Cat Quest III — Review

It’s no simple feat to establish a middle ground between young and mature audiences. Much like tightrope walking, the act requires a delicate sense of balance – too little, and the work may end up being too watered down; too much, and complexity will stand in the way for an intended audience.

The Cat Quest series has always leaned into former territory, oozing a special brand of charm that just as easily extends to older ages. Cat Quest III, releasing on 8 August — aptly, International Cat Day — continues in the same spirit, featuring a blend of charm, adventure, and a heaping dose of cat puns. At the same time, this latest instalment from Singapore-based studio The Gentlebros also carves out a new venture that takes players on a pirate sea-faring adventure, marking a departure from previous settings while maintaining its signature endearingly playful flair. 

The narrative opens with a voiced cinematic, telling a legend about the North Star falling from the sky, marking a spot filled with untold treasures. This myth sends pirates across the Purribean in search of riches, with the Pi-Rats, led by their formidable leader, the Pi-Rat King, being the most aggressive (yes, those are actual names from the game). 

You play as a pirate cat named Hero, found as a baby by the spirit Captain Cappey, who embarks on a quest with the Star Rune—a magical relic guiding you to the treasure. Like its predecessors, there’s an arsenal of puns that adds to the overall fun, though the plot itself isn’t groundbreaking and relies heavily on genre clichés. But that’s not a gripe here, because fans of the first two games already know that the fun lies in the journey and whimsical world rather than a deep, intricate plot.

Visually, Cat Quest III continues the series’ tradition of charming 2D character models and environments with a quaint, traditional map aesthetic. The delightful visuals make exploration a pleasure, accompanied by an equally enchanting soundtrack that delivers a rich auditory experience. Each overworld track has versions for both land and sea, transitioning seamlessly depending on your activity. 

For example, The Milky Barrel, the game’s main tavern, is manned by the iconic Mama Milka, and greets players to a bright tavern song as soon as they enter. A series of nefariously cartoony wanted posters of other pirates are plastered on the inside, setting up a fun way to introduce new characters and towns. The curiosity makes players eager to keep moving on to the next area, just to see what other quirky characters they might bump into. 

Cat Quest III maintains the series’ action RPG roots while introducing new naval mechanics. Players navigate both land and sea, engaging in real-time combat with swords, guns, and magic. The addition of ship combat—steering ships and firing cannonballs—adds a fresh twist, but mastering its controls can be tricky on mouse and keyboard, so be sure to hook up to a controller, as the game emphasises multiple times.

This new mechanic is exclusive to the action role-playing title, keeping in line with the well-executed pirate theme. Sailing and engaging in sea battles are highlights, and while it’s surprisingly fun to drift on the seas, the novelty of ship combat may wear off over time with the lack of variety. Still, there are a host of settings waiting to be discovered, including tropical beaches, creepy caverns, and even a rock concert. 

The deceptively simple combat remains a core element here, offering depth through weapon swapping and spell casting. Each weapon type features unique dodge abilities; wands teleport, while claws allow for effective evasion. Experimenting with different builds reveals the combat system’s nuance, though the lack of complexity might disappoint hardcore RPG fans.

Potent equipment combinations, like the Clawford & Dratcula set— Dratcula heals when you damage enemies, which triggers further damage from Clawford, which damages when you heal. Another favourite is the Dragonclaws and Meowtallika’s Pick, where the former has a special final hit that slashes four times, and the latter, has a lightning bolt attack for every final hit. Combine these two, and bear witness to a devastating flurry of lightning bolts!

Discovering these various equipment combos provides a sense of accomplishment, joining the rewarding payoff that comes with finding them through hidden treasure chests or challenging optional dungeons. The need to level up equipment to unlock abilities encourages experimentation, even if some may find the reliance on gear for combat effectiveness restrictive. 

Between islands, caves, and treasures, the open world in Cat Quest III  promises plenty of room for discovery. Exploration is both vast and structured, with  ‘Lightmouses’ (a bad pun on lighthouses) guiding players towards objectives, preventing aimless wandering. Along the way are a variety of puzzles, from simple logic challenges to more complex brain teasers, that add to the engagement factor.

For those worried about getting lost, the game has plenty of markers and characters to guide you towards where you need to go. There’s also a very handy side quest indicator on the map in case you lose track of where you’re supposed to head next, which is very likely considering the sheer amount of content that can be accessed. Completionists won’t have to worry about missing out on any loot, either – there’s an indicator that keeps track of yet-to-be-opened chests in an area. 

An interesting strategy in Cat Quest III involves exploiting the open-world design to gain high-level rewards early. Players can intentionally venture into higher-level areas, which are visually indicated by a darker-coloured environment. By avoiding combat, it’s possible to reach and open treasure chests containing powerful gear that would normally be inaccessible until later in the game. This strategy can be even more effective in subsequent playthroughs, opening up new possibilities for gameplay and character builds once the locations of specific weapons and equipment are locked down. 

Adding a fun dimension to the game is co-op mode, which allows a second player to join the adventure at any of the many Rest Beakons scattered across the map. The second player will immediately spawn in at the Rest Beakon with you and can help you out in combat. There’s something nostalgic about struggling with a particular boss or area and asking a friend to grab a controller and help out that adds to the charm and cosiness of the game as well. Do note, however, that the second player has to use a controller if you’re running a keyboard and mouse setup. 

For a touch of replayability, Cat Quest III includes a New Game+ mode and multiple endings, allowing individuals to explore different paths and outcomes. Future updates, including the Mew Game mode, promise additional challenges and ways to spice up the base experience, which requires around 7 hours to complete. The longevity is welcome, though the core gameplay may not appeal to everyone for repeated playthroughs.

Cat Quest III captures the essence of its predecessors while introducing new elements. Its visual and auditory appeal, combined with engaging gameplay and a lighthearted story, make it a worthy addition to the series. However, it doesn’t revolutionise the action RPG genre and may not satisfy players seeking depth and complexity. As a casual adventure, the game’s charm, humour, and depth do ensure an enjoyable experience – minor control issues aside. 

Cat Quest III launches on 8 August 2024 and will be available on PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 & 5​, Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S, retailing for S$24.99.