Summary
Sailing the high seas in search of plunder is a gaming classic. FromSid Meyer’s Piratesto Skull and Bones, the golden age of piracy is a rich vein for games to explore, evenAssassin’s Creedhas its pirate game. The latest game to throw its tricorn hat into the ring is Purribean catventureCat Quest 3. Desmond Wong, CEO of developer The Gentlebros, spoke with Game Rant mere hours beforeCat Quest 3was released on International Cat Day to delve into the riches of the Purribean Sea and explore the new direction for the acclaimed cozy franchise.
Pirates Aren’t That Different from Fantasy Warriors
The key to what makesCat Quest 3’spivot to the piraticalwork is how small of a pivot it actually is. Playing the latest installment, fans of the series will find plenty familiar. Indeed, rather than a revolution on the concept, the high seas of the Purribean are an evolution of what makes the now cozily familiarCat Questformula, Wong explained.
“Surprisingly, the pirate fantasy doesn’t stray too far from the medieval warrior fantasy! Both are in search of treasure and loot; both go on grand adventures, and both engage in swashbuckling action (just that pirates also battle on the high seas). This was also how we realized that the pirate theme would be a great fit forCat Quest. All we had to do was evolve the gameplay with the addition of a pirate ship!”
This time around, as the cats head west from Felingard, rumors speak of a fallen star waiting to be found, and other riches galore should the player purrivateer seek them out, and deal with the threats the seas ofthe golden age of piracyhave to offer. With some new twists and turns, this adventure should be immediately welcoming to longtime fans and pose few barriers to entry for those starting out with the swashbuckling adventure.
That was one reason the age of piracy felt like the ‘purrfect’ background toCat Quest 3. But, Wong said, the true inspiration for the game started where, for Gentlebros, it practically had to: with a pun. From there, the game opened up new avenues for gameplay. It was such a great adventure, the team went on it with the player.
“After adding dogs inCat Quest 2,we knew rats would be next. As everyone knows, theCat Questgames are huge with puns, and ‘pi-rats (pirates)' was just such a perfect fit for this! This was how we knew that the third game just had to be pirate-themed.“Cat Quest 3 Hoists the Mainsail
A pirate game without a ship is hardly a pirate game at all. Pirate ships are part home, part weapon, part crewmate, and are so beloved for their iconic status by gamers–some evenbuilding them in games likePalworld. One’s ship is the main source of expression inSea of Thieves, and the sheer volume of mods adding pirate ships toSkyrimcan’t be succinctly recounted. Not only is it a functional necessity, but almost a character unto itself.
So, of course,Cat Quest 3needed a ship. But Gentlebros wasn’t content with the typical looming titan of a frigate or even a barque. Conventional wisdom—and reality—tend to make the age of sail ships feel slow, turning in wide arcs, presenting broadsides for the exchange of cannon fire, and filling the deck with smoke and water. Even comparatively small ships, like a clipper or sloop, have the physics of sea and sail to contend with.
Wong wanted something a little zippier and a bit more catlike. This approach fits well with the cozy, colorful, somewhat cartoony approach often taken by theCat Questgames.
“The newest addition is a fully controllable pirate ship that players can sail at will throughout the Purribean. Players can seamlessly hop in and out any time, and even do naval battle with other pirate ships on the high seas!”
Snappy and responsive sailing isn’t the only thingCat Quest 3does to remix its own formula. While the game’s traditional dungeons, matching its overworld style, do reappear inCat Quest 3, a new type of dungeon joins the fray. These new side-scrolling dungeons, despite being two-dimensional, add a new dimension to the dungeon delve.
While not present in the game yet, Wong also looks forward to the return of a key feature from previous titles, Mew Game, where players will have access to “meowdifiers” that will change the game’s difficulty. He also hopes to againpartner with RGB keyboard manufacturersto bring backCat Quest 2’s interesting interactivity with the popular peripheral.
