GamerEscape

First of all, I have to say something, and I believe everyone will understand: It is almost criminal that the third installment in this series has come now, and it doesn’t have a subtitle. Cat Quest and Cat Quest II can get away without them, but Cat Quest III really deserves a subtitle, especially as it’s The One Where Everyone Is A Pirate For No Actual Reason.

However, with that having been said, there is also the question of whether or not Cat Quest III has a good reason to exist. This is the third entry in the series. What is there left to say? What is new and engaging about cats? What in the world could three entries even do in this game? Did we really need a second one of these, much less a third? Come with me, and I’ll share all the secrets you could want… and I’ll even avoid making cat puns aside from the section headers. I promise.

Cat-egorical Imperative

The opening seconds of any game are important for establishing the tone, so it’s probably not exactly surprising that after the initial cinematic explains that the North Star Treasure came to rest on this planet ages ago and countless Seekers chased after the treasure, our protagonist is set adrift from a ship sank by the Pi-rat King. This nameless cat is tutored by the spectral Captain Cappey, and they soon arrive in Port Purrvana to find the treasure even as the Pi-rat King seeks it and…

Look, if you’re going to be annoyed by this, this is already not your game. You have parrots in pirate hats providing rest and save spots named Rest Beakons. Expect anthropomorphic animals with a pirate veneer, lots of animal puns, and a story that is not exactly going to challenge you or make you ask any deep philosophical questions. Nor, I should note, is any of this a bad thing. The game pitches its tone directly at light-hearted, sweet adventure.

It honestly reminds me more than anything of the sort of freewheeling fun you could have for old console games. They give you a quest and an idea of what you’re trying to accomplish, most of the runtime is filled out with material that’s not exactly a joke but is just sort of a nonstop parade of silly features. And that’s fine. You’re going to fight mouse pirates, and pigs, and birds, and skeleton mice, and other cats, and… you get the idea. It’s not all a joke but it’s also not too big a deal, and that’s exactly what it’s supposed to be.

The best example would be that it’s a romp. And it hits that level perfectly, so good on the developers for aiming there.

Tabby Target

Combat in the game is an action RPG in the broadest sense, but it is not a terribly difficult one in terms of its overall concept. At the most basic level this is a Zelda-style game. You move around in a map that is technically top-down but at a very low angle. One button rolls out of the way and your other button unleashes an attack. Avoid taking damage and hack your enemies down, rest at Rest Beakons to recover your health, and so forth.

The details, though, are what makes all of this work. Your cat in this game has access to two weapons, one ranged option and one melee option. Melee ranges from claws to shields to good old-fashioned swords, while guns include everything from flintlock pistols to machine guns. Each weapon type has tradeoffs, and you’ll doubtlessly find which ones you like best… which is why it’s a good thing you can upgrade every weapon you find, and finding duplicates just automatically upgrades what you already have.

You also have two spells equipped on the shoulder bumpers, which can be either a primary means of attack or just a minor status debuff based on your equipment. And you have a ship to navigate the Purribean, with a main cannon, drift controls, and a whole lot of other tricks you can unlock as you sail the seas. Clever kitties can even use the ship to take on difficult land-bound targets along the way, although said targets may have their ways of returning fire…

The fact that there are so many different pieces of equipment to customize inherently makes Cat Quest III feel like a very customizable game. As you hack and slash your way through enemies, you uncover new equipment that can create entirely different builds, but nearly every adventure will award you something of merit even if you have little interest in some of the kit you unlock. And there are so many side quests, dungeons to explores, bounties to pursue, hidden treasures to find…

It’s not hard to just make your way through Cat Quest III start to finish, but that’s not the point. The point is entirely about unlocking rewards, getting new things, and trying new options as you go. It feels like a romp, and while combat is definitely on the simpler side of things that’s a feature, not a bug. It gives combat an addictive feel; sure, those enemies look tough, but death is such a light swat to the nose that you’re not too worried about losing progress if you venture out of your safety zone.

Pressing Paws

Visually, the game features detailed and bespoke artwork; I’m sure there is some 3D trickery going on with scaling for the world assets, but it has the feel of being entirely hand-drawn (and I imagine most of it is). Enemies and your cat are given expressive animations and clear telegraphing, and while it isn’t going to blow you away with unprecedented fidelity it succeeds at looking good while you play. More than that, it’s just charming; everything is given the veneer of funny talking animals, but it’s all done with an eye toward keeping you engaged and feeling at least somewhat cohesive.

The game’s soundtrack is… it’s good, but it feels kind of generic. I know it’s not stock music, but it is definitely composed of familiar pieces. That is ultimately a good thing, though; all of the sounds and tunes feel appropriate for the scene and the composition of the game. I am probably being harder on the music than it deserves, but it didn’t really stand out to me.

Feline Much Better

The thing about the Cat Quest franchise is that I compared it to old console games before, and I feel like that comparison is merited. Cat Quest III is the same style of game, except it has a new map, some different (but recognizable) mechanics, some twists on the formula, and it’s easy to look at it and say that it just looks like a light wisp of a thing… and then you realize that it’s been three hours and the game has completely caught you in a steady, relaxing charm of its existence.

I don’t think Cat Quest III is going to blow anyone away, but I think it is entirely worthy to be in this franchise. Do you like fun action RPG games that focus on solid, simple game mechanics? Do you like cats? Do you enjoy exploring and finding things to do in the world, searching around for a bit, and then going through the game again? Then you’re going to get your money’s worth and more from Cat Quest III.

In other words, like its predecessors, the game might be uncomplicated, but it’s the cat’s meow. (That’s right, I lied about the cat jokes! You got too close to the review’s fuzzy tummy.)

~ Final Score: 8/10 ~

Review copy provided by Kepler Interactive for PC. All screenshots courtesy of Kepler Interactive.