Cat Quest III [PC] | REVIEW

After really enjoying the previous two titles in the series, I wondered if Cat Quest III would have the same allure given that it seemed to offer more of the same – albeit with the addition of some naval action. And you know what? My worries were alleviated almost immediately, with the adventure completely hooking me in with the same simple yet rewarding gameplay loop that somehow felt better than ever to play despite the familiarity.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Cat Quest III kicks things off in dramatic fashion, with the story told of a legendary artifact known as the North Star that grants anyone who holds it their deepest desires. Quite the alluring treasure, right? Well, it’s one that lots of the pirates of the Purribean are looking to seek, ESPECIALLY one known as Pi-rat King, who just so happens to have history with the feline protagonist after sinking their ship and leaving them stranded on a beach as a kitten. Luckily, you had a ghostly companion to help you out back then, and fifteen-years on from that fateful night, you find yourself caught up in a pirating adventure to seek out the North Star.

It’s the typical charming narrative that players have come to expect from the Cat Quest series, with plenty of genuinely comical interactions to share with the NPCs of the world and, of course, a LOT of cat puns. And I REALLY mean a lot… it’s fur-tastic.

Gameplay-wise, a lot of Cat Quest III will feel familiar to returning players, with the action following the same simple yet satisfying loop seen in previous entries in the series. Combat is still quick-paced and focuses on the use of speedy combos, powerful magic, and swift manoeuvres to get yourself out of the way of any incoming danger, whilst there’s plenty of weaponry and armour to experiment with to get the perfect setup that suits you. One of the most satisfying things in the Cat Quest series is levelling yourself up, upgrading your equipment, and partaking in thrilling showdowns with the multitude of enemies across the world, and that remains the case here.

“Much like the other aspects of the game, combat on your ship takes a somewhat simple approach, but its sharp manoeuvrability and the constant onslaught of cannonballs ensures that it’s always thrilling.”

There have been some improvements made to combat to streamline the experience though, such as being able to change between melee and ranged weapons on the fly. Not only does this make combat feel more intuitive, but it also gives you a more diverse skillset to handle each situation you might find yourself in. Combat looks better than ever too, with the screen flooding with visual effects when unleashing magic (or finding yourself evading it). It adds plenty of style to each showdown and makes each battle feel all the more impactful. Oh, and the boss battles? They’re some of the best found in the series.

The only downside to combat is that it never feels particularly difficult. I only found myself dying if I was under-levelled for the quest I was trying to complete, but that was more of a case of me trying to bite off more than I could chew as opposed to the game being naturally tough. Death often felt inconsequential too, with the player not really losing anything – it’s what encouraged me to try tackling some of those tougher quests in the first place, and whilst it was rare that it paid off, the lack of punishment for failure meant I didn’t really mind.

Thankfully, the slickness of combat ensures that you won’t tire of it regardless of the easier difficulty, whilst there’s plenty of cool stuff to do across the world to ensure it’s a treat to explore. There are a LOT of main quests and side quests to complete, and with each bringing their own little stories to see unfold, it’s easy to find yourself hooked into seeing each one through to completion. The dungeons felt more interesting to scavenge through this time around too, with a bit more variety found in their design.

Check out some screenshots down below:

What makes exploration more exciting this time around is the fact that you get your very own ship to sail across the seas with during your adventure. Come on, it couldn’t be a pirate-themed caper without a ship, right?! Whilst there’s been aquatic-exploration in previous entries in the game, it’s much more fleshed out here, with your ship not only fun to navigate with but also well equipped for naval showdowns. Much like the other aspects of the game, combat on your ship takes a somewhat simple approach, but its sharp manoeuvrability and the constant onslaught of cannonballs ensures it’s always thrilling. It makes exploring the sea of the Purribean one of the most enjoyable aspects of the game, and with plenty of islands to discover full of secrets, treasures, and challenges to face off against, it’s easy to find yourself distracted by the allures of the world.

As with its predecessor, there’s also local co-op in Cat Quest III, with players able to enjoy the adventure with a friend. And you know what? It feels perfect for co-op play, with the simplicity making it easy for just about anyone to pick up and play. I actually went through a lot of the game with a younger family member who isn’t that familiar with gaming, and whilst there were some elements of the game that took getting used to for them (mostly evading area-of-effect attacks), it didn’t take long before they played like a natural. That alone made Cat Quest III feel extra special to me, though I do have one complaint: why is there only one ship available for players in co-op play?! Given how substantial of a feature it is in the game, it’s a shame that both players don’t have access to a ship each during their co-op journey.

I can’t end this review without mentioning the visuals, which I absolutely loved. The Cat Quest series has this distinct style that has always looked attractive in previous entries, but it really feels like the team at The Gentlesbros have upped the ante here with the vibrant colours, beautiful details, and vivid visual effects that make the world look more gorgeous than ever.

Developer: The Gentlebros
Publisher: Kepler Interactive
Platform(s): PC (Reviewed), PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Website: https://www.metacritic.com/game/cat-quest-iii/