Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Cloud Gaming, Microsoft Windows, Xbox Series X and Series S
Initial release date: April 25, 2024
Developer: Aggro Crab
Mode: Single-player video game
License: proprietary license
Genres: Adventure game, Indie game, Platform game, Fighting game, Role-playing video game, Adventure
Publisher: Aggro Crab
It’s hard to blame them—crabs are adorable little guys with enormous claws, so why wouldn’t you want to dress up as one? They’ve been all the rage lately. Another Crab’s Treasure is a crab souls-like game that joins the ranks of crab shooters and crab combat games.
The story of Another Crab’s Treasure begins with our (very) hesitant hero, Kril, losing his shell as a result of new “taxes” imposed by the region’s new ruler. Along the way, he meets and befriends the city’s many crustacean residents, competing against the mayor, who practices hypercapitalism. This game isn’t afraid to repeatedly remind you how broken the system is, and it’s wonderful to see the developer be so forthright about its commitment to the message. In fact, this game may be one of the most devastating critiques of capitalism I’ve seen in a long time. Naturally, as a soulslike, you also have to contend with an occult evil operating behind the scenes, but in the end, capitalism turns out to be the true antagonist, and I adore this adorable crab game for going all out for it.
Another Crab’s Treasure is a soulslike that has all of the characteristics of the genre, including methodical combat, difficult levels, and the necessity of dying in order to keep your currency. distinct from its charming art style, what sets this game distinct is that Kril only has his shell, whereas most characters in similar kinds of games have armor. When he is without his shell, he is exposed to extreme harm, but when he lands on one, you may counteract a lot of it and also activate a unique kind of magic known as umami. Numerous objects, such as tissue boxes and bottle caps, as well as more absurd items like Rubik’s cube, can be found with shells. Every shell varies in terms of weight (which affects your dodge), Kril’s armor rating, and the shell’s own health.
You’ll ultimately discover your favorites. It’s exciting to discover something new buried in the sand and to see what kind of shell you might come upon. The sriracha bottle cap, which gave Kril the ability to spin like a top and slay adversaries, really won my over. The magic system in the game is called umami, and even while two or three shells have the same umami ability, there is still a surprising amount of variation available for you to try. Fortunately, you can buy the shell from a merchant permanently if you find an ability you like. This way, even if it breaks, you can always retrieve it at your campfire moon shell.
You can put your nose in every corner of a variety of unexpectedly enormous zones, from a filthy rubbish wasteland to the deep bioluminescent depths of the ocean, making exploration a key component of the game, just like in any other soulslike. Every new space is a visual feast, with vibrant hues that really bring everything to life. Naturally, there are a lot of foes in these regions who are waiting for a fight, and the game achieves a really decent mix between difficulty such that you still have to work hard to win and not have any instances where you toss the controller. Even Kril’s small stature is used by the game, as certain enormous bosses that loom large over you are thrown at you. The bosses are really susceptible if you just embrace them and sprint against them until they become locked in a loop of turning to face you. That was the only problem I discovered. Play regularly and it won’t be a big concern, but I do wish some of the boss fights had been a little more balanced in that aspect. While the bulk of the gameplay is excellent, Another Crab’s Treasure isn’t revolutionizing the genre, it does a very good and enjoyable job at what it does.
Aggro Crab’s efforts to introduce novices to the genre with some extremely approachable accessibility options here are something that should not be overlooked. It includes everything from the ability to somewhat lessen the amount of damage taken to additional health for you or decreased health for your opponents. It is possible to modify the invincibility frames on dodges, parry window timing, and disable the feature that results in the loss of XP/currency upon death. Ironically, you can even change a setting to give Kril a powerful gun that allows him to one-shot every enemy in the game, including bosses. It will, in my opinion, go a long way toward creating new fans of the genre because it has a lot of lovely settings that let someone fresh adjust their experience as they gradually grow used to things.
Review Overview
Gameplay – 78%
Story – 75%
Aesthetics – 82%
Content – 80%
Accessibility – 77%
Value – 80%
Overall Rating – 78%
Good
Summary: Both seasoned players and those unfamiliar with the genre will enjoy Another Crab’s Treasure, which is possibly one of the most enjoyable games you’ll play this year.