Crystal Dynamics is optimizing the sequel to use all the power of the PlayStation 2. The game plays at a fluid 60fps, which is simply amazing considering the amount of polygons and textures in this new version. When you compare this to the 300 polygons used to create our hero in the original game you can then begin to realize just how good this game is going to look. The levels in the original were very creative and showed some impressive design and architecture, but they don't even begin to compare to the massive levels in Soul Reaver 2. As with Raziel, the levels feature about 10x the detail of the original and use just about every trick in the PS2 bag of special effects.
Fire illuminates the levels with colored lighting and casts real-time shadows.
Torchlight is even critical in finding hidden secrets hidden in the darkness. Particle effects are used to create detailed special effects such as lively fireflies that dart around the evening sky. This means that after the initial loading at the beginning you will never see a load screen or a pause as you wander the huge levels, enter a door, shift planes, or transport to a new world. Even more amazing is the use of fog, or rather lack of fog. Before, fog was used to mask your viewing distance to maintain the frame rate.