!NOTE! This is an older article published pre-revamp which does not follow the new format.

The Purring Quest

[ video + review + giveaway ]

| PC (Steam) Review January 20th 2016 |

(This revew contains additional commentary by a cat called Masala, who claims to be a long-lost sibling of Tika. The opinions expressed here in parentheses do not reflect those of Bobmanbob.)

The Purring Quest screenshot cat house main menu

Appreciators of the feline form rejoice, the cat-themed game you've been longing for is finally here, courtesy of fellow cat lovers Valhalla Cats. Playing as a cat called Kimchi, your quest is to reunite with your owner who has delusionally wandered after a woman bearing a striking resemblance to his deceased partner. Beginning in the cemetery where you were unintentionally abandoned, you'll embark on a quest that will take you through to a chapel, forest, town, city and even across a skyscraper. A precarious adventure for 1 little kitty!

(Doesn't that man know it's brunch time in 1 hour and 15 minutes? Such incompetence...)

First off, you are sure to notice the top-notch quality of the animations, particularly when it comes to our playable furry friend. Looking at Kimchi walk, jump and bound along the screen is like watching something straight out of a celebrated animation movie. It was no surprise to later learn that the animator did in fact have experience in major studios such as Disney and Warner. Backgrounds are pretty, multi-layered hand-drawn pieces with a very polished, neat looking veneer. Your surroundings are static for the most part, other than the occasional plant pot falling from window sills or coffee cups waiting to be pushed over.

(Don't leave stuff near edges if you don't want me to knock it off with my paw. When will you humans ever learn?)

The Purring Quest screenshot cat chasing rat
The Purring Quest screenshot cat and fish bones
An unknown beast in the bushes. Who could it be...

Gameplay is typical of a straightforward platformer, with the nuance of controlling a quadrupedal character with the lack of mi-air attacking capabilities. The emphasis is on platform jumping and collecting fish bones and other items but you will encounter birds, rats and other creatures, which you can either jump over or use your claws to teach them a lesson. More serious enemies are dogs and old ladies, which require nimble dodging or sneaking past.

(You can just hide in a box to sneak past those mutts. Dogs - 0, Cats - 1.)

End-of-level battles include an interesting take on the whack-a-mole game and a perilous climb to the top of a chapel while dodging pigeon ... projectiles. The difficulty is fairly low and checkpoints are mostly forgiving. If you lose all 7 lives you can still continue from the last checkpoint. I do wonder why 9 wasn't the chosen number, perhaps they thought it would pander to a silly myth?. Each piece of music in The Purring Quest is very relaxing to listen to, with a lot of slow piano and classical type tracks. There is even a fun little music/rhythm mini-game to play when you complete a certain task.

If you explore carefully and listen for the audible clues, you can find and rescue cats that have been captured and put into cages, all of whom are based on real-life kitties with special needs who applied to make it into the game. Freeing them will unlock them as permanent residents of your main menu. The same goes for other furniture-type collectibles, which is a nice touch. Along the way, you'll also meet some very famous felines who have been made popular on YouTube and the internet. They each have 3-5 pieces of self-referential dialogue that will please fans, but some of the humor may be lost to those unfamiliar with these internet heroes.

(Surely you have heard of philosophy guru Henri, Le Chat Noir? Don't tell me you're a dog lover!? Dogs drool.)

The Purring Quest screenshot cat standing on dog
It's not what it looks like, honestly.
The Purring Quest screenshot cat rescuing his friend
I'll save you, buddy!

Other references and cat humor are littered (no pun intended) throughout each level. Aside from the fish bones and cat scratcher checkpoints, many hidden pictures and messages can be found if you take the time to explore the nooks and crannies of each level. If you've ever owned a cat they are sure to raise a smile. Some of my favorites are chalk on walls that read "Too much catnip. I can hear colors", "Let me in cause I need to go out", and "If you don't talk to your cat about catnip someone else will". Messages conveying the developer's protestation against the controversial process of cat declawing can also be found in the form of small wall scrawls and giant neon signs.

(How would you like it if we pulled off your fingers?! Newbies...)

While relatively short (only a few hours if you don't collect everything), the Purring Quest is an enjoyable, pretty, beautifully animated adventure that cataholics will find especially heart-warming. If you are at all interested in reading about the lore, influences, secrets and development processes behind this game, I strongly encourage you to have a look around the official Valhalla Cats website (link below). You'll also get the chance to meet Tika the evil cat, the real mastermind behind this project. Also worth mentioning is the magnanimous approach used to bring this game from concept to end product, which can be seen by looking at the history of development and public relations efforts on Steam and social networks. Evidently, the crew's love of animals and wishes to share those sentiments amongst like-minded individuals played a huge part in the reason for developing and releasing The Purring Quest on the market. With a portion of each sale going to various animal welfare organizations, what are you waiting fur?

(Horrible pun. You're fired, worthless human. Okay, I've been awake for almost 30 minutes now so it's time to sleep. DND.)

The Purring Quest screenshot cat climbing skyscraper
Now that's a cat in high places.

GIVEAWAY [ x2 copies ]:

Bobmanbob Special Giveaway #19: The Purring Quest (Steam Game)

The Purring Quest

Developed & Published By: Valhalla Cats

Purchase on Steam