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Legacy of Kain: Dead Sun (updated with E3 2012 Square Enix Teaser and Pre-Boss Video)

I dont understand how so much work can go into a game of a highly successful franchise, only to have the rug pulled from underneath. What was going through the peoples's heads when they decided to pull the plug.
 

Maxim726X

Member
Yet another reason to hate Square Enix... As if I didn't have enough.

LoK was one of my favorite series. I loved all of them (eh.. except BO2). The story, immersion, dialogue, and characters were top notch. Hell, still are. The amount of effort put into the universe and dialogue to this day remains unmatched.

The series will always have a special place in my heart. I wish I could play another one... Eh, maybe in a universe far, far away. The game looked awesome too, and it looked like the development team really put some thought into the universe post-Defiance. God damn shame we'll never see it.

I dont understand how so much work can go into a game of a highly successful franchise, only to have the rug pulled from underneath. What was going through the peoples's heads when they decided to pull the plug.

The company is fucking lost and has been for years. It's so sad that they have not only destroyed their amazing franchises, but this one as well.
 
I dont understand how so much work can go into a game of a highly successful franchise, only to have the rug pulled from underneath. What was going through the peoples's heads when they decided to pull the plug.

It has to come down to the math. At some point it's just money already spent + money that will be spent - potential profits = cancelled game. Considering the world didn't even know the game existed, there was still a ton of money to be spent on marketing (since it hadn't begun). And who knows how much more of a game there was outside of what we're seeing here. It could have still been pretty far from completion.
 

jimboton

Member
I still haven't been able to watch the video. That said I think what I need to help with the heart ache is confirmation that this was going to be a shitty reboot ala Tomb Raider conplete with QTEs, hand holding, automated everything, map of "secret collectables", dumbed down optional dungeons, etc. Tell me this was all about trying (and failing) to be either Arkham Asylum, Uncharted or both.

Please don't tell me this was going to be similar to Soul Reaver, with actual platforming, exploration and puzzles.
 

The_Afroman

Member
Well.. good job GAF, i'm ruined/saved for the week..

bjgVWbW.png
 

DSix

Banned
It looks pretty damn far along, much farther that I would imagine for a downright cancellation. Maybe SE estimated the shipping date would have been too late in the 360 lifespan?
But even then I'm shocked that they made Nosgoth out of it and didn't even think about keeping that very advanced single player part. It got voice acting, mo-capped intro scenes and everything. It's crazy.
 

Spineker

Banned
Assassins Creed: Unity was released, broken I might add, a game absolutely nobody in the world needed, and this gets cancelled.

114408-Fuck-Everything-gif-Imgur-fuck-nP75.gif
 

GavinUK86

Member
I always know I'm about to become very depressed when I see Mama Robotnik's name on the "thread created by" section. You just know it's info about something awesome that's got cancelled.

Looks like it's happened again. Dead Sun looks a heck of a lot like Shadow of Mordor though which is a bit weird. I wonder if this came out, what we would've gotten first.

I guess it's time to replay the whole series again then have a sulk when I get to the end.

Slightly off topic but I actually quite like the F2P Nosgoth. It plays quite well.
 

Burt

Member
I'm sure Darksiders/Darksiders 2 had a hand in killing this. They have a lot of superficial similarities (although this skews a bit more adult/low fantasy, reminded me of The Witcher series), and seeing the Zelda-without-Zelda Darksiders series underperform and, on the other end of their inspiration scale, having to compete with the Arkham series in terms of both brand and gameplay probably didn't seem like a great bet for a AAA budget.
 

Sagely

Member
I'm sure Darksiders/Darksiders 2 had a hand in killing this. They have a lot of superficial similarities (although this skews a bit more adult/low fantasy, reminded me of The Witcher series), and seeing the Zelda-without-Zelda Darksiders series underperform and, on the other end of their inspiration scale, having to compete with the Arkham series in terms of both brand and gameplay probably didn't seem like a great bet for a AAA budget.

I'm inclined to agree; unfortunately the adult-Zelda formula doesn't seem to appeal to a wide audience (as much as some of us love it). Honestly I think the Arkham inspirations were a good choice, as Shadow of Mordor seems heavily inspired by those games and did very well; but it's a lot harder to sell the LoK IP than Batman or Lord of the Rings.
 
I still haven't been able to watch the video. That said I think what I need to help with the heart ache is confirmation that this was going to be a shitty reboot ala Tomb Raider conplete with QTEs, hand holding, automated everything, map of "secret collectables", dumbed down optional dungeons, etc. Tell me this was all about trying (and failing) to be either Arkham Asylum, Uncharted or both.

Please don't tell me this was going to be similar to Soul Reaver, with actual platforming, exploration and puzzles.

Sorry. But the plan was: platforming, puzzles, dungeons, huge bosses, a MASSIVE amount of exploration. Outside the tutorial bit (which is in the video), no handholding. Jumping was automated (like Zelda meets AA), but the actual platforming was all puzzle based (realm shifting, tricky jumps, having to move quickly, planning in advance etc).

The combat was very Batmanish, though, only much faster. Like an angry pinball with fatalities.
 

Ishida

Banned
Sorry. But the plan was: platforming, puzzles, dungeons, huge bosses, a MASSIVE amount of exploration. Outside the tutorial bit (which is in the video), no handholding. Jumping was automated (like Zelda meets AA), but the actual platforming was all puzzle based (realm shifting, tricky jumps, having to move quickly, planning in advance etc).

The combat was very Batmanish, though, only much faster. Like an angry pinball with fatalities.

.......... Fuck.........
 
Z

ZombieFred

Unconfirmed Member
Sorry. But the plan was: platforming, puzzles, dungeons, huge bosses, a MASSIVE amount of exploration. Outside the tutorial bit (which is in the video), no handholding. Jumping was automated (like Zelda meets AA), but the actual platforming was all puzzle based (realm shifting, tricky jumps, having to move quickly, planning in advance etc).

The combat was very Batmanish, though, only much faster. Like an angry pinball with fatalities.


Hey Mort does Square own all the assets for this production then? Is there any chance Square could resume the project with Climax or is it dead as the dodo?
 

rhandino

Banned
Sorry. But the plan was: platforming, puzzles, dungeons, huge bosses, a MASSIVE amount of exploration. Outside the tutorial bit (which is in the video), no handholding. Jumping was automated (like Zelda meets AA), but the actual platforming was all puzzle based (realm shifting, tricky jumps, having to move quickly, planning in advance etc).

The combat was very Batmanish, though, only much faster. Like an angry pinball with fatalities.

MVuAOFD.gif


This sounds like those vivid dreams, and then you woke up and you are back in the sad reality. I can'T.

Did you think there is a tiny chance they could in the future continue with this? Maybe if Nosgoth proves to be popular and successful?
 
Sorry. But the plan was: platforming, puzzles, dungeons, huge bosses, a MASSIVE amount of exploration. Outside the tutorial bit (which is in the video), no handholding. Jumping was automated (like Zelda meets AA), but the actual platforming was all puzzle based (realm shifting, tricky jumps, having to move quickly, planning in advance etc).

The combat was very Batmanish, though, only much faster. Like an angry pinball with fatalities.

I loved what I saw with the exception of how he got his wings. That was kind of anticlimactic, too easy for something that will open up exploration. Should have been after a mini-boss or something that would explain the transformation/mutation and not just a floating icon. It's a silly thing to nitpick, but everything else seemed so great that's the only thing that comes to mind.

Man, I want this done in current-gen machines.
 

Pyrrhus

Member
It's not precisely what I would have wanted (my dream is a continuation of the original storyline in an open world adventure game featuring the dulcet tones of one Simon Templeman), but I certainly would have bought this if it had come to market. I'm sorry for all the folks who dropped so much time and energy into it only for it to be cancelled.
 
Blood Omen
Blood Omen 2*
Soul Reaver
Soul Reaver II
Defiance

*The game is set between Blood Omen and Soul Reaver but is explained away as some alternate universe later in the series - breaks canon if I remember right. Personally I think it's better to skip BO2, not a fan of it in the slightest.

Actually, Blood Omen 2 was created when Kain managed to make the "coin" he kept talking about land on its edge. He altered time by pulling the Blood Reaver out of Raziel's chest at the end of Soul Reaver 2 and managed to delay the creation of the Soul Reaver.

This allowed Raziel to help Janos Audron by reclaiming his heart and reviving him. This, however, gave The Hylden a pathway in to Nosgoth through possessing Janos. Kain would end up fighting The Hylden in Blood Omen 2. This was what Kain was trying to warn Raziel about at the end of Soul Reaver 2 when Kain pulled the Blood Reaver from Raziel's chest. Time had been altered and Kain's new memories shocked him and, before Raziel was pulled back to the spirit realm, he told him that "Janos must stay dead."

Raziel didn't listen and, thus, Blood Omen 2 was made.
 

Armigr

Member
I'm not gonna lie, I'm not a big fan of the visual design (character design especially) or the writing. That said, the gameplay looks like it could have been a ton of fun.

Every time I'm reminded of this game being dead it breaks my heart a little. :(
 

ZenTzen

Member
yeah its called a Legacy of Kain game, but its kind of missing something(and no its not kain or raziel, even though that would help)
 
Z

ZombieFred

Unconfirmed Member
Just a quick question but anyone got that timeline picture of the story as my friend was sure there was a big time paradox around Kain on his actions and how it would have caused an implosion. I am quite rusty myself so like to double check!
 

Iscariot

Member
This looked promising.

I actually hope Nosgoth does well enough to keep SE interested in possibly reviving the IP for a single player game. I loved the LoK series.
 

Shanlei91

Sonic handles my blue balls
Sorry. But the plan was: platforming, puzzles, dungeons, huge bosses, a MASSIVE amount of exploration. Outside the tutorial bit (which is in the video), no handholding. Jumping was automated (like Zelda meets AA), but the actual platforming was all puzzle based (realm shifting, tricky jumps, having to move quickly, planning in advance etc).

The combat was very Batmanish, though, only much faster. Like an angry pinball with fatalities.

ZM5BfBI.gif
 
Odd, this looks like it would have been a game that could have enjoyed genuine mainstream success in spite of the franchise being relatively niche these days. It seems like it would have hit a good middle ground for pleasing fans of the series while exhibiting modern game design that would have made it fairly accessible.
 

ArjanN

Member
Ralph-Wiggum.jpg


Odd, this looks like it would have been a game that could have enjoyed genuine mainstream success in spite of the franchise being relatively niche these days. It seems like it would have hit a good middle ground for pleasing fans of the series while exhibiting modern game design that would have made it fairly accessible.

Yeah, it seems pretty far along as well.

Stylistically it kinda reminds me of Shadows of Mordor.
 
Have loved your dedication to LoK and the amazing info you have uncovered about the series ever since I knew you as Divine Shadow on another board many moons ago mate. Fantastic stuff as per usual.
 

Moofers

Member
Man, why would they cancel this? It looks awesome. I know there are a lot of longtime fans of LOK that would have loved to have seen this happen. And a PS4 launch title as well? It would have done really well, I think.

Man, this sucks. SquareEnix can't get this one out but they can keep squeezing out Final Fantasy turds every 6 years?
 

Taker34

Banned
First off thanks Mama robotnik for giving us the rare chance to see such detailed material about the game. It's so hard to get your hands on cancelled/pre-alpha stuff which actually isn't 10-20 years old. I really appreciate your dedication to LoK and its community. There would be a ton of stuff we wouldn't even know about otherwise.

Now: what the fuck was Square Enix thinking? It's both absurd and sad to see the incredible potential of the whole LoK series being thrown away. The gameplay was really good and refreshing to say the least. The incredible soundtrack and dark atmosphere is just so different and unique from what is available right now on the market. It really looks and feels like a worthy LoK sequel in many ways.
It is just utterly wrong not to release this title while a bunch of other poorly made projects actually saw the light of day.
I'm disgusted. Urgh.
 

thelastword

Banned
Looks like they had something, it's really a shame that such a game has to be cancelled whilst other less interesting games are out every year.
 
Art doesn't look very Soul Reaver but the game looks insanely fun. I came to this thread expecting much earlier footage. I'm extremely sad this was cancelled. Please Square Enix, let the guys develop it further! Revive the IP in a big way! It deserves so much love!
 
I loved what I saw with the exception of how he got his wings. That was kind of anticlimactic, too easy for something that will open up exploration. Should have been after a mini-boss or something that would explain the transformation/mutation and not just a floating icon. It's a silly thing to nitpick, but everything else seemed so great that's the only thing that comes to mind.

Man, I want this done in current-gen machines.

That's because this was the vertical slice. (Not like the Bioshock Infinite one, where it was basically a video - this was actually 1/4 of the game totally playable.) The plan actually was that you'd get the wings second dungeon or something, but it's accelerated in this demo to allow the player to show off the flying etc.
 
That's because this was the vertical slice. (Not like the Bioshock Infinite one, where it was basically a video - this was actually 1/4 of the game totally playable.) The plan actually was that you'd get the wings second dungeon or something, but it's accelerated in this demo to allow the player to show off the flying etc.

Ohhhhh. Nice. So you guys were running UE3? This looks pretty impressive. I mean, there is stuttering here and there, and some animations lacked polish (understandable for a vertical slice), but still, it looked very good. I'm not too crazy about "press RT to see where you need to go" but that's an option so it's easy to not use.

May I ask about boss design? We you guys planning on having Soul Reaver-1-type bosses where each boss was kind of like a puzzle and there was no health bar? Or were you going for the more traditional health-bar, hit until it dies boss type?
 

Nokterian

Member
Amazing thread mama robotnik! Goddamnit square...unbelievable they went with nosgoth instead of a great singleplayer Soul Reaver.

Sorry. But the plan was: platforming, puzzles, dungeons, huge bosses, a MASSIVE amount of exploration. Outside the tutorial bit (which is in the video), no handholding. Jumping was automated (like Zelda meets AA), but the actual platforming was all puzzle based (realm shifting, tricky jumps, having to move quickly, planning in advance etc).

The combat was very Batmanish, though, only much faster. Like an angry pinball with fatalities.

giphy.gif


And they cancelled this really? I am very sad now :(
 
Yet another reason to hate the guts of SE execs. Having them work on weekends for an already know cancelled project is its special brand of evil. The game looked amazing, except perhaps for combat which seems somewhat generic. The material/spectral realms are amazing, and the strong winds heavily affecting the trees in the material world is really atmospheric.
 

AndyD

aka andydumi
I'm inclined to agree; unfortunately the adult-Zelda formula doesn't seem to appeal to a wide audience (as much as some of us love it). Honestly I think the Arkham inspirations were a good choice, as Shadow of Mordor seems heavily inspired by those games and did very well; but it's a lot harder to sell the LoK IP than Batman or Lord of the Rings.

If this was a PS4/Xone launch window title it could have done incredibly well. Both because of the name legacy, and also because a lot of the shortcomings may have been forgiven on the new consoles as a reboot.

Sad it didn't happen, but if if were revived, the expectations would be a lot higher now than a year ago.
 
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