Cat Quest 3 Assessment (PS5)

A brand new entry in The Gentlebros’ all-ages motion RPG collection, Cat Quest 3 opts for a pirate-themed escapade, wherein you play as a fearless seafaring feline. In the hunt for a legendary treasure identified solely because the North Star, you will discover an open map made up of ocean and islands, typically aboard your trusty tub. As we have come to anticipate, this can be a lighthearted story stuffed with enjoyable characters and dumb puns — however total, it looks like each a refinement and a small step backwards after 2019’s spectacular Cat Quest 2.

Certainly, Cat Quest 3 is a extra streamlined launch. Its map does not fairly have the scope of its predecessor’s sprawling world, and there is simply much less stuff to do generally. There are fewer places, quests, dungeons, secrets and techniques, and storylines to comply with, and whereas dimension actually is not every thing, this third instalment can find yourself feeling surprisingly short-lived and barely restricted, regardless that its eight-hour runtime is just about on par with what’s come earlier than.

There’s nonetheless lots to love about this furry foray, although. For starters, the addition of ship-based exploration and fight brings some selection to the sequel’s gameplay suite, and the journey’s punctuated by a bunch of enjoyable boss fights, set throughout each land and sea.

Apart from having the ability to swap between melee and ranged weapons with the push of a button — which solely provides to the sport’s enticingly chaotic clashes — on-foot fight stays largely untouched. As soon as once more, you are anticipated to make intelligent use of dodge rolls and fast combo assaults, earlier than constructing as much as and unleashing highly effective magic spells. It is enjoyably fast-paced and simple to understand, though there are occasions when the sheer quantity of on-screen results — particularly of the magical selection — can obscure the motion to a irritating diploma.

Character builds are again as effectively, as you may deck your paw-tagonist out in weapons, armour, and equipment that enhance particular types of play. Discovering an efficient mixture is satisfying, and key to conquering late-game challenges. The title does a great job of shelling out worthwhile rewards, whether or not you have simply accomplished a quest or delved to the deepest depths of a dungeon.

Having stated that, there is not an entire lot of room for experimentation. Upgrading your arsenal requires hefty quantities of gold at later ranges, and grinding enemies does not internet you a lot forex. In consequence, you will in all probability end up sticking to a choose few weapons or armour units, relying on whether or not you have enhanced their stats already. It is a bit of a disgrace that the sport is not extra liberal with sources, however there may be New Recreation+, which brings some welcome replay worth to the desk.

And simply rapidly, you may play via the entire Cat Quest 3 in two-player native co-op. Your companion in pirating will tackle the position of second mate, they usually’re afforded the entire identical gameplay freedoms. Nevertheless, you may solely have one ship, which each of you management, that means that you’re going to both need to divvy up duties, or resolve who’s taking cost on the excessive seas. An ungainly caveat to an in any other case faultless co-op mode.

Conclusion

Cat Quest 3 does not fairly stay as much as the expectations that had been set by its purrfectly poised predecessor, but it surely’s nonetheless a rock stable seafaring journey. Whereas it falls wanting Cat Quest 2 by way of dimension and total scope, that is maybe a extra centered tackle the collection’ motion RPG system, and the sport’s pirate theme provides it an plain allure.