Probably just as extra content, I gather. Not sure how it'll be implemented, either some sort of "virtual tour", where you basically go through those levels as if you were playing the game, except without enemies and/or puzzles (depending on the beta/playable/presentable state of said lost levels), a picture/video gallery from an Extras menu or, like you said, just in-game encyclopedia entries (either from an Extras menu or from the in-game options). No one actually knows, right now, but it's relatively safe to assume they won't be a part of the game itself, they're not restoring any cut content, the game will basically be the same as it already was.

[EDIT] OK, so I just came across this tweet by Bit Bot Media[x.com], retweeted by Aspyr, that shows the Bonus Content menu as it will look in-game and, yes, the Lost Levels will be in there, as extras, not as part of the game.

That is the screenshot I saw as well. I am glad that they appear in the game in one shape or the other. They are a part of the game's history and the effort is well received.

It's cool that they are at least recognizing the extra stuff after all this time, wonder what Mr. Ben Lincoln thinks of this? Especially considering the name lol

I do wish they could've at least implemented SOME of it though; maybe make an extra little underground area in the human city with the priestess, or give a bit more context to Turel being absent (though I guess that'd be impossible without re-recording lines).

Originally posted by Klampus:

wonder what Mr. Ben Lincoln thinks of this? Especially considering the name lol

He's maybe involved and under NDA.
Or most likely, the devs had inputs directly from Crystal Dynamics to recreate them as sucessfully as possible.

Still a shame we can't have the "originaly planned" good ending, there's almost all the assets already in the game, it wouldn't take much to copy paste a second story and implement them as a "director's cut" thing, I dunno.

The only difference is the order in which you were supposed to play the game, etc...
So beside just routing everything in a different way, 80% of it is already there.

Originally posted by Baron Borie:

Originally posted by Klampus:

wonder what Mr. Ben Lincoln thinks of this? Especially considering the name lol

He's maybe involved and under NDA.
Or most likely, the devs had inputs directly from Crystal Dynamics to recreate them as sucessfully as possible.

Still a shame we can't have the "originaly planned" good ending, there's almost all the assets already in the game, it wouldn't take much to copy paste a second story and implement them as a "director's cut" thing, I dunno.

The only difference is the order in which you were supposed to play the game, etc...
So beside just routing everything in a different way, 80% of it is already there.

I remember reading that at least one level was so horribly buggy to the point where they had to remove it. And I'm not sure if those removed levels were all fully "designed" in any of the test builds.

Also, were all the lines recorded? I thought some of it was still just placeholder, and once they realized they wouldn't have time to finish certain parts they just never bothered.

Purely going off of memory here, but if it were that simple I assume somebody would have tried to put together their own reconstruction by now since at least some of the code has been out there for years, right?

Also, some of those other powers that were meant to be in the game would have likely changed the way latter sections of the game could be played, no? I'm not sure to what degree those puzzles were even designed.

Originally posted by Klampus:

Originally posted by Baron Borie:

He's maybe involved and under NDA.
Or most likely, the devs had inputs directly from Crystal Dynamics to recreate them as sucessfully as possible.

Still a shame we can't have the "originaly planned" good ending, there's almost all the assets already in the game, it wouldn't take much to copy paste a second story and implement them as a "director's cut" thing, I dunno.

The only difference is the order in which you were supposed to play the game, etc...
So beside just routing everything in a different way, 80% of it is already there.

I remember reading that at least one level was so horribly buggy to the point where they had to remove it. And I'm not sure if those removed levels were all fully "designed" in any of the test builds.

Also, were all the lines recorded? I thought some of it was still just placeholder, and once they realized they wouldn't have time to finish certain parts they just never bothered.

Purely going off of memory here, but if it were that simple I assume somebody would have tried to put together their own reconstruction by now since at least some of the code has been out there for years, right?

Also, some of those other powers that were meant to be in the game would have likely changed the way latter sections of the game could be played, no? I'm not sure to what degree those puzzles were even designed.

Audra Auron managed to flesh out the lost Human Citadel part, even with the boss fight, the turel battle, the Kain's lair, etc...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSKQD8oqwQY

He's, btw, the DIRECTOR of the remaster seemingly lmao.
https://x.com/RainaAudron/status/1858898848581554371

also there are almost all the voices for the original ending, already in the game (just unused). There are actual video "recreating" the original ending and way the game was supposed to unfold.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JStgRuot8lU

It's basicaly 80% the same thing than the release game.
Only difference is the order in which you complete the game, you're supposedly kill Kain way earlier and then finish the job and it all ends in the Silenced Cathedral.

So, using the vanilla map and just adding a few more level and changing the level's order would basically all it needs (beside obvious developping and filling empty texture and stuff like that)

I mean, if a random fanboy with modding skill could manage to flesh back those lost levels... No way anyone directly linked to Crystal Dynamics (and most likely with all the original notes and design sheets) can't manage to recreate those.

There were mostly found in the alpha build, probably scrapped after, but those levels are insanely advanced, it wouldn't take much in most case to recreate those.

But, to be honnest, with that Remaster on modern engine, IMO, it's about time some modders just do it themselves, almost everything is already here, EVEN TURREL'S MODEL, LEVEL AND SKIN For god's sake !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3PE7smIS8g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrhKJR8B1IY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcZfXxyYhKA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImeLMJLrw9Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLGL3daEoqg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UZMdhTLXNM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImeLMJLrw9Y

Oh, interesting! I remember looking at a bit of this years back, but then fell off. It'd be great to play a full mod someday

Originally posted by Baron Borie:

Audra Auron managed to flesh out the lost Human Citadel part, even with the boss fight, the turel battle, the Kain's lair, etc...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSKQD8oqwQY

He's, btw, the DIRECTOR of the remaster seemingly lmao.
https://x.com/RainaAudron/status/1858898848581554371

Just to clarify, Raina Audron is a woman, not a "he". She's the person behind the incredible Soul Reaver HD Remaster for Dreamcast emulators (previously known as Soul Reaver Resanctified), and the one behind The Ancient's Den[www.theancientsden.com], one of the oldest, largest knowledge bases for Legacy of Kain, particularly when it comes to the Soul Reaver universe.

Good to know that she's directing this official remaster, it's in good hands. It just makes me even happier to have pre-ordered it.

Originally posted by thegroze:

Originally posted by Baron Borie:

Audra Auron managed to flesh out the lost Human Citadel part, even with the boss fight, the turel battle, the Kain's lair, etc...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSKQD8oqwQY

He's, btw, the DIRECTOR of the remaster seemingly lmao.
https://x.com/RainaAudron/status/1858898848581554371

Just to clarify, Raina Audron is a woman, not a "he".

To be fair it is easy to miss cause Baz is mostly the one talking in the videos and Raina is more in the background doing stuff.
Should be mentioned to avoid confusion or starting another "trans" discussion.