Cat Quest III from The Gentlebros and Kepler Interactive is an open-world action RPG in which you’ll be tasked with finding a rare artefact. Will you manage to recover it before the pirates find it? Check our Cat Quest III!
Play as a swashbuckling purrivateer in this 2.5D open-world action RPG set in a fantastical pirate-themed world – the Purribean – an archipelago swarming with Pi-rats searching for the Northern Star – a long-lost mythical treasure. Alongside your trusty spirit companion, set sail through the Purribean in your very own ship! But beware, the seas are dangerous, and a meow-tiny is nigh as the hordes of Pi-rats under the order of the Pirate King hunt you down…
Cat Quest III from The Gentlebros and Kepler Interactive is an open-world action RPG set in the Purribean Sea. Yes, there are a ton of cat-related puns, most of which are chuckling, thanks to the clever writing. I was really excited to discover a whole new region, as the two previous games were set on the same continent of Felingrad. This time around, the game is mostly open-world, and you can basically wander whenever you want – more on this later – in the boat that you’ll unlock in your first quest.
As soon as the game begins, it’s apparent that there was a bigger budget for this game compared to previous entries in the genre, with the opening cinematic and the general overhauled look and feel of the game standing out, all while keeping the charm of the Cat Quest franchise. Speaking of the previous games, take note that even though this is the third game in the series, you could easily decide to play this game as your entry point into the franchise since it’s a completely new story set in the Cat Quest universe, with almost no references to past titles.
In this amazing game, one element that will get my highest praise is its colorful world. The Purribean region is expertly designed, and each island/sub-region is unique and exciting to explore. The exploration is rewarding, and you’ll always get incentives to explore new areas in the form of treasure chests or better equipment. Since the game is open-world, you can technically go anywhere. Still, you’ll quickly realize that the developer will encourage you to explore some areas first because the enemies there will be closer to your level. Enemies about 10 levels above yours can be dealt with, but when it comes to enemies 15 or 20 levels above, you likely will not be able to best them. I liked how each time I found an accessible area, it felt like this was my discovery and not the game subtly directing me to my next destination.
As for the gameplay, this game is as fun and arcade as it gets. You have melee and ranged weapons bound to the X and Circle buttons, respectively, which can be switched in real-time by pressing the Triangle button,
depending on the situation. Each piece of gear, melee, and long-range weapon will change your character’s appearance, which is a great touch. You can even go to a shop where you keep the equipment you want but change its look and feel to another gear piece you like. The DualSense controller is also put to good use, and each step and attack is felt on the controller. You can also play either in single-player or with a friend in couch co-op.
Apart from the main quest that deals with discovering the Northern Star, you’ll be busy taking care of a few optional side-quests on the way. There’s one that asks you to get rid of 12 bounty bosses, and the last one is harder than the actual final boss of this game, so do not expect to get through this list quickly! Another side-quest is like a “Choose your own adventure” book, and you’ll have to craft a new story for a Prince. There are only a handful of side-quests, and each one of them is unique, and they all add something to this game’s story.
Cat Quest III has a full trophy list that includes a Platinum trophy, with a list that has no missable trophies, making it possible to achieve all of them in a single run. Most trophies are awarded for progressing through the main story and completing the side quests. The last one you’ll obtain will likely be for finding all of the 162 treasures and finally obtaining each and every piece of equipment in this game. Finding all the equipment hidden in this game is tricky and goes beyond finding the 162 chests, which is also tricky. For instance, it will require you to find a super secret area – and I’ll immediately say kudos to every player who finds it without the help of a guide!
Once you have reached the end of the game, you can restart in New Game+ carrying all your equipment and levels. Unfortunately, NG+ forcibly overwrites your saved game and doesn’t allow you to create a new one instead. Forfeiting all my progression when I wanted to restart in New Game+ was not fun, and I even pondered the decision for a few real-life hours to make sure I was comfortable with taking this leap.
Cat Quest III managed to exceed my high expectations for this game. I thought it was significantly better than its predecessors, thanks to its length, open-world exploration, and its fun and rewarding gameplay experience. This is one of the best adventure games I have played yet this year, and I definitively recommend it to gamers looking for a cute and accessible experience. Cat Quest III is out on PlayStation 5 with a $19.99 price tag.
Disclaimer
This Cat Quest III review is based on a PlayStation copy provided by Kepler Interactive.
