Another Crab's Treasure review

Developer: Aggro Crab
Publisher: Aggro Crab
Release Date: April 25th, 2024
Platform: Windows
Availability: Steam, Game Pass
Price: £24/€27/$27
Reviewed on: Intel Core i7-12700F, 16GB RAM, Nvidia RTX 3080, Windows 11

Soulslike games often embrace a grim aesthetic and intricate combat mechanics, sometimes to the detriment of sheer fun. Enter Another Crab's Treasure by Aggro Crab, a vibrant and humorous twist on the genre. This game swaps the usual dark fantasy setting for an underwater adventure featuring a hermit crab with a penchant for scavenging human junk.

A Tale of Crustacean Quirks

You play as Kril, a hermit crab whose home (a.k.a. shell) gets swiped by a loan shark. Your shell ends up with Prawnathan, a sneaky salesman who demands a legendary treasure in exchange. Thus begins your quest across varied regions, battling hostile crustaceans and uncovering a mystery that’s transformed sea-dwellers into cranky critters.

Don’t Let the Art Style Fool You

Despite its cartoonish look, Another Crab's Treasure isn't just for kids. The writing is genuinely funny, and the environmental theme of ocean pollution is handled with wit and creativity. Items like a curled orange peel as a hairstyle and a receipt as a dress add a charming touch.

Classic Soulslike Exploration

The exploration in Another Crab's Treasure is linear yet engaging, reminiscent of traditional Souls games. You navigate from Moon Crab’s Moon Shells (bonfires) that offer rest, fast travel, and stat upgrades using microplastics from defeated foes. New Carcinia serves as a central hub, guiding you toward the next treasure piece.

Platforming Fun

The game’s environments, from milk carton towns to netting bridges, are perfect playgrounds for platforming. You'll bounce off sponges, grapple with barbed hooks, and paddle through tight gaps. The platforming is intuitive and smooth, adding a delightful twist to the typical Soulslike formula.

Combat: Forks and Shells

Combat in Another Crab's Treasure follows familiar Soulslike mechanics: lock-on targeting, dodge rolling, and healing with heart kelp. Unique to this game is the shell mechanic. Instead of a shield, you pick up discarded items like bottle caps or coffee pods for defense. These shells absorb damage and offer special abilities, adding strategic depth to battles.

Embrace the Power of Umami

The game introduces the concept of Umami, which recharges through aggressive combat. Different shells grant unique abilities, such as speed boosts from coffee pods or healing from banana skins. You can even deploy decoy crab shells to buy time during tough fights.

Customizable Difficulty

Another Crab's Treasure offers various difficulty settings, from the challenging default to easier modes for a more relaxed experience. You can tweak individual settings like fall damage and microplastic loss on death. For those who want an over-the-top experience, there's even an option to give Kril a gun, allowing for hilariously overpowered gameplay.

A Soulslike for Everyone

Another Crab's Treasure stands out as one of the most cohesive and accessible Soulslikes. Its engaging theme, humorous writing, and thoughtful mechanics make it a joy to play for both hardcore fans and newcomers. Whether you seek a challenging adventure or a lighthearted romp, this game delivers.

Ready to dive into the whimsical world of Another Crab's Treasure? This playful, challenging, and thoroughly enjoyable game is a must-play for Soulslike enthusiasts and crab lovers alike.