Easily dismissed as partStardew Valley, part Zelda game, it’s not quite either.
This is an adorable game.
A loose plot of good versus evil pops up, but honestly, it’s fairly basic stuff.
Instead, what will beguile you aboutKitaria Fablesare the looks of its characters.
Who can resist accepting a quest from a slightly grumpy polar bear, after all?
It’s a meandering pace but one that you’re able to settle into.
I dived into it straight from faster-pacedHadesand that was a mistake.
The key here is to take it slow and relax.
It’s very old school in its approach.
That means it’s not always massively clear where you gotta go next.
It’s also a little in contrast with the time gating of some quests.
BecauseKitaria Fablesworks partly as a farming sim of sorts, timing is everything.
It’s downright awkward starting out.
In a way, this is because so many games simplify the process these days.
In another way, it’s because the titles combat system is a little basic.
Taking a blow hurts and poor Nyan can’t cope with much, especially early on.
The combat never feels particularly satisfying, though.
It’s all a little too rudimentary and functional rather than genuinely fun to partake in.
There’s no leveling-up system here either so it makes it tempting to avoid battles wherever possible.
Crafting is quite a big part ofKitaria Fablesbut it takes a while to truly get anywhere with.
Rustic in Every Way
So,Kitaria Fablesis rustic in nearly every sense of the word.
The game feels at times like a small throwback to a bygone era that older gamers will still crave.
It’s a little weird how it’s both relaxed and yet also a bit unforgiving but it works.
