Xena: Warrior Princess (video game) facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Xena: Warrior Princess

Developer(s)	Universal Studios Digital Arts (PS) Titus Interactive Studio (GBC)
Publisher(s)	PlayStation Electronic Arts Universal Interactive Studios Game Boy Color Titus Interactive
Director(s)	Roger Hector (PlayStation)
Producer(s)	Gary Stark (PlayStation) Karine Cohen-Solal (Game Boy Color)
Programmer(s)	Dennis Koble (PlayStation) Hervé Trisson (Game Boy Color)
Artist(s)	Mark Franklin (PlayStation)
Composer(s)	Bill Brown (PlayStation) Mike Reagan (PlayStation) Jean-Marie Philibert (Game Boy Color)
Platform(s)	PlayStation Game Boy Color
Release date(s)	PlayStation ^NA October 5, 1999 Game Boy Color ^NA July 30, 2001
Genre(s)	Hack and slash
Mode(s)	Single-player

Xena: Warrior Princess is an action video game based on the popular TV show. It was first made for the PlayStation in 1999. Later, a different version came out for the Game Boy Color in 2001. In this game, you play as Xena, a brave warrior princess. She goes on exciting adventures to fight bad guys and save her friends.

What is the Story About?
How to Play the Game
- Playing on PlayStation
- Playing on Game Boy Color
How the Game Was Made
See also

What is the Story About?

The game starts with Xena and her friend Gabrielle traveling together. Xena decides to visit an old friend in a village called Oebalus. When she gets close, she sees black smoke, meaning trouble! In Oebalus, Xena finds her friend dying. Her friend warns Xena that "they" are looking for Gabrielle.

Xena goes into the village to rescue people who have been captured. She finds a pirate leader named Pactolus. After Xena defeats him, he tells her that King Valerian paid him. The pirates were supposed to keep Xena busy while Valerian's soldiers took Gabrielle.

Xena's Journey to Save Gabrielle

Xena then travels to the Isle of Kronos to find King Valerian. On the beach, she fights a giant one-eyed monster called a Cyclops. She also battles Valerian's soldiers and a troll to cross a bridge. When Xena finally enters Valerian's castle, the King appears with two bodyguards. After Xena defeats them, she asks about Gabrielle.

Valerian says Gabrielle was chosen for a special ceremony. He claims her sacrifice would help create a "new world order." Then, the King turns into a Minotaur, a monster with a bull's head and a human body. He runs into the castle's maze. Xena chases him and finds Gabrielle in the maze. Xena defeats the Minotaur. Gabrielle tells Xena she heard the King mention a group of Amazons. They decide to visit the Amazons to get more answers.

Trouble with the Amazons

When Xena and Gabrielle arrive at the Amazon village, the Amazons attack them! Xena and Gabrielle search for the Amazon Queen in the Lost Temple. But a hidden group of Amazons kidnaps Gabrielle again and locks Xena inside. Xena must go alone to find the Amazon Queen.

When Xena finds the Queen, she learns that the Amazons want to sacrifice an Amazon Queen. This sacrifice is also meant to create a "new world." Since Gabrielle is an Amazon Queen, she is in danger. Xena defeats the Amazon Queen. Then, Xena meets the main villain, Kalabrax. Kalabrax is an angry Goddess who wants revenge on the other Gods. She plans to create a world where she is in charge. Kalabrax tells Xena she is going to sacrifice Gabrielle. To get Xena out of the way, Kalabrax opens the ground and sends Xena down to Tartarus, the underworld.

Escaping the Underworld

To get out of the underworld, Xena must find Hades, the ruler of the underworld. On her way to Hades' Castle, Xena faces many dangers. She has to get past traps set by Charon, fight zombies, and deal with an undead boatman. She also encounters the Well of Lost Souls. When she reaches the castle, Hades welcomes Xena. She asks him to send her back to the surface world to stop Kalabrax.

Hades agrees and sends Xena to the Village of Tir' Na. She needs to find the Lyre of Orpheus there. This special musical instrument will help Xena open a gate to Kalabrax's Temple. However, Kalabrax has already sent soldiers to Tir' Na to find the Lyre. They have taken a wise man named Fei as a hostage. Xena defeats the soldiers and rescues Fei. Fei then guides Xena to a druid named Yat. Xena follows Yat to a temple where they fight. Xena uses the temple's symbols against Yat, defeating him. Fei thanks Xena for saving him and the village. As a reward, he gives her the Lyre of Orpheus.

The Final Battle

Finally, Xena travels through the mountains to find Kalabrax's Temple. Her last challenges are the Three Serpent Sisters and giant Ogre Protectors. After defeating the ogres, Xena solves a puzzle involving chimes. She strikes the chimes in the correct order, plays the Lyre, and opens the portal.

Xena is transported to the Temple of Pinnacles. She finds Gabrielle tied to an altar, just before she is to be sacrificed! Xena fights and defeats two guards and Kalabrax. As Xena walks to free Gabrielle, Kalabrax turns into a huge beast. To truly defeat Kalabrax, Xena makes the beast run into the ceiling supports. The supports smash, and the Temple begins to fall apart on top of Kalabrax.

After this last big battle, Xena finally reunites with Gabrielle. They are very happy to be together again. Gabrielle then suggests that they create a game based on their amazing adventure!

How to Play the Game

The game Xena: Warrior Princess has different ways to play, depending on which game system you use.

Playing on PlayStation

The PlayStation version of Xena: Warrior Princess is an action game where you fight many enemies. It is played from a third-person view. This means you see Xena from behind her as you play. The game involves lots of fighting, some jumping puzzles, and a few brain-teasing puzzles.

You control Xena, and your goal is to defeat all enemies and finish tasks in each level. Xena can do many different attacks by pressing button combinations. If you do a special attack right, Xena will let out her famous warrior scream! Xena can run, jump, kick, slash with her sword, and block enemy attacks. She can also do special moves like cartwheels.

You can find special items called "power-ups" throughout the game. These power-ups can make Xena healthier, give her better armor, or give her new attack skills. Xena also uses her special weapon, the chakram, which is like a throwing disc. You can throw the chakram at enemies, use it to cut chains, or flip switches. You can even guide the chakram in the air to hit targets better! Xena can also use a sword. Both her chakram and sword can get stronger with power-ups.

The PlayStation game has 21 levels. In some levels, Xena needs to rescue hostages. You do this by attacking enemies from far away. If you hurt an enemy instead of killing them, Xena gains "karma." When her karma meter is full, Xena becomes super strong for a short time! To defeat big boss enemies, you often need to do certain actions, because your normal weapons might not hurt them. You can find scrolls in levels that give you hints on how to beat these tough bosses.

Playing on Game Boy Color

The Game Boy Color version of Xena: Warrior Princess is a side-scrolling platform game. This means you mostly move Xena from left to right across the screen. The story for this version is different. Xena is stuck in a dream world called Psychosia. She needs to find Darphus, who trapped her there. Xena also needs to find Morpheus, the god of dreams, who can send her back to the real world.

You control Xena, and she can run, jump, climb, and swim. Xena can also use items like maple syrup and keys. There are 13 different items you can find and keep in your inventory. You can use up to two items at a time. Xena's health is shown by hearts. You can find heart containers to make her healthier. This game has 16 levels. You can even connect your Game Boy Color to another one with the game Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. If you do, you can play as Hercules and find secret levels!

How the Game Was Made

Universal Interactive Studios created the PlayStation version of the game. They made new characters just for the game, like Kalabrax and the Amazon Bird Women. They also created over 100 different movements for Xena. This made her look very smooth when she moved in the game. The faces of the TV show's actresses, Lucy Lawless (who played Xena) and Renee O'Connor (who played Gabrielle), were even put into the game! The PlayStation game was released in North America on October 5, 1999. This was right after the fifth season of the TV show started.

In 1998, Titus Interactive announced they would make video games based on the TV show. In May 2000, Titus said a Game Boy Color version of Xena: Warrior Princess would come out in the summer of 2000. Titus developed and published this version, and it was finally released on July 30, 2001.