Kristala is a cat soulslike that goes through the expected medieval fantasy beats, with the added benefit of being a feral feline.
What separates a good from a great soulslike? Is it the restraint to not overpopulate the world with too many enemies? Or that the lessons that you have learned throughout the game are purposefully executed so when the credits roll it feels like a graduation? In a crowded genre where gamers cry of there being too many soulslikes, I am of a different mind. I believe there are a solid number of good soulslikes and few that are truly great. Kristala sits somewhere in the middle.
Finally releasing out of Early Access earlier this year, developer Astral Clocktower kept tweaking its cat soulslike. Titled The Cursed Realm, this update released late last month fixed many of the issues reported by players to finally be in a presentable state. In that regard, I can attest that the current build played is as good as the game can be. Any other planned expansions are more than welcome to this feline adventure.
An Authentic Catlike
It is quite handy when a game can be easily described like this: cat soulslike. It instantly conjures up images in your head, which Kristala knows how to show. Once animals lived in peace in a medieval land. That is, until six crystals arrived from space, giving cats anthropomorphic figures and the capacity for rational thought. Oh, and magic. The introductory handcrafted paintings explaining the game’s lore are striking, even if the story at large is your standard affair.
Kristala lets you customize your cat, first and foremost. A warrior, a rogue, or a mage, I went for using my fearless claws to fight back against any unsuspecting foes. Once a few minor details have been chosen, like the voice or special attack that my cat will perform, the most important decision arrives: Which type of fur should I go for? The Siamese skin, while off-putting to some, makes their purple eyes glow. Plenty of choices from striped patterns to solid colors, I decided to go with what in my mind an animal would take on such a risky endeavor: the orange cat.
Medieval Tidings
With the clear goal to complete The Proving, a disease has been spreading across the land. Only you, Raksakkar, can alleviate it. During exploration, one of the natural decisions Kristala makes that affects the whole game at large is how there is no fall damage. Of course, would a game where you play as a cat be made this way?
This means that paired with the Jump button, its verticality makes looking up, down, and sideways a must. If there is one element in which the level design shines, it’s its layout. Often finding makeshift enemy camps, flooded villages, or carefully placed ropes, exploring feels liberating. When not assaulted by endless enemies, that is.
Cats are sneaky by nature. This is also true in Kristala. Other than performing acrobatic feats, you can crouch to attack enemies from behind and cause massive damage. This is especially helpful considering how many enemies appear at any given time. Due to the nature of soulslikes, as they respawn each time you rest at a “bonfire,” it is recommendable to take the smart, silent approach.
Although it clearly takes many cues from Dark Souls, at least the checkpoints in this case are dazzling crystals that make a satisfying sound when you unlock a new one. Even then, they feel few and far between, but the interconnectedness of its dense, hostile world makes up for it.
Time To Talk About The Combat
Now, what is arguably the most important aspect of any soulslike, I believe, is done well in Kristala. Not spectacularly, maybe, but definitely worth seeing through to the end for any fans of cats and soulslikes. There is a perfect dodge, a parry mechanic, and a balance bar that both you and your foes have.
The combat is swift. Attacking relentlessly to break an enemy’s poise and then doing a powerful riposte attack is usually the winning strategy. Because the game is kind enough to give difficulty options, the hardest setting is formidable for those looking for a challenge.
Enemy variety is average. Rats, forest spirits, spiders, worms, and mechanical abominations are in tow here. Learning every moveset feels as weighty as it should be. Dodging and then by pulling off several deflections in a row makes paying attention to their moves worthwhile. The sound design when an opponent has run out of stamina, only for you to wait and perform that finishing blow, sounds spectacular. Getting there, though, is normally half the battle.
Boss Fight Time
Minibosses with red eyes appear in various areas to deter you from progressing too quickly. Other than the color of their eyes, they are extremely noticeable because of how deadly their attacks are compared to normal enemies.
Boss fights also mainly revolve around telegraphing the parriable attacks to chip away at their bar to take out a third of their lives in one fell swoop. As there are plenty of magical attacks that you may learn and perform by visiting the few habituated villages, so do bosses lean into making each fight just a tiny bit trickier. Area of effect attacks are more common than not. Thankfully, avoiding them registers well and did not feel unfair in most circumstances. By the end of its 10 to 15 hour journey, it is rewarding to see what the game has to offer.
Verdict – Kristala
Sure, soulslikes are to this day among the most imitated genre, with few permutations to make them stand out. But have you considered playing as a cat? Kristala aims for a solid experience that applies interesting parrying and platforming mechanics to keep the gameplay moving at all times. While the medieval fantasy story is one by the books, the combat is one that consistently satisfies with every encounter. As this genre goes, there is nothing more to ask for.
Reviewed on Steam. Also available on Xbox Series S|X and PlayStation 5.
A key was provided for the purposes of this review.
Developer/Publisher: Astral Clocktower Studios
Release Date: Out now
Pros:
- Perfect for cat and soulslike fans
- Vertical level design inspires curiosity
- Executing a finishing blow is always rewarding
- Idle cat mannerisms like an ear twitching are a great addition
- Learning the enemy movesets to deflect their attacks feels satisfying
Cons:
- Minor animation inconsistencies
- Standard medieval dark fantasy affair
- At some point it feels like there are too many enemies
-
Good
