A graph-based MUD game returning to simplicity - "Cat Odyssey"

Cat扑 has launched a large online game called "Cat Travelogue", which came as quite a surprise: is Cat扑 also starting to get into online games? Upon closer inspection, it turns out to be a no-client game. Is it made with FLASH? Clicking through, it turns out that it can be played on an ordinary browser, so I immediately logged in and tried it out.

The public relations material for Cat Travelogue describes the game as a multiplayer online role-playing game, incorporating elements of strategy and simulation games, and claims it to be China's first MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game) that can be played directly in a browser.

However, for me, it evokes a different kind of feeling. What struck me most about Cat Travelogue is how much it resembles an upgraded version of the text-based MUDs (Multi-User Dungeons) or Jianghu MUDs from years ago. The only difference is that it has replaced text with images, changed the operation to mouse control, added a lot of interactive operations and communication, and even made the fighting sequences quite dynamic. Although it looks simple, one can tell that Cat扑 put a lot of effort into this game, giving it a bit of a Web 2.0 flavor. The operations and game mechanisms are not very different from today’s online games, making it easy to get started. For those accustomed to traditional online games, it offers a fresh experience, while for old players, it brings back nostalgic feelings.

For game operators, this upgraded graphical MUD places relatively less pressure on servers and has relatively lower operating costs. In today's world where Korean and Western online games are being heavily imported, Cat扑's self-developed "Cat Travelogue" brings us another perspective and a pleasant surprise.