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Kya: Dark Lineage ps2 Game Reviews
Kya: Dark Lineage
Critic Score
Metascore: 69 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
8.6 out of 10
based on 25 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 16 votes
Read user comments
Rate this game

Plunged into a mysterious world, Kya must seek her way through multiple dangers to find her brother and a way back home. She discovers the Nativs, a peaceful tribe, oppressed by the Wolfens - the menacing army of the evil Brazul. Kya must lead the rebellion of the Nativs for their freedom. Mastering magical powers, Kya can liberate the Wolfens from their mystical imprisonment and restore their true Nativ identity. Steal your way through or fight head-to-head with hordes of Wolfens using original combat moves and magical strikes. Soar against various vertiginous wind currents on breathtaking flights. Slide down extreme entwined turbulent tracks, through challenging obstacles and lush environments. Journey through unbelievable acrobatic freefalls as you get closer to Kya’s quest to save her brother and defeat the Fortress of Brazul. [Atari]

PUBLISHER: Atari
DEVELOPER: Eden Studios
GENRE(S): Action
PLAYERS: 1
ESRB RATING: E (Everyone)
RELEASE DATE: November 18, 2003

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

95
GameCritics
You're one of the most satisfying, worthwhile, and excellent platformers I've ever met. Time spent with you was challenging but never frustrating, beautiful but never, ever shallow, and utterly captivating for every moment we were together.
Read Full Review
90
PSM Magazine
A brilliant title. The visuals are on par with "Rayman 3," the control almost as tight as "Mario," and the quests and puzzles both epic and innovative. [Holiday 2003, p.30]
83
Next Level Gaming
Not only are the levels in the game massive, they are also graphically beautiful.
Read Full Review
83
Play Magazine
If you're the type of person who likes to get lost in fantasy worlds, Kya is your oyster. [Dec 2003, p.78]
82
GameSpot
A top-notch production from top to bottom, and the experience of playing it is surely worth the time of any 3D action adventure fan.
Read Full Review
80
G4 TV
An original game with a well-developed theme and a lot to do. If the fighting and voice acting had received a little more attention, this would surely be a five-star game. As it is, some gamers might have trouble taking the game seriously.
Read Full Review
80
Worth Playing
Its gameplay is tight and varied at times to keep you involved and challenged but not frustrated.
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80
Armchair Empire
An overall solid entry into a crowded platformer market. I would have scored KDL a lot higher if it wasn’t hindered by annoyances such as the camera and having to trek across the land to get to shops.
Read Full Review
80
Times Online
While the format is fairly standard (flipping switches, collecting objects and solving puzzles), the detailed worlds and neat touches — Kya can tame and ride wild animals, and dribble or kick certain creatures like a football — more than make up for it.
Read Full Review
78
GameZone
This game feels rushed. The interfaces is simple and easy to get hold of, but the tempo of the game is such that you have little time to savor what you are seeing or doing.
Read Full Review
75
Game Informer
The biggest reason that I'm not ga-ga about this game is that I don't feel like I know Kya as a character. Because of that limitation, your desire to spend some serious time in her company isn't as high as, say Voodoo Vince. [Nov 2003, p.145]
75
IGN
A good solid game, one that's deep with a huge variety of things to do, be it fighting, solving physical puzzles, collecting stuff, wandering around in a vegetative daze or leaf-surfing.
Read Full Review
75
GameSpy
Despite a lack of polish and the ineptly presented storyline, Kya: Dark Lineage had enough fresh ideas and fun scenarios to keep me pluggin' through to the end. It's not the prettiest game out there, nor the longest, or the coolest. It is, however, fun and original.
Read Full Review
73
GameBiz
Kya’s fantastic and diverse gameplay makes the standing block for a successful start in the gaming industry, Visuals and sound could have been a lot better but by and large Kya is fun.
Read Full Review
71
TotalGames.net
The main character is nothing special and a character-based platformer needs to have a very strong lead to even stand a chance. In this day and age it takes a lot more than just being 'a nice game' to get anywhere, and Kya is just that: a nice game.
Read Full Review
70
eToychest
Everything about Kya: Dark Lineage is pretty standard and expected, and while most of it is executed quite well it still feels a little recycled.
Read Full Review
70
Yahoo! Games
Dropping the boomerang in favor of the stronger hand-to-hand combat or some other model might have been a good idea, but it's nice to see the extreme sports influence integrated into the fabric of a totally non-sports title.
Read Full Review
69
PSX Nation
If you are able to look past frustrating controls and a poor camera, the game is quite enjoyable. It’s also not one of those games that added a bunch of annoying sidequests to extend its length, and as a result, it can be beaten with a healthy weekend of gaming.
Read Full Review
58
Electronic Gaming Monthly
The camera can be absolutely maddening at times. [Jan 2004, p.138]
58
GameNow
It's too bad that poorly designed levels, headache-inducing obstacles, and an embarrassingly cliched story spoil so much of the fun. [Jan 2004, p.59]
50
Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
Despite some gorgeous visuals and intriguing gameplay elements, Kya simply isn't any fun. And just like the wind, that really blows. [Jan 2004, p.123]
50
EuroGamer
Ah... sub-"Jak & Daxter."
Read Full Review
50
Edge Magazine
Structurally, the game is a waking nightmare. The hub world is vast and unnecessarily confusing, and it is possible to become trapped in levels if you can't figure out where to go next. [Mar 2004, p.108]
50
GMR Magazine
Controlling the camera is a minigame all its own. [Jan 2004, p.72]
40
GamePro
Unfortunately, Kya is a very difficult game to play as the controls are not particularly intuitive and the camera seems to delight in going haywire during delicate jumping situations.
Read Full Review

What Our Users Said

Vote Now! The average user rating for this game is 8.6 (out of 10) based on 16 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

matrix1004 gave it an8:
Even 4 year after it's release I can say that I loved this game. As soon as I started it sucked me into it's world with the simple story. I liked the Wolfen villains, the (slowly learned) fighting style, the well designed levels, the air/wind gliding play control, and I even didn't mind the stealth (something I usually don't care for). It was a fun & enjoyable trip into the world of Kya.

Jeremy G. gave it a10:
One of my very favorite PS2 games. There are several elements in this game that are better executed than I've seen in any other game: 1. Fighting controls are very good and feel like a 2D fighting game while still allowing you to effectively combat multiple enemies. 2. The flying mechanic is (to my knowledge) unique and really fun. 3. The very best intro/tutorial level I have ever seen. When I taught game design, this intro level was the one that I showed to my students. It never breaks the action, always feels tense and like something is happening, and explains several modes of transportation in a way that the player is able to remember.

Bryan gave it a9:
Sure, the camera stinks at times, and the music is a little weak, but the true value of this game lies in its charm, it's unique style, and the fun you'll have playing it. This game puts you in a whole new world, and you're constantly reminded of it, and want to explore it more. The graphics are amazing, and if you think they're poor compared to modern games, just take a moment to consider the AMAZING draw distances. Not to mention this game is huge in terms of all the places you go, Pick this game up, it's worth it.

William S. gave it an 8:
Yo this is a sweet game ive been playin i dont know how many hours straight and im at the part where ya gotta shoot the spikes on the wolfen flying thingy so the arms dont blow up the mushroom thingys. My brain is Kyafied.

Mae gave it a 3:
The ideas behind this game are cute, but Kya has to be one of the weakest and most pathetic heroines I have seen in a game in a long time. Her weapons don't even phase her enemies and if you even sneeze wrong she drops dead. The best things about this game is the wind travel and the boarding.

Tara gave it a 10:
I love it I just got done playing it 4 hours in a row , i just decided to take a rest but im about to go play more!

John F. gave it a 9:
At last something new in the platform crowded genre.

Read more user comments...

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