Soulslike ARPG Kristala Hits Steam Early Access This May
/Developer Astral Clocktower Studio announced that their dark fantasy soulslike ARPG Kristala is set to release in Steam’s Early Access program sometime in May with its official launch happening late in 2024.
The feline-themed ARPG had a Kickstarter campaign to fund the development of the game and was able to achieve over 10x its initial goal of $10,000. With development and Early Access moving forward, the studio will soon announce a roadmap as they plan additional releases on different platforms such as the Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5 later this year.
Here’s a quick overview of the game according to a press release provided:
Seamlessly blending elements of magic, stealth, and parkour, Kristala transports players into the world of Ailur as a feral, catlike warrior infused with magical powers and the ability to harness the power of six sacred Kristals. Bolstered by a wide range of deadly magical skills, weapons, and cat-tailored armor, players can tackle anything from the creepy ‘Dalakin’ crustacean to the royal ‘Rat King’ boss using a combination of fierce attacks, weapon abilities, and an explosive mix of up to 16 spells at one time.
Harnessing the power of precious stones is not the only rock-related note in Kristala. Featuring world-famous voices (and screams) from the heavy metal and deathcore music genres, many fans may recognize their enemy's epic talents. Will Ramos (Lorna Shore), Joe Badolato (Fit for an Autopsy), David Simonich (Signs of the Swarm), Kasey Karlsen (Deadlands), Paxton Grizzle (Brojob), and David Benites (Renesans) have lent their vocals to the villains of Kristala as the many mutated monsters lurking throughout the game.
With the player's quest set to uncover the source of a terrible curse that has transformed the planet’s once docile creatures into fearsome foes, only the toughest will have what it takes to harness the power of these precious stones to save Ailur and join the highly esteemed Raksaka warriors along on the way.
Schrödinger’s Box
A story-rich Dark Fantasy ARPG featuring classic RPG elements and a Souls-like vibe, allowing players to unlock and level up catlike abilities on the Feline Skill Tree
Embark on an epic journey and master the magic of the ancient sacred Kristals as a feral cat warrior. Featuring challenging combat, acrobatic parkour, and exploration to uncover a detailed story
Uncover the source of a dark curse that has mutated Ailur’s creatures into bloodthirsty monsters and master the magic of the Kristals in hopes of becoming a Raksaka Warrior - a powerful protector of your species
Will Ramos (Lorna Shore), Joe Badolato (Fit for an Autopsy), David Simonich (Signs of the Swarm), Kasey Karlsen (Deadlands), Paxton Grizzle (Brojob), and David Benites (Renesans) from the world of heavy metal and deathcore music lend their voices as the many enemies and bosses featured in Kristala
A trailer for Kristala will be released “soon”, but for now you can check out the screenshots found below.
Metaphor: ReFantazio is now my favorite title from the Persona team by far. It’s one of those rare games where its main pillars work harmoniously, and you get lost in its charm. It’s a pristine JRPG, with enough style and substance to satisfy hardcore JRPG fans, Persona fans, and even those who rarely touch JRPGs.