	I-Device
,	O
both	O
parties	O
settled	O
on	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
once	O
Sony	O
announced	O
its	O
impending	O
launch	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Following	O
"	O
Herculean	B-Device
efforts	O
"	O
,	O
Blood	B-Application
Omen	I-Application
was	O
released	O
in	O
late	O
1996	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
its	O
success	O
,	O
Silicon	O
Knights	O
contemplated	O
creating	O
a	O
sequel	O
in	O
what	O
they	O
described	O
as	O
the	O
Blood	B-Application
Omen	I-Application
series	O
,	O
but	O
their	O
relationship	O
with	O
Crystal	O
Dynamics	O
dissolved	O
in	O
1997	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Crystal	O
Dynamics	O
began	O
developing	O
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
internally	O
,	O
and	O
were	O
acquired	O
by	O
Eidos	O
Interactive	O
during	O
its	O
production	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
1998	O
,	O
Silicon	O
Knights	O
filed	O
a	O
suit	O
against	O
Crystal	O
Dynamics	O
for	O
rights	O
to	O
the	O
Legacy	B-Application
of	I-Application
Kain	I-Application
IP	O
,	O
requesting	O
an	O
injunction	O
to	O
prevent	O
Crystal	O
Dynamics	O
from	O
marketing	O
the	O
sequel	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
two	O
studios	O
settled	O
their	O
legal	O
dispute	O
privately	O
,	O
and	O
Crystal	O
Dynamics	O
and	O
Eidos	O
retained	O
rights	O
to	O
the	O
Legacy	B-Application
of	I-Application
Kain	I-Application
franchise	O
,	O
provided	O
that	O
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
acknowledge	O
Silicon	O
Knights	O
as	O
the	O
series	O
 '	O
original	O
creator	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Paradise	O
Lost	O
was	O
the	O
original	O
inspiration	O
behind	O
the	O
concept	O
,	O
and	O
sources	O
such	O
as	O
Rabbinic	O
lore	O
,	O
vampire	B-Application
mythology	I-Application
,	O
Eastern	O
myth	O
and	O
mysticism	O
were	O
also	O
key	O
influences	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Visual	O
cues	O
were	O
borrowed	O
from	O
films	O
such	O
as	O
The	B-Application
City	I-Application
of	I-Application
Lost	I-Application
Children	I-Application
and	O
The	O
Cabinet	O
of	O
Dr.	O
Caligari	O
,	O
and	O
H	O
.	O
P	O
.	O
Lovecraft	O
's	O
Cthulhu	O
Mythos	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
was	O
highly	O
anticipated	O
despite	O
several	O
delays	O
,	O
and	O
was	O
promoted	O
on	O
the	O
covers	O
of	O
over	O
ten	O
game	O
industry	O
magazines	O
,	O
but	O
schedule	O
pressures	O
forced	O
Crystal	O
Dynamics	O
to	O
cut	O
content	O
from	O
the	O
ending	O
sequence	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
inspired	O
by	O
time	O
travel	O
fiction	O
and	O
Kurt	O
Rudolph	O
's	O
research	O
into	O
Gnosticism	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
slated	O
to	O
include	O
more	O
of	O
Blood	O
Omen'''s	O
role-playing	O
game	O
aspects	O
and	O
a	O
wider	O
breadth	O
of	O
acquirable	O
abilities	O
,	O
though	O
the	O
team	O
was	O
handicapped	O
by	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
2	I-Application
project	O
was	O
produced	O
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
for	O
a	O
short	O
time	O
,	O
but	O
,	O
after	O
creating	O
a	O
proof-of-concept	O
demo	O
,	O
the	O
developers	O
were	O
given	O
approval	O
to	O
scrap	O
their	O
work	O
and	O
switch	O
to	O
the	O
newer	O
console	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
"	O
remarkable	O
dedication	O
,	O
and	O
sickening	O
hours	O
"	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
developed	O
in	O
17	O
months	O
;	O
as	O
with	O
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
,	O
several	O
features	O
were	O
cut	O
in	O
order	O
to	O
meet	O
the	O
release	O
deadline	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Blood	B-Application
Omen	I-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
concurrently	O
developed	O
by	O
an	O
independent	O
Crystal	O
Dynamics	O
team	O
with	O
creative	O
autonomy	O
,	O
extrapolating	O
from	O
the	O
19th	O
century	O
steampunk	O
aesthetic	O
of	O
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
to	O
settle	O
on	O
a	O
Victorian	O
feel	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Its	O
crew	O
was	O
wary	O
of	O
relying	O
too	O
strongly	O
on	O
the	O
original	O
Blood	B-Application
Omen	I-Application
as	O
an	O
influence	O
,	O
and	O
expanded	O
on	O
the	O
franchise	O
's	O
backstory	O
in	O
hopes	O
of	O
starting	O
a	O
new	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
inconsistencies	O
raised	O
by	O
its	O
plot	O
left	O
the	O
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
2	I-Application
team	O
to	O
reconcile	O
the	O
storyline	O
in	O
the	O
next	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
fan	O
speculation	O
that	O
it	O
would	O
become	O
the	O
last	O
Legacy	B-Application
of	I-Application
Kain	I-Application
title	O
,	O
Crystal	O
Dynamics	O
unofficially	O
confirmed	O
on	O
their	O
forums	O
that	O
another	O
game	O
was	O
being	O
worked	O
on	O
,	O
though	O
no	O
announcement	O
followed	O
,	O
and	O
,	O
in	O
2005	O
,	O
their	O
next	O
project	O
was	O
revealed	O
to	O
be	O
Tomb	B-Application
Raider	I-Application
:	I-Application
Legend	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2008	O
,	O
it	O
emerged	O
that	O
a	O
sixth	O
game	O
,	O
Legacy	B-Application
of	I-Application
Kain	I-Application
:	O
The	O
Dark	O
Prophecy	O
,	O
had	O
briefly	O
been	O
in	O
development	O
at	O
Ritual	O
Entertainment	O
in	O
2004	O
before	O
being	O
canceled	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Later	O
,	O
in	O
2013	O
,	O
Square	O
Enix	O
confirmed	O
allegations	O
that	O
Climax	O
Studios	O
had	O
worked	O
on	O
another	O
new	O
Legacy	B-Application
of	I-Application
Kain	I-Application
title	O
,	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
PlayStation	I-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
—	O
Legacy	B-Device
of	I-Device
Kain	I-Device
:	I-Device
Dead	I-Device
Sun	I-Device
—	O
until	O
this	O
project	O
's	O
cancellation	O
in	O
2012	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
a	O
October	O
2015	O
interview	O
,	O
Crystal	O
Dynamics	O
 '	O
senior	O
designer	O
,	O
Michael	O
Brinker	O
,	O
replied	O
that	O
there	O
was	O
"	O
a	O
50/50	O
chance	O
"	O
of	O
a	O
sixth	O
Legacy	B-Application
of	I-Application
Kain	I-Application
single	O
player	O
game	O
releasing	O
during	O
the	O
eighth	O
generation	O
of	O
video	O
game	O
consoles.Archived	O
at	O
the	O
The	O
IP	O
was	O
also	O
mentioned	O
under	O
Square	O
Enix	O
Collective	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
May	O
2022	O
,	O
Embracer	O
Group	O
acquired	O
the	O
Legacy	B-Application
of	I-Application
Kain	I-Application
intellectual	O
property	O
alongside	O
other	O
assets	O
of	O
Square	O
Enix	O
Europe	O
,	O
including	O
the	O
development	O
studio	O
Crystal	O
Dynamics	O
for	O
$300	O
million	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Embracer	O
Group	O
expressed	O
interest	O
in	O
sequels	O
,	O
remakes	O
and	O
remasters	O
of	O
the	O
Legacy	B-Application
of	I-Application
Kain	I-Application
franchise	O
among	O
others	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Music	O
from	O
both	O
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
and	O
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
released	O
on	O
a	O
promotional	O
soundtrack	O
in	O
2001	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
,	O
Amy	O
Hennig	O
selected	O
Kurt	O
Harland	O
of	O
synthpop	O
band	O
Information	O
Society	O
to	O
compose	O
the	O
score	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Harland	O
,	O
a	O
colleague	O
introduced	O
the	O
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
team	O
to	O
his	O
work	O
through	O
"	O
Ozar	O
Midrashim	O
"	O
,	O
a	O
track	O
from	O
Information	O
Society	O
's	O
1997	O
album	O
Do	O
n't	O
Be	O
Afraid	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
track	O
went	O
on	O
to	O
feature	O
in	O
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
as	O
the	O
opening	O
theme	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Harland	O
worked	O
with	O
audio	O
engineer	O
Jim	O
Hedges	O
in	O
the	O
creation	O
of	O
an	O
adaptive	O
audio	O
system	O
for	O
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
which	O
allowed	O
the	O
music	O
to	O
change	O
based	O
on	O
in-game	O
context	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Following	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
,	O
action	B-Application
figures	O
of	O
the	O
characters	O
Kain	O
and	O
Raziel	O
were	O
created	O
by	O
Blue	O
Box	O
Interactive	O
and	O
the	O
National	O
Entertainment	O
Collectibles	O
Association	O
in	O
partnership	O
with	O
Eidos	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
single-issue	O
promotional	O
comic	O
by	O
Top	O
Cow	O
Productions	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
October	O
1999	O
to	O
promote	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
,	O
starring	O
the	O
vampire	B-Application
Raziel	O
and	O
serving	O
as	O
a	O
prequel	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
events	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Both	O
Kain	O
and	O
Raziel	O
also	O
feature	O
as	O
playable	O
characters	O
in	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
for	O
2010	O
's	O
Lara	B-Application
Croft	I-Application
and	I-Application
the	I-Application
Guardian	I-Application
of	I-Application
Light	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
2007	O
,	O
the	O
Legacy	B-Application
of	I-Application
Kain	I-Application
series	O
had	O
collectively	O
sold	O
over	O
3.5	O
million	O
copies	O
,	O
but	O
its	O
commercial	O
success	O
has	O
varied	O
with	O
each	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Blood	B-Application
Omen	I-Application
surpassed	O
Crystal	O
Dynamics	O
 '	O
expectations	O
,	O
with	O
reported	O
sales	O
figures	O
ranging	O
from	O
320,082	O
units	O
to	O
2	O
million	O
copies	O
,	O
whereas	O
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
sold	O
over	O
1.5	O
million	O
copies	O
,	O
and	O
was	O
included	O
on	O
Sony	B-Device
's	I-Device
"	I-Device
Greatest	I-Device
Hits	I-Device
"	I-Device
list	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
2	I-Application
and	O
Blood	B-Application
Omen	I-Application
2	I-Application
also	O
performed	O
well	O
,	O
selling	O
in	O
excess	O
of	O
500,000	O
copies	O
each	O
and	O
becoming	O
Greatest	B-Device
Hits	I-Device
titles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Defiance	O
sold	O
between	O
500,000	O
and	O
1	O
million	O
units	O
,	O
but	O
failed	O
to	O
live	O
up	O
to	O
Eidos	O
's	O
sales	O
targets.Legacy	O
of	O
Kain	O
has	O
been	O
cited	O
as	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
most	O
popular	O
video	O
game	O
intellectual	O
properties	O
associated	O
with	O
vampires	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
GameSpot	O
's	O
Greg	O
Kasavin	O
was	O
critical	O
of	O
Blood	B-Application
Omen	I-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
but	O
praised	O
the	O
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
games	O
as	O
"	O
great	O
"	O
for	O
their	O
"	O
innovation	O
and	O
surprising	O
drama	O
"	O
,	O
voice	O
acting	O
and	O
technical	O
feats	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Matt	O
Clemens	O
of	O
Computer	O
and	O
Video	O
Games	O
said	O
that	O
the	O
series	O
had	O
engaging	O
narrative	O
,	O
impressive	O
cinematic	O
sequences	O
and	O
fluid	O
combat	O
,	O
calling	O
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
an	O
"	O
absolute	O
classic	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Metacritic	O
,	O
a	O
video	O
game	O
review	O
aggregator	O
website	O
,	O
determined	O
that	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
version	O
of	O
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
received	O
a	O
"	O
critical	O
acclaim	O
"	O
score	O
of	O
91/100	O
,	O
Soul	B-Application
Reaver	I-Application
2	I-Application
received	O
"	O
generally	O
favorable	O
"	O
scores	O
of	O
80/100	O
and	O
77/100	O
for	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
and	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
,	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Application
version	O
of	O
Blood	B-Application
Omen	I-Application
2	I-Application
received	O
a	O
"	O
generally	O
favorable	O
"	O
score	O
of	O
76/100	O
while	O
the	O
GameCube	B-Application
,	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
and	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
versions	O
received	O
"	O
mixed	O
or	O
average	O
"	O
scores	O
of	O
71/100	O
,	O
67/100	O
and	O
66/100	O
,	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
version	O
of	O
Defiance	O
received	O
a	O
"	O
generally	O
favorable	O
"	O
score	O
of	O
75/100	O
while	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Application
and	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
versions	O
received	O
"	O
mixed	O
or	O
average	O
"	O
scores	O
of	O
74/100	O
and	O
70/100	O
.	O
</s>
