It will generally match your energy. Big cats like tigers can put a hurtful pinch, gash, or puncture wound in your arm just by messing around. If you react in fright, it can escalate the situation till the cat mixes in predatory instincts into the play fight. Then you can literally bleed out to death from playing or be actually eaten. The picture below is considered playfight with a tiger. You can control the situation better, but chances are you’ll end up dominated.
In my experience, with a pit bull dog, this is also true. If it runs at you with high energy, questionable aggression, interpret that with positive, calm play, dominant stance, it can channel that energy towards a more favorable situation. But this is not at all guaranteed. Generally with rats, dogs, small cats, etc can give you some practice.
In my younger days, I used to playfight with the mongoose colonies near the Saharas of Africa. They do the best play fights. When normal people aren’t around, they will do jump kicks etc kungfu panda style! I still talk to Marsha, the resident leader of the south eastern quadrant from time to time using the Ace Ventura telepathy. MARSHA!!!! I fell in love with her and we rolled together in the dunes during winter of 18′
This is how I will always remember my vibrant gorgeous Marsha: