Cat Quest III
- August 8, 2024
- The Gentlebros
- 7h median play time
Cat Quest III is an excellent 2.5D open-world RPG with fun characters and even a pirate ship to pilot. My only issue is that the puns can get to be a bit much by the time you reach the end!
"Cat Quest III" is a 2.5D open-world action RPG featuring a swashbuckling feline protagonist in a pirate-themed world known as the Purribean. Sail through the seas while fighting the dangerous Pi-rats and collecting powerful weapons, with the option to play solo or in local co-op. The game boasts varied dungeons, biomes, and a refined combat system for a purr-fectly delightful catventure.
Reviews
- Charming art style and engaging humor with plenty of cat puns.
- Improved combat mechanics and the addition of ship battles enhance gameplay.
- Short and sweet experience, making it accessible for casual gamers.
- Significantly shorter than previous entries, leading to feelings of disappointment regarding content.
- Less variety in dungeons and side quests compared to Cat Quest II.
- Some gameplay mechanics, like ship combat, feel underdeveloped and clunky.
- story1,009 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of *Cat Quest 3* continues the whimsical and light-hearted narrative style of its predecessors, featuring charming characters and plenty of cat puns. While some players appreciate the streamlined quest system and engaging side quests, many feel the main storyline is shorter and less substantial compared to *Cat Quest 2*, leading to a sense of disappointment regarding content depth. Overall, the game is seen as a fun, cozy adventure that retains the series' charm, but it may not fully satisfy those seeking a richer narrative experience.
“The story is light-hearted, packed full of puns, but still delivers a deep message among it all.”
“The story, as in the previous game, relates back to the others in the series to form a sort of continuous storyline, however no knowledge of the other games is required to thoroughly enjoy this one.”
“The story was also a solid pirate tale of treasure hunting and fighting the many other pirates and creatures in the world.”
“The only real problem is just that it's over very quick, and the story doesn't have much to it.”
“The story honestly makes me feel like it's just justifying cat quest 4 instead of focusing on its own story, and there's just little to no dungeons or explorable places once you get past the first three or so hours of the game.”
“Overall, I enjoyed the hell out of this game just like cat quest 1 and 2 but I felt it lacking in content and secrets.”
- gameplay242 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Cat Quest III" has received praise for its smooth mechanics, engaging combat, and the introduction of new elements like ship battles, which add depth to exploration. While some players noted the game is shorter than its predecessors, they appreciated the improved balance and variety in combat options, making it enjoyable for both newcomers and fans of the series. Overall, the game strikes a good balance between simplicity and fun, though some mechanics feel underdeveloped and the overall experience may be too easy for seasoned players.
“The gameplay is undeniably enjoyable—if you're a fan of the previous Cat Quest titles, you'll likely have a great time with this installment as well.”
“The story is more enticing, with characters that are more unique, the animations are amazing, and the gameplay is a massive leap from the past two games, featuring more gear of different types that do many different things, making for a fun time creating different setups to fight different enemies and bosses.”
“Cat Quest III introduces new gameplay elements like sailing and naval battles, which add depth and variety to the exploration.”
“Overall this felt way too easy and the new mechanics weren't as interesting as the second game's nor the world.”
“This game cannot compete with many others on the gameplay front - it's way too simplistic, and the devs don't seem to have the incentive to change it.”
“I had a good time playing it on the couch with my wife, but not only is the story trivial and oversimplified (even for a kid), but the gameplay is similarly trivial (even for a kid).”
- graphics103 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics in "Cat Quest III" have received widespread acclaim for their vibrant and charming art style, showcasing significant improvements over previous entries in the series. Players appreciate the stunning visuals, particularly the lighting and water effects, which enhance the whimsical atmosphere of the game. While some feel that certain gameplay elements may have been compromised for graphical fidelity, the overall aesthetic and artistic design are celebrated as a highlight of the experience.
“The visuals of the game are stunning; I wish I had an OLED monitor to properly enjoy them.”
“The graphics are incredible, much better than the first two.”
“Great graphics with a heartfelt style.”
“So while I think they have upped the quality in the dungeons, boss fights, melee, and general aesthetics of the game, I also feel that ranged combat, magic spells, and the ships were taken in a good direction, but they ran out of time or budget to fully see them through and became a shadow of what they could have been.”
“There were positives; the feel of combat, the fluidity, and the graphics are all better than the previous titles, but there was a much larger issue.”
“Graphics have improved, but still elegantly simple; ship combat is fun, land combat is improved with the new weapons and the switching mechanic, the music is fabulous, and the cat puns are as silly as they come.”
- humor51 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in Cat Quest 3 is a standout feature, maintaining the series' signature charm with clever cat puns, whimsical dialogue, and entertaining side quests that often provide a lighthearted twist to the gameplay. Players appreciate the blend of cute humor with engaging action RPG mechanics, resulting in a delightful experience that keeps them smiling throughout. While some humor may not always land, the overall narrative is filled with warmth and quirky characters, making it a must-play for fans of the genre.
“Cat Quest 3 is a delightful continuation of the beloved series, offering a purrfect blend of humor, adventure, and engaging gameplay.”
“The narrative is filled with whimsical humor and quirky characters, making it both engaging and heartwarming.”
“One of the things I love best about this series is that it takes cute cat humor and blends it with a genuinely good action RPG experience.”
- music43 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with many reviewers praising its catchy, pirate-themed compositions that enhance the overall gameplay experience. The soundtrack is described as delightful and perfectly complements the adventurous spirit of the game, with some even rating it as infinity out of ten. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and atmosphere.
“The music is perfect for the theme.”
“The soundtrack complements the adventurous spirit of the game, adding to the overall enjoyment.”
“Some stunning animation work, accompanied by a gorgeous shanty-like pirate soundtrack tops off an excellent adventure.”
“Just wish it had sound and music.”
“I can only think of like two games off the top of my head that I've played with better music (Celeste and Bravely Default); it takes the best parts of the previous games and perfectly weaves them in with the pirate theming of this game, and they are all way too catchy.”
“I will be hearing these songs in my dreams for weeks, I'm sure.”
- emotional23 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heartfelt storyline, whimsical humor, and character growth, which resonate deeply with players, often evoking laughter and tears. Many reviewers noted the game's ability to create a warm and engaging experience, making it feel like a genuine love letter to fans. Despite some technical issues, the emotional impact remains a standout feature, with players expressing a strong connection to the narrative and characters.
“The satisfaction of getting stronger and the surprisingly emotional storyline were highlights for me.”
“I cried at the end.”
“Ps: considering that most people think of me as a psycho, because I probably am, not a lot of games can make me cry; actually, the last time I cried was 5 years ago after finishing Cat Quest II, but this game did.”
- replayability20 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
Overall, the replayability of the game is mixed among users. While some appreciate features like New Game+ and roguelike modes that enhance replay value, others find the gameplay too basic or lacking in content to warrant multiple playthroughs. The potential for future updates and additional content may improve replayability, but current sentiments suggest it varies significantly among players.
“The game itself never overstays its welcome, and with a new game+ feature, it ensures some replayability.”
“Took me about 10 hours to get through the game for the first time, but it's replayable with new game+ to access the quests I skipped the first time.”
“Replayable, replayable, and keep on playing!”
“Con: it's quite a bit shorter than CQII and kinda lacks replayability as well.”
“- no replay value for me personally - the gameplay is so basic (nothing wrong with that), it gives me no pleasure to just do it again.”
“More content will come, but NG+ has low replayability as there is no point.”
- grinding17 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Grinding is not a core mechanic in this game, with ample experience and currency gained from various activities, making it less tedious than in previous entries. While some players may find occasional grinding necessary, particularly for item collection, the overall experience is streamlined and enjoyable, allowing for exploration and engagement with the story without excessive grinding. The addition of ship combat adds variety, though it may feel slightly underdeveloped at times.
“Having taken just a hair over twelve and a half hours to complete the game twice, I can understand their perspective; but personally, I don't miss the tedious grinding in special grinding dungeons to engage with endgame content.”
“And no, it doesn't make it harder or even hard, just tedious.”
“The addition of ship combat was also pretty interesting and though at times I found it tedious, I got the grasp on it soon enough.”
- stability8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game's stability is mixed; while it runs well on the Steam Deck without bugs or glitches, players report frequent crashes that can freeze the device and a frustrating save system. Additionally, the lack of proper multiplayer options forces reliance on unreliable split-screen or Steam Remote Play, further impacting the overall experience.
“Runs great on Steam Deck, so that's a huge plus.”
“Between the constant crashing (completely freezes up the deck) and the bad save system, it is frustrating to play.”
“They still haven't implemented proper multiplayer, making you reliant upon splitscreen or the buggy and unreliable Steam Remote Play Together.”
- optimization8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is highly praised for its optimization, running smoothly with excellent performance even on 4K displays. Players report a seamless experience with no performance issues, complemented by impressive visuals and fluid gameplay.
“+ the game looks great and has good performance on my 4K TV.”
“Runs smoothly”
“Optimization and game size”
“Optimization and game size”
“The progression here is smooth, and the entire experience is precisely paced with no performance issues at all.”
- character development6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development in CQ3 is enhanced by vibrant art and charming character designs, which create an immersive and whimsical experience for players. The improvements in character movement and cosmetics further contribute to the overall visual appeal and engagement within the game.
“The game’s vibrant art style and charming character designs are visually appealing, immersing players in a whimsical world.”
“Visual appeal: bright, colorful graphics and charming character designs.”
“There are improvements to art, combat, cosmetics, character design, and character movement in CQ3.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised, with engaging boss battles, particularly against Meowtallika, contributing to the excitement. The delightful soundtrack enhances the experience, perfectly complementing the gameplay and creating an immersive backdrop for the adventure.
“The music complements the gameplay perfectly, enhancing the overall atmosphere and providing a fun backdrop to the adventure.”
“All three captains and Dracatula are very fun to fight, with Meowtallika being especially cool with the atmosphere and attack patterns.”
- monetization4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game is criticized as a cash grab, with players feeling that the $20 price tag is not justified for approximately six hours of content. However, some appreciate the absence of microtransactions, highlighting the game's nostalgic, straightforward gaming experience.
“If you're looking for a laid-back game with no microtransactions and that just has that old, fun, video game feel to it, buy this game!”
“Feels like a cash grab of $20 for maybe 6 hours of content is whack.”
Critic Reviews
Pirate and cat puns, ahoy!
The third cat quest sets sail for a new kind of adventure.
80%Cat Quest III Review
Cat Quest III is a familiar yet flawless action adventure with fluid and fantastic-feeling combat. Its charming story and witty writing bring life to the Purribean, one of the best-designed mini-open worlds in recent memory. That open world is packed with satisfying quests and engaging puzzles to solve that almost always throw some new idea or challenge at you. The progression here is smooth, and the entire experience is precisely paced with no performance issues at all. Some stunning animation work, accompanied by a gorgeous shanty-like pirate soundtrack tops off an excellent adventure. All of that together ensures that Cat Quest III is a pristine pirate adventure and action RPG. Quite simply, one of the best indie games of the year.
90%Cat Quest III Review
Cat Quest III is an excellent 2.5D open-world RPG with fun characters and even a pirate ship to pilot. My only issue is that the puns can get to be a bit much by the time you reach the end!
95%