Kristala is a Souls-like title where you play as an anthropomorphic cat, battling humanoid rats and various other monsters using a unique array of abilities. Since the game is currently in Early Access, it isn’t quite ready for a full, definitive review. However, the developers reached out to us here at Netto’s Game Room, so I decided to jump in and give the game a go.
Because this is strictly a first impression, I will focus primarily on the gameplay and won't dive too deeply into every single feature the game has to offer. It is also important to remember that anything mentioned here is subject to change by the time the game hits its full release—hopefully for the better.
The developers consistently release patches, updates, and dev diaries, giving us confidence that the game will reach its full potential. While there are plans to bring the title to other platforms in the future, it is currently available exclusively on Steam.
The Gameplay:
You begin Kristala by creating your character. As someone who loves fine-detailing every aspect of a protagonist, I was unfortunately left quite disappointed. The options are currently very limited: you choose between male and female, select from about twenty fur patterns, and pick a class and a "tribe"—the latter of which determines your spell focus.
There is no way to adjust height or weight, nor can you customize fur and eye colors. The extent of the customization is restricted to fur patterns and choosing between long or short head fur. While there are six classes that determine your starting stats and weaponry, they essentially boil down to how much you want to prioritize strength, speed, or magic.
(Spoiler regarding classes: In the game's current state, strength is unfortunately the only "correct" choice.)The game starts without a cutscene or a formal introduction, simply dropping you onto the map. After speaking with another anthropomorphic cat, you receive your starting mission: journey to the other clans, complete their trials, and gain their blessings to join the Raskaka (whatever that is).
With very little explained, you begin your journey through the tutorial, which is where the issues start to surface. By default, the attack buttons are mapped to RB and RT. I don’t know of many other games that use this layout, and it tripped me up several times. While you can remap the controls to an extent, the system is flawed. I managed to change the normal attack to X, but when I tried to map the heavy attack to Y, the game wouldn't allow it. Because Y is hardcoded to "reset to default," the menu simply reset my progress instead of mapping the button. This is a significant oversight.
In its current state, the game is somewhat buggy. I managed to get stuck inside a house that wouldn't open from the inside and was hit by an enemy’s sword that clearly couldn't reach me. Thankfully, the developers included a "bug" section in the menu where you can send reports, or reset yourself to your last save point if you get stuck.
Combat also suffers from occasional input failure. There were moments where I pressed the button to roll or attack, and my character simply stood there or walked forward. While I understand the game punishes you for failing at stealth, unresponsive controls feel like an unfair penalty.
Since you play as a cat, there is a heavy emphasis on stealth and parkour. Sneaking up on an enemy from behind or above allows for a one-hit kill on standard mobs or massive damage against stronger foes.
I actually quite like the world design; there are very few loading screens, and the larger areas are clearly built to reward a stealthy approach. In fact, I wish stealth was a viable option more frequently, as that is where the game truly shines.
A major problem arises during the tutorial: the first weapon you receive—which stays with you for several hours—is Strength-based, regardless of the class you chose. Since spells aren't currently powerful enough to rely on, you are forced into a playstyle you may not have intended during character creation.
My biggest criticism, however, is the lack of a map or clear guidance. While I appreciate games that don't hold the player's hand, Kristala occasionally expects too much. For example, the path forward sometimes requires spotting a tiny lamp post high above to use as a jumping point, with no hint that it’s even there.
Should you play it?
Kristala is a game oozing with potential. I had a great deal of fun sneaking around and taking down enemies one by one, discovering the most efficient ways to clear areas of hostiles without being detected.
However, the combat itself is quite clunky. Between an unintuitive control scheme and inputs that occasionally fail to register, the experience can be frustrating. Furthermore, the game forced a specific playstyle on me despite promising variety; although I chose a class focused on finesse and magic, the provided equipment essentially forced me into a strength-based swordsman build.
The developers are clearly dedicated, providing frequent updates to improve the experience. Additionally, anyone who purchases the game during Early Access will be upgraded to the Deluxe Edition upon full release. While I intend to keep an eye on its progress, the question remains: can I recommend a game based on potential alone?
If the idea of playing an anthropomorphic cat in a high-production-value Souls-like appeals to you, it is likely worth checking out. The game offers a significant amount of content and, at the time of writing, is available for $20. Despite its current flaws—which will hopefully be ironed out by the 1.0 release—I believe it is worth that price point for fans of the genre.
If, however, you aren't a fan of Souls-likes or generally avoid Early Access titles, Kristala likely won't change your mind. In that case, it is probably best to wait for the full release before making a decision.
Previewed on PC
Key was Provided
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