Why Kristala’s Elemental Cats Are the Next Soulslike Obsession

When Kristala first stalked onto my Steam wishlist—with its grimdark soulslike promise and feline spellcasters—I was equal parts intrigued and skeptical. As a veteran of FromSoftware’s most brutal encounters and a self-confessed cat fiend, I wondered if this indie action RPG could deliver more than just adorable fur coats. After clocking over sixty hours in Steam Early Access, I can confirm: these elemental kitties pack a devastating punch, blending punishing combat, vertical exploration, and uncanny cat-like agility into something surprisingly fresh.

Getting Started in Steam Early Access

Astral Clocktower Studios launched Kristala into Early Access on June 6, 2024, exclusively for PC and Steam Deck. Powered by Unreal Engine 5, its dynamic lighting, volumetric fog, and particle effects transform each spell into a visual spectacle. To appreciate its full fidelity, a mid-to-high-end rig is recommended: a modern quad-core CPU, 8 GB of RAM, and at least an NVIDIA GTX 1060 (or equivalent) will keep performance smooth. While keyboard and mouse handle precise spell aiming and menu navigation, a controller truly unlocks the game’s rhythmic parry, dodge, and spell-chaining potential.

Current Early Access includes chapters I and II, offering dozens of hours of exploration and combat challenges. Developers have teased that full release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch is slated for Q4 2025, with additional content and quality-of-life upgrades planned throughout 2024–25.

Character Creation and Clan Selection

At the outset, you pledge allegiance to one of six elemental clans. This choice shapes your initial playstyle and determines which side quests, cosmetics, and lore fragments you encounter. Here’s a quick breakdown:

• Emberclaw: Infuse talons with flame for scorching melee combos and lingering burn effects.
• Stormpaw: Unleash lightning-fast strikes that stagger and electrocute enemies in rapid succession.
• Frostfur: Freeze opponents into brittle statues, then shatter them with heavy follow-ups.
• Shadowwhisker: Slip through shadows unseen, land devastating critical strikes, and evade detection.
• Earthpelt: Summon seismic roars and jagged rocks to control the battlefield’s flow.
• Arcanefang: Channel raw arcane energy for long-range blasts, spatial warps, and protective wards.

As you level up, you distribute points across Strength, Agility, and Mysticism, crafting hybrid builds. My Emberclaw–Stormpaw combo churns out fire-blaze dashes and crackling shockwaves that keep foes on their heels, while Emberclaw traps lock down any escapees.

Combat Mechanics and Feline Ferocity

Kristala’s combat demands split-second timing and tactical finesse:

• Split-Second Parrying – Nail a perfectly timed block to stun enemies, opening them for brutal counters.
• Elemental Weaving – Seamlessly chain fire, ice, and lightning attacks into extended, punishing combos.
• Phase-Claw Leap – A signature mid-air counter that dodges incoming assaults and repositions you behind your foe.

Defeated enemies drop Essence Shards—currency used to upgrade talon potency, unlock new spells, and enhance “cat senses” that highlight hidden traps, secret doors, and lore fragments. Boss battles are rigorous tests of pattern recognition and adaptability, but the rare crafting reagents and powerful abilities you earn make every victory deeply satisfying.

Vertical Traversal & Expansive World Design

Kristala transforms the usual soulslike corridors into an interconnected vertical playground. Scale walls, leap across chasms, and backflip onto high ledges to uncover shrines and secret passages. In one memorable run, I sprinted up a crumbling tower, vaulted a broken arch, and discovered a hidden temple guarded by spectral cats—claiming that lore shard unlocked a tragic backstory for the Arcanefang clan.

Activating feline senses tints the environment, revealing optional miniboss arenas, shortcuts, and crafting stations. Thorough explorers who chase these hidden paths often amass rare reagents that turn daunting gauntlets into manageable circuits.

Common Challenges & Solutions

• Stamina Management – Overextending leaves you vulnerable. Early investment in Stamina and Recovery stats sustains aggressive play without an empty bar.
• Enemy AI Glitches – Occasionally, foes get stuck mid-vault. Circle around to reset behaviors or lure them into hazards.
• Parkour Animations – Vertical moves can feel clunky. Practice vaults in safe areas to nail the timing, then chain them fluidly during combat.
• HUD Overload – In hectic fights, the screen can feel cluttered. Disable non-essential HUD elements to focus on health, stamina, and buffs.

Pro Tips & Optimization

• Dual-Wield Dynamics – Equip a fast Stormpaw claw and a heavy Emberclaw talon for staggering follow-ups and elemental bursts.
• Spell-Attack Interrupts – Weave quick Frost or Arcane spells between sword swings to extend combos and catch opponents off guard.
• Essence Allocation – Beyond raw damage, invest in mobility boosts—dash range, leap height, and cooldown reduction—for superior control.
• PC Upscaling – Enabling DLSS or FSR helps maintain 60+ fps without sacrificing visual fidelity.

Platform-Specific Notes

On Steam Deck, medium graphics settings balance visuals and performance. Lower shadows during multi-enemy clashes to avoid drops below 40 fps. Controller vibration cues enemy tells—tweak haptic feedback in the Steam overlay for peak immersion.

Console versions of PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch are scheduled for Q4 2025. Expect variable refresh rate support on Xbox, adaptive triggers on PS5, and dynamic resolution scaling on Switch.

What’s Coming: Future Updates & Roadmap

Astral Clocktower Studios’ Steam roadmap outlines major patches ahead:

• UI and HUD overhauls for cleaner combat feedback
• Balance tweaks to refine elemental synergies and boss pacing
• Expanded skill trees, new clans, and fresh regions
• Quality-of-life improvements—camera smoothing, multi-save slots, and photo mode

Developers engage weekly with the community on Steam forums, delivering hotfixes and listening to player feedback. If this momentum continues, Kristala’s full release could cement it as a standout in the soulslike genre.

Ready to Pounce?

With razor-sharp combat, dynamic traversal, and deep customization, Kristala’s Early Access stakes its claim in the crowded soulslike landscape. Sharpen your claws, hone your spells, and prepare to leap into a dark fantasy adventure that’s as unforgiving as it is exhilarating.