Obviously, Another Crab’s Treasure was going to pique my interest when it was announced during the May 2022 Nintendo Indie World Showcase. My love for Soulslike games has been widely documented, and even though the saturation of indie Soulslikes can be cause for gamers to roll their eyes, I’m always down to try something inspired by the SoulsBorne series.
But, as I’ve said in the past, inspiration isn’t always enough and games like Lies of P or Mortal Shell stand above their Soulslike brethren for advancing the genre in their own unique way. But my worries were put to bed rather quickly with Another Crab’s Treasure, which not only adapts the unique gameplay and vibes of its Soulslike counterparts but puts its own unique spin on it for an incredibly satisfying experience.
Another Crab’s Treasure begins when a humble hermit crab named Krillis is approached by the shady Loan Shark, who tells him that the Dutchy of the reef has recently imposed taxes on all its citizens. Unaware and unable to pay, the Loan Shark steals Krill’s beloved shell, forcing him into the briny deep. Once there, Krill quickly needs to find a way to defend himself as it seems the local sea creatures have all gone a bit funny and begin attacking him on sight.
Things aren’t as simple as they seem, and Krill is swept up in a tidal wave of adventure, sending him to the far reaches of the reef in order to get his shell back and maybe change the fate of the ocean. It’s a sweet, simple story that, like its Soulslike inspiration, has a lot going on under the surface—or, in this case, the water. In a way, it’s a story about coming out of your shell, somewhat literally, as Krill must grow beyond his hermitic nature and become a hero, but there’s a not-so-subtle undercurrent of environmentalism running through the whole thing.
“Something I like about Another Crab’s Treasure is the structure of its world, which feels much more linear and focused.”
Much like how every SoulsBorne narrative utilizes some form of madness, Another Crab’s Treasure builds off the idea that trash building up in the ocean is causing its denizens to go mad from the constant upkeep. These environmental themes are built into many facets of the gameplay as well—Microplastics are the stand-in for Souls, several valuable objects are bits of trash like bread clips and defeated bosses is referred to as “Pollution Scoured”. Another Crab’s Treasure found an interesting and thoughtful way to combine narrative and gameplay while still paying homage to the game’s inspiration in its own unique way.
The gameplay, much like Lies of P, is a unique blend of multiple Soulslike inspirations while still feeling wholly unique. Players will explore the vibrant areas of the ocean while cutting through any crustaceans or sea life that stand in their way. At its most basic, Another Crabs’s Treasure blends the combat of Dark Souls and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice—though leaning if bit more into the latter.
SoulsBorne fans will recognize the similarities right away—the standard lock-on, slash, dodge, block affair where enemies can drain your health in almost an instant. However, much like Sekiro, Another Crab’s Treasure utilizes a “Poise” system where successive attacks and well-timed blocks/parries can put an enemy off balance and open to extra attacks. It’s extremely satisfying combat that feels approachable while not sacrificing the degree of challenge players come to expect from Soulslike games—though optional assist features are available to those who may want them.
“Another Crab’s Treasure found an interesting and thoughtful way to combine narrative and gameplay while still paying homage to the game’s inspiration in its own unique way.”
But then there’s the main gameplay mechanic in Another Crab’s Treasure—shell swapping. Littered around the world are objects that Krill can use as temporary shells, which not only give him the ability to block but also give him bonus combat abilities. Every blocked attack will subtract health from the shell rather than Krill, and once the bar reaches 0, the shell is destroyed, leaving him vulnerable to attacks. Furthermore, every shell has a different defence and weight—which, like most SoulsBorne games, affects your roll effectiveness—so players need to be adaptable on the fly.
It adds a unique layer to combat where overusing your means of defence can also leave defenceless, so players need to be extra aware of their enemies in combat—as well as really getting the timing down on parries. As players advance, they’ll gain access to a fairly basic skill tree granting combat and defence abilities—players would be wise to invest in the Parry skill right away—as well as charms that can bolster stats and super moves that can be gained from downed bosses, so there’s a whole host of ways players can build a Krill that’s right for them.
Something I like about Another Crab’s Treasure is the structure of its world, which feels much more linear and focused. Like I said in my Lies of P review, while I love the open, sprawling worlds of the SoulsBorne games, its form of combat and game design lends itself to tighter, more linear action/adventure games that I’m happy to see more of. That isn’t to say Another Crab’s Treasure doesn’t feature big areas with shortcuts to discover, but progression feels more straightforward, and I appreciate that.
“Visually, Another Crab’s Treasure is spectacular, creating a vibrant aquatic world that’s as wonderful as it is dangerous.”
Visually, Another Crab’s Treasure is spectacular, creating a vibrant aquatic world that’s as wonderful as it is dangerous. While it’s a bit more cartoonish and simplistic than the highly detailed worlds of Lies of P or Elden Ring, it manages to do a lot with a little. Not only does it incorporate a lot of oceanic flora and fauna, but the way it utilizes trash as multiple environmental details like weapons and decor adds a great deal to the world. Furthermore, Another Crab’s Treasure has so many small details that add so much charm to the proceedings.
Small things like the way the sand trails behind Krill when he jumps with that kind of powdery effect, to the way he takes a very crab-like stance when locked on in combat, to how an idle animation has Krill playing keep-ups with his healing item, and moving him, will cause him to drop it requiring the player to pick it up again—it’s such a small thing, but it adds so much personality to the game and character.
In the audio department, Another Crab’s Treasure has a very…Aquatic Ambiance (hold for applause). It’s a somewhat subdued soundtrack, utilizing a lot of marimba and steel drums. It’s a somewhat eclectic soundtrack—at times, having what feels like an R&B backing track, at others, switching to an ethereal, otherworldly ambiance. However, it also knows when to use silence to capture the scope and depth of an environment like the ocean, so it really runs the gamut.
I feel like I was always going to like Another Crab’s Treasure, but I was surprised at just how much I liked it. Not only is it a worthy addition to the pantheon of incredible Soulslikes, but it feels like the truest example of an “entry-level” Soulslike. It’s challenging without being overbearing, has an adorable protagonist and incredible art style, and a world that’s worth exploring. While it might not be for everyone, I’m sure this might be the game that gets newcomers into Soulslikes.
