| Kain | |
|---|---|
| Legacy of Kain character | |
&sq=Qlik&lang=&file=File:LoK-Kain.png) Kain in Legacy of Kain: Defiance | |
| First game | Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain (1996) |
| Created by | Denis Dyack |
| Voiced by | Simon Templeman |
Kain is a character and the main protagonist and title character of the Legacy of Kain video game series. First introduced in Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain in 1996, he was created by Denis Dyack and Silicon Knights, and has appeared in all subsequent Legacy of Kain games under the direction of developer Crystal Dynamics. Between games, he serves as either the central playable character, or as an antagonist, but in all his depictions he has consistently been described as an antihero.
Drawing inspiration from the morally ambiguous character of William Munny from Clint Eastwood's 1992 film Unforgiven, Silicon Knights conceived Kain as a nobleman murdered and revived as a vampire to take revenge on his assassins. He gradually embraces his new existence, and learns of his birthright to maintain balance in Nosgoth (the fictional setting of the series). Crystal Dynamics later portrayed Kain as an Oedipus-like figure, seeking to thwart the fate determined for him before his birth.
Beyond his role in the series, Kain has also featured in tie-in comics, and in Crystal Dynamics' Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light. In all of his voiced appearances, he has been played by actor Simon Templeman. He has been favorably received by critics and fans, with praise centering around his memorable personality, nuanced characterization and moral greyness; his transition from protagonist in Blood Omen to antagonist in Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver was positively singled out.