Geek Review: Cat Quest II

Believing in one’s product is often the first step to success, and local studio The Gentlebros’ 2017 release, Cat Quest, not only introduced a world full of feline goodness and puns, they are doubling down for the sequel, the appropriately named Cat Quest II. With even more magic, armour, weapons, and more animal puns, a great sequel that gives dogs equal screen time awaits for all who jump in.

You do not have had to play the first game to understand the second, but the story in Cat Quest II is a much more realised tale, charting the return of a pair of displaced rulers to their rightful place on the thrones of their kingdoms.

Like all role-playing games, our feline and dog heroes start off with nothing but a loincloth and scrappy weapons. By exploring the open-world, completing quests, destroying enemies, and exploring dungeons, they will get more powerful, gain new abilities and magic, find better equipment and look the part of monarchs.

Accompanying that familiar formula is the series’ tried and tested combat, with the standard attack and dodging joined by the occasional use of magic.

It is simple enough to learn, and does not take too much to master the elemental attacks, magical buffs, and discovering the enemy patterns and weaknesses. 

While Cat Quest II is hardly a difficult game, the combat manages to keep itself fresh throughout the entire adventure, throwing a variety of foes at you in the overworld or in many of the dungeons littered around the world.

Fun combat that rewards you with experience and the occasional treasure makes it worthwhile to head off the beaten path every once in a while.

Cat Quest II does allow you to switch between the two monarchs-to-be or for two players in local co-op, effectively allowing players to kit out two different loadouts. Focusing on either melee combat or magic will ensure that you are prepared for any situation, whether it requires a blunt blow or magical flames.

Equipment can be found across the large overworld and in dungeons, with hard-earned money used to upgrade said equipment to bestow even greater stat bonuses depending on how you want to approach the dangers that await.

Things are made easier with a recommended level warning that every dungeon is labelled with, and while you can ignore them for a chance at a greater reward earlier on, it will likely be too dangerous to be worth it.

Aside from the enjoyable combat and loot loop, the world and sound design are reminiscent of the first game. Colourful, easy on the eyes, and a delight to experience in short bursts or over an extended period of play, not to mention the deluge of adorable creatures and pun-filled nature of Cat Quest II.

The developers must have been having a ball or hating themselves for having to come up with so many puns, but the dedication to not just insert inane puns, but to place them almost perfectly in every instance and elicit a laugh is by no means an easy task, and that dedication shows throughout Cat Quest II.

Its lighthearted stab at the traditionally dramatic role-playing premise, the wonderful designs of the world and characters, the simple but satisfying combat, and the urge that keeps you going dungeon after dungeon is what makes Cat Quest II a sequel that outshines its predecessor in every way. 

Cat Quest II is now available on the PS4, Xbox One, Steam, and Nintendo Switch.