Cat Quest has been a beloved sequence for near a decade now. From providing a novel world within the first recreation to including co-op within the second, it has at all times tried to shake issues up for the action-RPG style. Cat Quest III appears like one other switch-up for the sequence, taking what felt nice about earlier video games and looking for to inform an enthralling pirate journey that retains you stunned. After sinking 15 hours into The Gentlebros’ newest journey, it’s secure to say all the pieces about Cat Quest III is incredible.
The journey started with us selecting our feline Purrivateer and arriving within the Purribean, an archipelago full of Pi-rats to defeat who’re on the hunt for the North Star Treasure. With our spirit companion, who can be looking for the North Star Treasure, we piloted our ship and ventured throughout land and sea to search out the legendary treasure, defeating Pirate Lords in quite a lot of dungeons and uncovering a myriad of secrets and techniques alongside the best way.
The story is a pleasant swashbuckling story that options quite a few loveable feline and non-feline characters. Every one, and the story extra usually, is shored up by unbelievable, witty writing with extra cat puns than lives of the amassed kitty forged. However even in the direction of the tip of the sport, these puns and the humorous writing by no means bought previous, remaining charming to the final. The writing provides everybody a definite persona that permits them to face out and stay memorable, whether or not we have been with them for the entire recreation or briefly spoke to them for a aspect quest.
And the sport is full of non-compulsory conversations and aspect quests within the city at Purvanna Port and throughout the sport’s dozen or so islands. These allow us to be taught extra about every character and uncover their tragic, triumphant, and troubled pasts. The islands that make up the Purribean create a small however wealthy open world to discover in your ship. Nearly each few seconds we have been discovering a secret, a chest to open, a brand new NPC to speak to, or a brand new aspect quest to tackle, which meant we have been by no means bored. Whether or not it was crusing the open sea, killing a couple of Pi-rats, or stumbling round an empty-looking sandy shore, there was virtually at all times one thing piquing our curiosity.
At one level, we stumbled throughout this ominous-looking purple tower sitting on a solitary island. Upon making an attempt to enter it, we have been greeted by Charon, the ferryman of the useless, and advised we must discover the important thing to realize entry to the spooky monolith. However there are smaller secrets and techniques too, like having to observe some footsteps on a seashore to discover a secret merchandise underneath a starfish. There are some incredible surprises that we do not need to spoil that introduced an enormous smile to our face.
The purpose is that Cat Quest III is full of these pleasant, shocking moments the place we have been having a ridiculous quantity of enjoyable exploring. The truth that the sport had us darting forwards and backwards across the open sea too implies that we have been studying the format of the Purribean, remembering areas, and uncovering secrets and techniques that have been beforehand locked off, making that exploration much more rewarding.
In between these moments of story and exploration, fight can be simply as exemplary as all the pieces else Cat Quest III has happening. Preventing Pi-rats and different enemies is tight and fluid, with ample selection in terms of enemies and the bosses you could find on the finish of dungeons and aspect quests. The bosses, specifically, exude a lot persona that we could not assist however proceed to fall in love with the sport as we have been launched to every one.
Dozens and dozens of weapons, armour items, and ship customisation choices allow you to play the best way you want. Whether or not we needed a standard sword, a set of claws that allow you to assault shortly in flurries, or to be a mage casting fireplace, ice, and electrical energy spells, Cat Quest III has virtually each weapon you may consider. You’ll be able to play a purely ranged construct utilizing a flintlock pistol or a wand to forged spells in the event you do not need to rise up shut and private. Armour and the perks additionally help you put collectively extra specialised builds, like an armour set that improves harm in the event you hoard gold, or a set that regenerates your well being with every assault you deal.
The improve system and development are easy however deep sufficient you can make investments gold and crystals into upgrading gear and spells with out feeling the should be stingy along with your spending in case you turn weapons. You’ll find gold and crystals in all places, and small quality-of-life options assist smoothen your entire gameplay expertise. Discover a duplicate merchandise, as an example, and the sport will robotically improve that piece of drugs or weapon in your stock considerably, which means no merchandise is ever wasted.
Moreover, the drop-in and drop-out co-op is extremely easy, as one other participant can soar in and exit from the primary menu or any of the save spots dotted across the map (of which there are lots). They’ll construct their very own loadout and improve completely different gear with ease. Efficiency was additionally unaffected throughout our time taking part in.
Tying your entire expertise collectively is incredible artwork and animation. The attractive animations and delicate particulars throughout interactions with NPCs and the extraordinary boss fights are supported by a top-tier pirate-y soundtrack. Full of greater than 35 shanty-like tunes, we could not assist however hum and swing our head alongside to every piece of music.
The whole expertise ran flawlessly, as nicely, with no bugs, points, body drops, or issues in docked or handheld mode all through our playthrough. The one actual damaging is that Cat Quest III would not ever really feel like it’s providing up many new concepts for the style or sequence, apart from its pirate aesthetic. It is incredible, but acquainted, so do not go in anticipating one thing not like something you may have ever performed.
Conclusion
Cat Quest III is a well-recognized but flawless motion journey with fluid and fantastic-feeling fight. Its charming story and witty writing convey life to the Purribean, one of many best-designed mini-open worlds in latest reminiscence. That open world is full of satisfying quests and fascinating puzzles to unravel that nearly at all times throw some new concept or problem at you. The development right here is easy, and your entire expertise is exactly paced with no efficiency points in any respect. Some beautiful animation work, accompanied by a beautiful shanty-like pirate soundtrack tops off a superb journey. All of that collectively ensures that Cat Quest III is a pristine pirate journey and motion RPG. Fairly merely, among the finest indie video games of the 12 months.
