Freya Hilton
We have a wealth of insights to share about the adorable 2.5D adventure Cat Quest III, having thoroughly explored the preview build for several hours. We share our expert impressions in a preliminary review.
- Developer: The Gentlebros
- Publisher: Kepler Interactive
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch , PlayStation 5 , PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC
- Release date: August 8, 2024
The game revolves around the fabled Guiding Star, a powerful entity capable of granting any desire, pursued relentlessly by avaricious pirates. One of them is our protagonist, an unnamed cat, inheritor of the Seekers, who embarks on a quest alongside his spectral companion Captain Cappy.
The developers expertly selected a sea adventure theme for the third installment. The action unfolds on Murribah, featuring captivating locations like the Maincoon Islands, the Great Murrier Reef, and Port Smetanna. To enhance the experience, the protagonist is equipped with their very own ship, allowing seamless navigation through the water.
The ship is well-prepared with cannons, allowing it to expertly engage in battle with pirate schooners that roam the spaces between the islands. Enhance the ship by incorporating enhanced cores and a range of bonuses that can bolster survivability and amplify damage, among other benefits.
Once on land, the cat expertly utilizes a variety of weapons – bladed and firearms, along with the power of magic. The loot available in this game is extensive, allowing you to fully customize your character. You have the option to switch between different hats and costumes, arm your hero with sabers and shields, or even equip them with powerful blunderbusses and machine guns. Additionally, you can enhance your hero’s abilities by adding talismans with passive properties, like dealing physical damage to enemies when dodging. You can enhance the characteristics of your equipment by upgrading it from a merchant in exchange for hard cash.
The combat system in Cat Quest III is incredibly intuitive, with a variety of automatic combos, seamless switching between melee weapons and firearms, and the ability to unleash powerful magic spells. Certain enemies have specific weaknesses, so if you use a fireball to fry ice elementals, they will take more damage.
The enemies, by the way, come in a wide variety and each have their own unique attack patterns. For example, arrow mice are skilled at shooting projectiles, boars are quick to run away and then ram the hero, and elementals can create freezing spikes. Master the art of avoiding damage and strategically timing your attacks to achieve success. Mastering the art of combat is a thrilling pursuit, and the ultimate goal.
In the preview version, the developers provided us with the opportunity to thoroughly explore multiple islands, delve into challenging dungeons, and successfully complete a variety of quests. You’ll notice a significant improvement compared to the previous version: now you have the ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, and all the intriguing locations on the map are conveniently marked with symbols. For instance, the dungeon icon will indicate the number of chests discovered inside. The third installment has become even more user-friendly – not by simplifying things, but by enhancing the player’s comfort level.
Get ready for the highly anticipated release of Cat Quest III on PC and consoles this August 8th. Those who enjoyed the previous installment of the series, as well as fans of humorous games with cartoon graphics and a great sense of humor, are likely to appreciate the third installment. Based on what we saw in the preview build, it was definitely worth adding the title to our wishlist.