To get straight to the point, Kya: Dark Lineage is a classy game. A game that gradually unravels its delights the more you play it. Throw it nothing more than a cursory glance, though, and you'd be forgiven for thinking that this is just another 3D platformer with slightly average graphics and a cartoon style that appears to be heavily influenced by Rayman.

The story's the usual nonsense. Kya and her brother have found a portal to another dimension where the peaceful Nativs are being overrun by the werewolf-like Wolfens and their evil boss, the Darth Vader-esque Brazul. So no points for originality there, then.

Furthermore, actually picking up a controller and playing it for a short while is likely to leave you baffled with the complexity of the task at hand and the endless array of additional objectives, pick-ups and character boosts you'll need to find. It's not until you've put in a good hour or so that all the initially confusing and seemingly unlinked elements weld together in an extremely impressive fashion.

For example, at the start of the game you'll realise that you need to buy some climbing gloves to reach higher levels and progress. Unfortunately, the shops in the Nativs village won't be built until there are enough customers. So what do you do? It's easy and beautifully linked. You go through the levels you can access, free the Nativs by exorcising the fallen Wolfens and then, when the freed Nativs head back home, the population increases, as does the need for shops. The shops are built, the gloves are on sale and, if you've collected enough money, you can go on a spending spree.

If you still can't afford the items you need, you won't have to go back and scour the levels for extra coins, as there's another way to make moolah in this mysterious world - mini-games. Dotted around the main Nativ village are a collection of generic and mildly entertaining mini-games that are more than just mild diversions, as you're also able to bet on your chances of beating the high score. None of them are particularly difficult, so any item you fancy from the shops should be yours without too much fuss.

The overall feel of the gameplay is beautifully organic. Transportation between levels is often done through catching powerful wind currents, surfing down massive wooden slides or being shot out of primitive wooden cannons. There's an endless stream of activities to keep you occupied: an inventory you can build up with useful items; characters to talk to; elevators to unlock and use; and puzzles to solve.

These RPG-lite elements are compensated by a tutorial system that runs throughout the game and gently guides you from mission to mission - ensuring that, despite the huge variety of things going on, the game never becomes too confusing. The map is another excellent source of info, with icons that show your location, your objective and even any Wolfens you're likely to encounter in the near future. This means that there's no aimless wandering - whenever you think you might be lost, the map clearly shows you the direction you need to take and, more importantly, what you're heading towards.

Another pleasing thing about the game, strangely, is your own death. While most other games will have you replaying huge chunks of a level when you fall, death in Kya means that, although you will go back to the last auto save point (never more than a minute or so back through the game), you won't have to face the enemies you've just killed or struggle with the puzzles you've just, erm, puzzled over.

Although Kya may not have the polish of Jak II, it does have a fine visual style that reinforces the fact that you've been transported to an archaic and original world. Eden Studioes has wisely toned down any graphical complexities to bring us a game engine that flows seamlessly, with only the smallest amount of slowdown and a draw distance on most stages that deserves a standing ovation.

While we'd be the first to admit that the 3D platforming market is fit to burst, there's always room for well-designed and original titles like Kya: Dark Lineage. The levels are large (but not sprawling), the puzzles are plentiful (but not too difficult), the combat is instinctive (but not insultingly basic) and the overall game has a charm and sophistication rarely seen. If you normally devour games of this nature with a ravenous appetite, you'll consider Kya a slap-up meal.

Graphics 70%
Toned down to keep it fast and smooth.

Sound 70%
Good speech but little more of interest.

Gameplay 80%
Entertaining and varied platform adventuring.

Lifespan 80%
Plenty to see, plenty to do!

Overall 70%
Not a groundbreaker, but Kya has enough originality and playability to make it stand out in an increasingly crowded genre.