Did you know that in the land of Ailur, cats can ride on dogs?
Astral Clocktower Studios, the studio behind the upcoming feline soulslike Kristala, just released the second installment of their developer diary series! This developer diary dives deep into the many ways you’ll traverse the land of Ailur, how playing as a feline warrior lends itself to unique traversal capabilities, and introduces players to hazards they may face while navigating the haunting land of Ailur.
Playing as a cat naturally comes with enhanced stealthlike abilities, as the developers at Astral Clocktower Studios wanted to replicate the cat’s natural agility and explosiveness. For example, because cats are known to always land on their feet, there is no fall damage in Kristala! However, because there is no fall damage, the developers are constantly challenged to design new threats to block the player’s path. Stealthily prowl across the world of Ailur by running across walls, tiptoeing on tightropes, and gliding between locations using pole swings.
Beginning in 1.0, players will be able to embark on their journey with their trusty canine steed! With three starting steeds of different breed types available, players will be able to gallop across Tandar and explore freely alongside their canid companion.
Learn more about the perilous traps you’ll encounter while you traverse Ailur, from bear traps to ballistas. Many different types of traps and obstacles were implemented following player feedback to amp up the difficulty levels, both in future areas, but also to give players a reason to return to early-game levels. While traps are mainly to be avoided, clever cats can conjure up ways to use traps to their advantage against enemies.
Key Features:
- Challenging & Fast-paced Soulslike Combat – Master a precise and punishing combat system inspired by Sekiro and Dark Souls, with light/heavy attacks, perfect parries, well-timed dodges, and brutal aerial attacks and finishers.
- Agile Protagonists & Catlike Abilities – Play as a feline warrior from one of six clans, each master of a distinct magic specialty and lore-rich culture. These catlike characters allow for interesting traversal and stealth mechanics, which players can enhance further via the Feline Skill tree.
- Purr-sonalize your Cat – Create your feline warrior by choosing fur color, fur length, your clan, and your starting class. All of these choices will factor into building your unique playstyle. The paw-sibilities are endless!
- Comprehensive Magic System – Each clan specializes in an ancient/elemental magic, sourced by the Sacred Six Kristals. Unlock and level powerful spells and spell perks for each clan on a comprehensive, branching magic tree to customize your playstyle.
- Atmospheric, Story-Driven Worldbuilding – Immerse yourself in the mystical realm of Ailur, where ancient prophecies, cursed creatures, and lost civilizations weave a dark and emotional narrative.
Ready to pounce into the grimdark world of Kristala? Wishlist the game and play the free demo now on Epic Games Store and Steam, or dive deeper with the Early Access version—available for purchase today. To stay up-to-date on everything Kristala, join their Discord and subscribe to their official subreddit. Follow them on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, BlueSky, X, Facebook, and Twitch.