Retail Action Figures - The Library - Legacy of Kain: The Lost Worlds

Retail Action Figures

Blue Box Interactive was the first company to produce Legacy of Kain action figures. Between the releases of Soul Reaver 2 and Defiance, they released five in the series.

BBI's first Legacy of Kain releases were deluxe, boxed Kain and Raziel figures. Both included display stands, with Kain's being a tiny version of his Pillar of Balance throne, and Raziel's being based on the carved stones of the Elder God's chamber (both as depicted in Soul Reaver). The Raziel figure's accessories were a staff (from his own clan territory in the game), a torch, and two swirling green souls which could be attached to the back of the display stand. The Kain figure included the Soul Reaver sword and two purple lightning bolts to simulate his in-game attack or attach to the back of the display stand.

Soon afterwards, BBI introduced a third boxed character: a sizeable version of Dumah as a vampire. True to his appearance in the game, this figure did not include accessories but featured a removable helmet and red LED light-up eyes. Although many players did not notice these details in the game due to the relatively low polygon count and texture resolution, they are completely accurate (although presumably the in-game Dumah's eyes light up for reasons other than battery-powered LEDs).

BBI's next figures were carded versions of Kain and Raziel. These were identical to the original versions except for the simpler packaging and the inclusion of fewer accessories; the stands for both were omitted, along with Kain's lightning bolts and Raziel's green souls.

After introducing this carded variation, BBI continued the line with a Lieutenant Raziel figure which had been frequently requested by fans ever since it was depicted on the box art of the original figures (see Prototype Action Figures). Because it was carded, this figure only included one accessory (a sword designed by BBI's modellers based on his clan symbol), but it did feature poseable wings and a fabric tabard as opposed to the soft plastic of their Kain figure.

BBI's final Legacy of Kain action figure was a limited edition sold as a marketing tie-in with the 2003 Comic-Con. The Comic-Con figure itself was identical to the original deluxe boxed version except that its cowl was molded into Raziel's "feeding" position. It retained the same display stand as the previous figure, but included different accessories: the Spectral version of the Soul Reaver (along with a piece of soft plastic to coil around the figure's arm), a different staff (from Melchiah's clan territory), and two replacement hands to recreate the effect of Raziel using the Fire Glyph.

In 2006, National Entertainment Collectibles Association released a Kain figure (based on his appearance in Defiance) as part of their Player Select line (which also included Lara Croft and Agent 47). NECA included two accessories with their Kain figure - the Soul Reaver sword and a replacement hand to simulate Kain using his TK powers in Defiance.

The details of both companies' figures are generally quite accurate. Both Kain figures have Vorador's ring worn as an earring, and a scar on their chest where Kain was impaled in the original Blood Omen. BBI's Kain figure has a notable error in that his tabard is emblazoned with Raziel's clan symbol, but this was because they based it on preproduction concept art for Soul Reaver which used it as a stand-in until Kain's own symbol was created. NECA's Kain seems to be based on one specific piece of Defiance promotional artwork, because in both instances Kain is wielding the Reaver in his left hand while using his right to launch a TK attack. The NECA version of the Soul Reaver appears to be more accurate in terms of its size relative to the figure and the detailing of the weapon, with the exception that the hilt is black instead of bronze.

Of the two makers, BBI came closer to producing a true "action" figure - that is a fully poseable toy which can stand up to being played with. Their figures are fully articulated and feature mount points for accessories and the display stand. However, they are clearly intended more as display pieces for adult (or at least teenage-and-above) collectors. Their joints would not stand up to a child playing with them, and the two Raziel figures are hampered by the stiff plastic cowls - the original figure cannot raise his arms over his shoulders without removing the cowl, and the Comic-Con figure is incapable of any pose other than "feeding" without removing the cowl or replacing it with the one from the original figure.

NECA's Kain figure is generally more detailed and accurate than BBI's (with some exceptions noted above). Although some fans claim that the face is inaccurate, it is much closer to the Defiance artwork than that of the BBI figure. Unfortunately, it is also has fewer points of articulation than the BBI figure. While it is still far superior to the vestigial articulation of Todd McFarlane-style plastic statues, it makes for less versatility than BBI's design. At the same time, the result is a more durable figure.

For the bodies and most of the accessories, both manufacturers used plastics which are softer than the rigid material of true toy action figures (undoubtably part of the reason they are less durable). The material of the BBI figures can become especially rubbery in hot and humid conditions; this can make it a challenge to keep the Raziel figure on its display stand or the wings attached to the Lieutenant Raziel figure.