Krzyżacy: The Knights of the Cross
- July 19, 2023
- Olive Panda Studio
- 1501h median play time
Get on Steam"Krzyżacy: The Knights of the Cross" is a story-driven deckbuilding RPG game, with unique pixel art illustrations and meticulously crafted combat mechanics. The game offers a unique and immersive experience, adapted from historical events in medieval Europe. Join the Knights of the Cross and build your own deck to defeat your enemies.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The combat system is innovative, allowing players to match card types with character abilities for strategic gameplay.
- The art style and character design are visually appealing, adding charm to the overall experience.
- The game offers a fun mix of RPG and card elements, making it engaging for players who enjoy deck-building mechanics.
- The English localization is poor, making it difficult to follow the story and understand character motivations.
- Gameplay can become repetitive and lacks depth, with limited card variety and simplistic mechanics.
- The game suffers from bugs and quality of life issues, such as clunky menus and a lack of clear tutorials.
- story157 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 82 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story in "Krzyżacy" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it unengaging and poorly translated, which detracts from immersion. While some appreciate the attempt at character development and branching paths, others criticize the shallow interactions and repetitive missions, leading to a lack of investment in the narrative. Overall, the storytelling is seen as mediocre, with a few redeeming qualities that may appeal to fans of the source material.
“The game itself is fun, sprites are cute and the story is interesting.”
“Adapted from Henryk Sienkiewicz's classic novel, 'Krzyżacy,' the story unfolds against the backdrop of the Teutonic Order's presence in medieval Poland.”
“Surprisingly enough, the storyline does follow the book pretty faithfully, although you can change the fate of some key characters at one point, which I totally did.”
“The story of Kryzacy fails on all levels: it's completely uninteresting in general, the way the characters interact with each other is super casual and unimmersive, no matter if it's a major actor or one of your followers, their behavior is extremely shallow and does not create any sense of personality.”
“I skipped almost all the story dialogues in my second run to quickly finish my run and stop playing this game, since it's too boring.”
“The story is barely acceptable; there seem to be some turning points during the story, but it still leads to the same ending.”
- gameplay91 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay features a turn-based card battle system where players assemble a party of four characters, each with unique specializations. While the initial mechanics are engaging, many players find the combat becomes repetitive and lacks depth as they progress, with some criticizing the UI and overall clarity of the game. Despite its interesting core mechanics and potential for strategic play, the game struggles with balance and variety, leaving some players feeling that it falls short of expectations for both card game and RPG fans.
“A nice deckbuilding game with original gameplay.”
“Gameplay in 'krzyżacy' centers around strategic elements, allowing players to engage in both large-scale battles and diplomatic maneuvers.”
“Card gameplay is also very fun and addicting; you can match different teammates to use various combos in the fight.”
“But the gameplay for the free mode is so different from the story mode that I don't know how to get resources, how to find fights, how to solve quests.”
“Lots of massive turn offs from the gameplay feeling clunky to the UI being cumbersome to go through (and at times not working at all), just an overall pass from me.”
“Cons: atrocious translation, unclear mechanics and interactions, ultimately boring deck building, extremely unclear situations and bosses that are a steamroll or a brick wall depending on unclear choices made throughout the game.”
- graphics39 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are praised for their beautiful character design and art style, offering players the option to choose between anime and western aesthetics. While the visuals may not reach blockbuster standards, the commitment to historical realism and the ability to switch styles enhance the overall experience. However, some players may find the exaggerated anime elements less appealing, preferring a more grounded approach.
“While the graphics may not match the standards of blockbuster titles, the game's commitment to historical realism compensates for any technical limitations.”
“The art and the graphics are really beautiful.”
“24 hours in... I've got to say the graphics are nice; both western and anime waifu style!”
“Players seeking fast-paced action or modern graphics may find the game's deliberate pace and visual style less engaging.”
“The art style and themes did nothing for me, but your mileage may vary.”
“I expected a boob-baiting animango shovelware and while the art style is still a cringe-inducing boob-a-palooza, the game is mechanically pretty decent.”
- music20 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The music in "Krzyżacy" is generally well-received, with many praising its folksy and medieval-inspired soundtrack that enhances the game's immersive experience. However, some users note a lack of variety and find certain tracks repetitive or even sleep-inducing. Overall, the sound design effectively complements the game's atmosphere, particularly during key moments like battles.
“It's a good game, and I love the pixel work, and I absolutely love the folksy musical score.”
“The music and sound design in 'Krzyżacy' contribute to the immersive experience.”
“The music and sound design in 'krzyżacy' contribute to the immersive experience.”
“The soundtrack, inspired by medieval themes, enhances the sense of time and place, while the sound effects add realism to the battlefield and castle environments.”
“Music during important and boss fights is generally pretty good.”
- humor12 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as extremely funny and quirky, blending a loose interpretation of Polish history with absurd elements like anime characters and fanservice. Players find the combination of classic literature and whimsical scenarios both hilarious and endearing, though enjoyment may vary based on personal taste regarding the historical gimmick. The amateurish English translation adds to the overall charm and comedic effect.
“Ultimately, I think whether you like this one is going to depend a lot on whether you find the loosely interpreted Polish history gimmick funny or grating.”
“Like many others, I bought this game because I'm Polish and the combo of 'classic 19th-century historical novel' and 'barely-dressed anime girls with magic powers' was just too hilariously random to ignore.”
“The result is extremely weird, very funny, and also kind of adorable, and the somewhat amateurish English translation only adds to the experience.”
- character development10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is noted as commendable, with players experiencing a personal journey as a knight that connects to historical events. While the story may lack depth, there is a clear effort to develop characters, complemented by impressive character design and attention to detail in the game's art style. Overall, the character development is seen as a positive aspect, despite some players feeling the need to overlook the story's shortcomings.
“Story-wise it's a little meh, you kinda have to disconnect your brain to just enjoy the story at face value but there's a definite effort to get some character development.”
“Story-wise it's a little meh; you kind of have to disconnect your brain to just enjoy the story at face value, but there's a definite effort to get some character development.”
“The character development in 'krzyżacy' is commendable, as players take on the role of a knight with a personal journey that intertwines with historical events.”
“The attention to detail in character design, armor, and weaponry adds authenticity to the setting.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the variety in play styles and the excitement of discovering new elements, others feel it ultimately lacks the depth needed for sustained replay value. Overall, it shows potential but falls short of greatness in this aspect.
“8.5/10 play styles - in a niche market and replayable.”
“Adds not only replayability, but excitement when you see something you haven't seen before.”
- grinding5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, particularly due to the card upgrade system that necessitates collecting multiple copies of the same card for minor enhancements. While the initial grind can be challenging, many report that the experience improves significantly once they become familiar with the mechanics.
“There is a card upgrade system (the upgrade itself typically being inconsequential), but it requires 3 copies of the same card for a minor upgrade, which can be difficult and grindy to do.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“A bit grindy for the first half, but by the time I got the hang of it, it was smooth sailing and really fun!”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is plagued by numerous bugs and translation issues, leading to a frustrating experience in certain areas. Despite these stability concerns, many players appreciate its successful blend of RPG and card elements, suggesting that it may still be worth playing if one can overlook the technical flaws.
“A buggy mess, with some grammatical errors.”
“Buggy as hell, not translated in some places, nerve-wracking at a few points, but... in general, the game is quite great at combining RPG and card elements, which is very nice. If you can ignore some bugs, I'd recommend the game for sure.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of "krzyżacy" is highly praised for its effective depiction of medieval landscapes and fortresses, creating an immersive experience that transports players to that historical setting.
“Visually, 'Krzyżacy' succeeds in capturing the atmosphere of medieval landscapes and fortresses.”
