Since I just finished the game, I wanted to give it some well-deserved praise. I've been following the series since Blood Omen, and Defiance is probably the best game of them all IMO.
I was somewhat disappointed in Soul Reaver 2 (although I can understand why, because the game was kind of rushed).
In Defiance, they fixed just about everything that bothered me with SR 2. The pacing is much better, the continue/save system is more convinient, it's fairly easy to know where to go all the time (since they even tell you in the pause menu), puzzles are more satisfying and logical, battles are more fun, you gain new attack moves (and play as two different characters at that) and the special attacks are cool to play around with. It's simply more fun to play.
The switch between different realms is also made in a much better way (you don't lose any energy when switching, for example).
The script, voice acting and voice direction is EXCELLENT. Even though it's been good before, I think Defiance stands out as the best yet. The dialogues and monologues are wonderfully written and performed, without being too long-winded and pretentious (which I thought was the case with SR2 at times). The cutscenes are cooler, the story is more interesting and complex while still being somewhat managable for my thought process.
The fixed camera system works, in some cases, much better than the free control camera in previous games. And in other cases, the camera is in the wrong place at the wrong time. Still, I think it's the better system had it just been polished more.
Graphics are great (VERY improved from Soul Reaver 2). I really love the look of the spectral realm now, with the blur effect going on, the intense light from the "spectral" sun, the colors. Impressive graphics all-around.
Music is good too...although they recycled some music from previous games. I wish they would go for orchestrated music next time, along with choir, organs and similar. Would really enchance the epic feel of the game.
Anyway, I'm really looking forward to the next game...will be interesting see how it will be different. Because I'm confident it will be. Crystal Dynamics have confirmed at least one more game and a 2005 release seems likely (unless they decide to hold off until next gen).
I was somewhat disappointed in Soul Reaver 2 (although I can understand why, because the game was kind of rushed).
In Defiance, they fixed just about everything that bothered me with SR 2. The pacing is much better, the continue/save system is more convinient, it's fairly easy to know where to go all the time (since they even tell you in the pause menu), puzzles are more satisfying and logical, battles are more fun, you gain new attack moves (and play as two different characters at that) and the special attacks are cool to play around with. It's simply more fun to play.
The switch between different realms is also made in a much better way (you don't lose any energy when switching, for example).
The script, voice acting and voice direction is EXCELLENT. Even though it's been good before, I think Defiance stands out as the best yet. The dialogues and monologues are wonderfully written and performed, without being too long-winded and pretentious (which I thought was the case with SR2 at times). The cutscenes are cooler, the story is more interesting and complex while still being somewhat managable for my thought process.
The fixed camera system works, in some cases, much better than the free control camera in previous games. And in other cases, the camera is in the wrong place at the wrong time. Still, I think it's the better system had it just been polished more.
Graphics are great (VERY improved from Soul Reaver 2). I really love the look of the spectral realm now, with the blur effect going on, the intense light from the "spectral" sun, the colors. Impressive graphics all-around.
Music is good too...although they recycled some music from previous games. I wish they would go for orchestrated music next time, along with choir, organs and similar. Would really enchance the epic feel of the game.
Anyway, I'm really looking forward to the next game...will be interesting see how it will be different. Because I'm confident it will be. Crystal Dynamics have confirmed at least one more game and a 2005 release seems likely (unless they decide to hold off until next gen).