Ahoy, Matey! Cat Quest 3 Sails into Action-RPG Waters

If you're familiar with the Cat Quest series, all you need to know is that Cat Quest 3 is more of the same, but this time with a pirate twist. For those unfamiliar with developer TheGentlebros' pun-filled, casual open-world action RPGs, allow me to explain.

The original Cat Quest, released in 2017, was widely acclaimed for its streamlined approach to the genre. It presented a vast open-world brimming with adventuring, exploration, combat, questing, dungeon crawling, levelling, and treasure, but stripped it back to its core elements, creating a polished, accessible experience.

Cat Quest 2, released in 2019, doubled down on the formula, adding canine companions and two-player co-op. Now, five years later, Cat Quest 3 introduces a nautical twist, transforming half the map into a sprawling archipelago. The game hands you a boat and sets you off on a pirate-themed adventure, complete with tricornes, shanties, and cutlass-wielding cats. While not a dramatic departure for the series, the pirate theme adds a fresh layer of charm to the familiar gameplay.

This time around, you play as a young feline pirate who, aided by their disembodied ghost-cat friend, embarks on a quest across the sun-drenched Purribean archipelago to find the legendary North Star Treasure. Along the way, you'll face off against other pirate crews in a classic pirate fantasy setting, replete with hidden treasures, high seas adventures, and sword-clashing battles. Like its predecessors, Cat Quest 3 prioritises immediate, joyful gameplay over complexity. Battles are swift, dungeons are quickly conquered, making it an ideal choice for players with limited time, or for those looking for a straightforward yet engaging experience to enjoy with younger players.

The success of Cat Quest 3 lies in its solid foundation, providing a springboard for its breezy action. At the core of its appeal is a delightful combat system, surprisingly reminiscent of a Souls game, in its rhythmic, dodge-focused approach. Enemies launch into the air, ready to strike, or unleash icy stalagmites beneath your furry backside. You react by swiftly rolling out of harm's way and counter-attack with a quick sword combo. While the combat isn't particularly deep, its fast-paced arcade-style fluidity remains engaging throughout. The variety in enemy encounters prevents its simplicity from becoming a drawback.

This streamlining extends to every aspect of Cat Quest 3. The puzzles might seem straightforward, the dungeons simple, and the story a mere excuse for cat puns, but the game shines in its creative reimagining of these basic elements. It's a testament to TheGentlebros' ability to craft a compelling experience from simple foundations, resulting in a breezy, enjoyable adventure free from unnecessary complexity.

Cat Quest 3's pirate theme, perhaps due to my personal bias, adds a sense of focus to the gameplay. For instance, blowing up an enemy feels more impactful when there's a bounty on their head at the Milky Barrel tavern. The introduction of sailing adds a new dimension to the familiar rhythms of the series.

While the game essentially divides the open-world map into smaller landmasses connected by sea, the world is so densely packed that sailing is rarely required for extended periods. However, the boats feel fantastic at sea, with their nimble turning and exhilarating speed boosts. The arcade-style ship-to-ship combat, requiring you to aim, fire, and evade, is equally satisfying in its simplicity.

Add to this the inventively quirky quests, like tracking down legendary catfish for a grumpy fisherman or navigating a choose-your-own-adventure dungeon romance, and it's difficult not to be captivated.

Ultimately, the success of Cat Quest, both the series as a whole and this latest installment, lies in its carefully balanced combination of simplicity and depth. The game's components may be lighthearted, but they are meticulously honed, ensuring every moment is a pleasure. The combination of brisk questing, satisfying combat, and compulsive gear acquisition, presented in a dense world, creates a welcoming and engaging experience that never outstays its welcome. Despite my initial skepticism, Cat Quest 3 is as delightful as ever – generous, approachable, compelling, and brimming with charm.

_A copy of Cat Quest 3 was provided by Kepler Interactive for review purposes._