Legacy Of Kain Soul Reaver 2

Usually When the words soul and sucking appear together in a review it means we've been playing another bizarre French adventure game, but in this case it's a central element of one of the best action-adventure games of 2002. Building strongly on the foundations laid down by its predecessor, SR2 again puts you in the undead hooves of Raziel, angst-ridden ex-vampire on a quest for bloody vengeance. But just when you think it's going to be a simple tale of bloodlust and soul-stealing, everything's turned on its head. Friend becomes foe, sworn enemy becomes unlikely ally, and god-like puppet-master becomes giant squid. It's compelling stuff, provided you can forgive the heavy-handed (but quality) gothic overtones of the script.

Another key to the game's success is the puzzle-solving, which though derivative of other genre favourites, also offers some surprising innovations, all stemming from the range of abilities that can be added to your symbiotic weapon, the accursed soul reaver. Other than that, it's a fairly straightforward time-hopping, soul-reaving romp, with hundreds of pathetic mortals to dispatch and vast gothic environs to explore. But the thing that separates Soul Reaver 2 from other games of its ilk is pure polish and a refreshing air of quality throughout, and for this price, you can't go wrong.

Raziel returns to the Dreamcast (and PlayStation) this fall in this latest installment of Crystal Dynamics/Eidos' Kain series. This time around you must travel back in time to find Kain and discover the cause for the extinction of the vampire clans and other mysteries of Nosgoth's past. Hordes of new enemies, such as vampire hunters, humans, spectral spirits and demons await your return to the spectral realm.