Kristala

83%
Game Brain Score Based on 76 reviews
  • gameplay
  • optimization
  • graphics
Kristala Game Cover
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"Kristala is a Dark Fantasy Action RPG featuring a catlike warrior who must master ancient magic to save the world. Engage in punishing yet satisfying combat, using spells, weapons, and acrobatics to defeat enemies. Explore and traverse the environment with unique abilities, and customize your feline character's fur pattern and clan for unique magic."

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Reviews

83%
Audience ScoreBased on 76 reviews
gameplay5 positive mentions
optimization6 negative mentions
  • The game features fluid and intuitive controls, making it easy to pick up and play.
  • The environment is beautifully designed, creating an immersive dark fantasy world that enhances the gameplay experience.
  • The combat system is engaging and satisfying, with a variety of spells and weapon combos that allow for diverse playstyles.
  • The game suffers from performance issues, including lag and optimization problems that hinder the overall experience.
  • There are several bugs and glitches, such as character inventory loss and menu navigation issues, which can disrupt gameplay.
  • The game currently lacks content, with limited areas and enemy variety, making it feel incomplete for the price.
  • gameplay17 mentions

    The gameplay is generally praised for its accessibility, engaging mechanics, and appealing environment, combining fast-paced combat, parkour, and stealth elements effectively. While the level design is confined, it offers interesting navigation options, and the tutorial successfully introduces players to the mechanics. However, some users noted issues with optimization, input lag, and the need for easier difficulty settings, indicating that while the foundation is solid, the game still requires refinement as it progresses through early access.

    • “The gameplay is an interesting combination of mechanics, and the levels are bigger and more populated than I expected for an indie project. Combat is fast and requires precision, but it is not too hard for the casual player.”
    • “Really enjoying the combat and parkour elements in particular so far, and the stealth mechanics are a great addition since you're playing as a cat.”
    • “The tutorial section does a great job of introducing you to all the mechanics.”
    • “There are tons of action games with similar gameplay mechanics; people will simply turn to them.”
    • “Any kind of boss/enemy that has a one-shot mechanic/combo is bad design.”
    • “It's still in the very early stages of early access, and it shows clearly in places such as optimization and interface issues.”
  • optimization14 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is widely criticized, with many players experiencing significant performance issues such as stuttering and low frame rates, even on recommended settings. While there is potential for improvement, particularly in AI and visuals, the current state of optimization hinders gameplay and enjoyment. Players suggest that adjustments to graphics settings are necessary to achieve playable performance, indicating that further optimization updates are needed as the game progresses in early access.

    • “Optimization still needs some work but it's definitely playable.”
    • “It's still in the very early stages of early access and it shows clearly in places such as optimization and interface issues but the underlying framework -- the magic, combat, balance bar, and stealth mechanics -- look to provide a solid foundation for something that could be really great.”
    • “Highly recommend dialing settings down to keep the frame rate up; optimization tends to come late in development.”
    • “I think there is still a lot of work needed on optimization; I have to run on basically the lowest graphics to play at like 30 fps.”
    • “At the top of the visual problems, the game has very poor optimization.”
    • “This game has a lot of promise, but it lacks some serious optimizations, to the point where controlling the character is hindered by loading, caching, and other background actions.”
  • graphics12 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the appealing visuals and strong aesthetic, while others criticize the optimization issues, resulting in poor performance and outdated graphics. Many users report experiencing lag and stuttering, even on recommended hardware, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite these issues, some players appreciate the game's art style and find it visually enjoyable, especially for an early access indie title.

    • “The game looks nice, the graphics are appealing, the mechanics are fluid enough for an early access indie game to be satisfying.”
    • “The aesthetics are fantastic and visuals are great.”
    • “Now with that out of the way, the good: it is a very beautiful game, graphics are really nice to look at, clearly a lot of care has gone into what the game currently is.”
    • “I think there is still a lot of work needed on optimization; I have to run on basically the lowest graphics to play at around 30 fps.”
    • “There are constant lags and freezes, and the graphics appear 10 years behind modern standards!”
    • “The visuals and dynamics are too far behind expectations, which is disappointing since they are the only aspects that could make this game competitive with other products.”
  • music6 mentions

    The music in the game is generally well-received, enhancing the beautifully designed world and contributing to its immersive atmosphere. While some players find the volume a bit loud, they appreciate the quality of the soundtrack, with specific songs evoking strong emotional responses. Overall, the music complements the game's art and storytelling, making it a notable aspect of the experience.

    • “The world is beautifully designed and the music complements the feel of the world around you.”
    • “World building, art design, writing (don't get me started on Levida's song after hearing of her husband, seriously gave me full-body goosebumps, shivered multiple times), atmosphere, soundtrack, and sound design; there is a certain quality to this game that many of its kind miss the mark on.”
    • “If you have the luck to be bug-free for a time, the game feels good overall. The atmosphere is good, the music is nice, and the graphics look beautiful, so you can really enjoy this game.”
    • “The music is a bit loud, so I definitely recommend turning it down, but it's actually good and I enjoy it. Normally, I just turn music off in games.”
    • “World building, art design, writing (don't get me started on Levida's song after hearing of her husband, seriously gave me full-body goosebumps, shivered multiple times), atmosphere, soundtrack, and sound design; there is a certain quality to this game that many of its kind miss the mark on.”
  • story5 mentions

    The story of Kristala is engaging and serves as a strong foundation for the game, with players appreciating its potential for future development. While some voice acting may be lacking and bugs are present, the narrative encourages exploration and progression, making it a worthwhile experience even in its early access state. Overall, players are eager for the full story release, indicating a positive reception to the initial chapters.

    • “It's definitely worth getting Kristala for the story alone.”
    • “This is an early access game, obviously as the Steam page displays it, but for the overall gameplay and storyline that is included in this release, this feels like the first chapter of a fully developed and fully realized game.”
    • “The story is still developing for me, and some of the voice acting is a little wonky, but enjoyable.”
    • “This is an early access game, obviously as the Steam page displays it, but for the overall gameplay and storyline that is included in this release, this feels like the first chapter of a fully developed and fully realized game.”
    • “The story is still developing for me, and some of the voice acting is a little wonky, but enjoyable.”
  • stability4 mentions

    The game suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent lags, 1-2 second freezes, and numerous glitches, particularly in menus and during gameplay. Users report poor framerates even on low settings and a problematic camera that contributes to discomfort. While some acknowledge that it is in early access, the overall experience is marred by these persistent technical problems.

    • “There are constant lags and freezes, while we are talking about graphics that are 10 years behind the modern ones!”
    • “And it isn't microstutters; it's whole 1-2 second freezes.”
    • “Endless glitches, falling through water loops, constant freezes in menus, terrible framerates even at the lowest settings, and a camera that makes me motion sick in ways no other game ever has.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its exceptional world-building, stunning art design, and impactful writing, particularly highlighted by emotional moments like Levida's song. Players appreciate the immersive soundtrack and sound design, which contribute to a captivating experience, especially when the game runs smoothly. Overall, the atmosphere is described as a standout feature that enhances enjoyment.

    • “The world building, art design, and writing are exceptional. Levida's song after hearing about her husband gave me full-body goosebumps; I shivered multiple times. The atmosphere, soundtrack, and sound design create a quality that many similar games miss.”
    • “If you are lucky enough to experience the game without bugs, it feels great overall. The atmosphere is captivating, the music is lovely, and the graphics are beautiful, allowing you to truly enjoy the game.”
    • “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth that would make the world feel alive.”
    • “Despite the beautiful art design, the overall atmosphere fails to engage, leaving me feeling disconnected from the game.”
    • “The soundtrack is forgettable, which detracts from the immersive experience the game tries to create.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Many users note that while emotional experiences are common in games, this particular title stands out for its ability to evoke strong feelings, making it a memorable experience.

    • “This game truly resonated with me on an emotional level, unlike any other I've played.”
    • “The story and characters evoked such deep feelings; I found myself genuinely caring about their journeys.”
    • “I was moved to tears by the powerful moments in the game; it left a lasting impact on my heart.”
  • character development1 mentions

    While the character design is praised for its quality, there is a desire for deeper personality development among NPCs, as they currently lack engaging traits. Players hope for more diverse and interesting characters in future updates.

    • “The character design is really awesome, but I hope there's more depth added to the NPCs, as they currently lack interesting personalities. It would also be great to see more of them, but I'm sure that's on the roadmap for future updates.”
    • “The character development in this game is truly engaging, allowing players to form deep connections with their avatars and experience meaningful growth throughout the story.”
    • “I love how the characters evolve over time, with their backstories and relationships becoming more complex as the game progresses. It really enhances the overall experience.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly due to the limited ground loot pool, which leads to repetitive scavenging for valuable items. Expanding the variety of loot could enhance the exploration experience and reduce the monotony.

    • “I really hope you expand upon the ground loot pool; combing the land for crumbs of worth was getting pretty tedious by the end, and I explored everything I could.”
    • “The grinding feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
    • “After hours of grinding, I still feel like I'm not making any real progress, which is incredibly frustrating.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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