This is still that old PS1 game, it just got a new shiny coat of paint and some cute Dualsense features. It has an amazing story, lots of amazing exploration and levels. It's a masterpiece on PS1!

But it comes with its own set of limitations: terrible camera, weird saves system, navigation that is painful, and lots of backtracking (but rewarding).

Let me adjust your expectations and help you enjoy Soul Reaver!

It's a weird PC/PS1 mixed bag of a system. The game doesn't teach you about it. But it stands to reason that you'd save automatically at the Portal, right? Wrong.
The game has 0 autosaves. I've lost progress to that. I've recovered but here's how to avoid that.
4.1. You only save your game in the Pause Menu! Manually!
4.2 But what if they're greyed out and you can't save? You may look for a place where your Save Game is not greyed out. It works a lot like getting signal reception out in the woods. A good rule of thumb is to check if you're in a transition between the worlds, a door or mid-magick, mid-animation, or in a cutscene.
4.3. "I couldn't catch the signal, man. But I really wanna save and do something else." Then go get yourself killed in the soul world. You'll be right back where you start the game, all progress saved. We forgot one thing.
SAVE AND ONLY THEN, QUIT


1. The platforming is downright evil. That's a 3C's issue.
1. When in doubt, use Jump and Glide for your platforming and watch the shadow..
2. When still in doubt, aim for the center of the platform, that way inertia won't affect you.
3. Use all of the above and try to face a wall to offset that inertia. Especially, over a pool. Or a canal.
4, If the boss fight requires a lot of platforming in a pool and you're getting angry over platforming which feels necessary, look for the things you can destroy. No, that platforming is not required. You'll know what I'm talking about when you see it.

Although this game has a pretty nice combat system, there are some adjustments to be made.
1. In case you missed it, almost none of the fights in the game are mandatory. So jump over that stupid vampire or anyone else. They will reset anyway. Learn to run away, it's the basic adventurer's skill. Yes, opening that door (all attacks) or climbing (almost all) does make you invulnerable.
2. Glyphs are paramount for combat. Get them.
3. You can somewhat cheese the Combat by running in circles around the enemy and spamming the attack button, especially, with the Soul Reaver equipped.
4. Sometimes it's best to retreat into Spirit World and heal.

Bad news: the in-game map is absolutely useless for navigation!
Good news: exploration, note-taking, and backtracking are extremely rewarding here!
1. Make a map for yourself digitally or on paper, explore, and take notes of various things that seem future-power-related. Mark these and write down or screenshot exactly what you see. Is it a gate? Is it water? Is it a wall? Are paths diverging and there's one you can't follow? This will help your backtracking immensely. Do this digitally, if you can, it's easier to paste screenshots and videos there. Miro will help you.
2. If you're finding it difficult to navigate to the next boss, there's help in the game.
Just come back to the Old One and ask him, there's a platform shining with green right where you began the game. Stand on it and listen.


3. Got a new Power and it's not a Glyph? Check notes and backtrack to something that feels applicable.
4. You don't know how to leave the level after a boss fight? Make sure you've found the portal. Then
SAVE
QUIT
RELOAD. You'll be right back with the Old One.
If you're asking about some Abbey, you might look it up on YouTube or go be a punching bag in the Spirit Realm. This will get you to the Old One, hence, unstuck.
5. Fortunately, there is still a use for the Map: track your collectibles for an area in the bottom-right.

Chances are that by now you're done with Soul Reaver 1 or watched the ending on YouTube like I did after a game-breaking bug.

Welcome to Soul Reaver 2! Let's curb our enthusiasm and adjust our expectations, just like before. Don't worry, I'm a game designer and I finished this game.

Now, what you get is no-nonsense advice with no sugarcoating. Let's adjust your sessions and focus your effort.

It's more confusing than the first one. And worse for it. Now, we can't save anywhere and return to the Old One, now we have:

• Checkpoints (hoops on a stick) Here, you resurrect once you die the final death. Well, not that final.
  
• and Save Points like in Blood Omen. The only place where you actually get to save your session's progress.

1. Plan for several hours per session and look for that save point. Don't worry, you will learn where they are whether you want to or not.
   
2. You're in a Temple and already a bit tired? Then remember how long ago that Save Point was. And skip it for the day. Usually, you won't be able to save in the Temple. And they're long and confusing. Good puzzles though.

Remember how interesting it was to play Soul Reaver 1, backtracking the world to see where you can go with new powers? Now, the world does feel bigger and even more atmospheric at times. It does make for some good screenshots.
I'm gonna save you some time, effort, and heartbreak. The story is why you're playing Soul Reaver 2. Expect nothing else. There really IS nothing to explore, just the main story, the only story.
If you're stumped, it might be that the clues are too far apart or poorly communicated. Use YouTube, another guide, anything.

This time it has a deeper lock-on system, dodge, block, weapons, new enemies with new attacks, etc. You'd assume it's really nice!
Be a shame if:

• the enemy is usually a damage sponge;
  
• the fights on this combat's system terms would drag on and on.

And a shame it is.

    
1. Most of the game you can just ignore the combat, Jump over that enemy, run your way through the level, climb that wall, ignoring enemies. Unless they're super annoying or blocking your progress in some way.
   Skip the unnecessary combat encounters and you'll be happier for it.
       
2. But if you ARE forced into combat, then you could choose to engage with the combat system on its terms. Impatient?
   Just cheese it by running circles around the enemy and spamming attack!
   This always works. Especially when you have the Soul Reaver out.
   The trade-off is immersion, but you win time and effort better spent on puzzles.