Summary
After essentially creating the Soulslike genre back in 2009 with the release ofDemon’s Souls, FromSoftware has continued to raise the bar for it over the last decade. WhileDark SoulsrefinedDemon’s Souls' combatand gameplay formula,Bloodborneraised the bar for boss fights and atmosphere, andElden Ringtook things to the next level by introducing a sprawling open world. There’s a lotAnother Crab’s Treasureowes to FromSoftware, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t stand on its own.
With a beautifully vibrant world and a colorful art style,Another Crab’s Treasuremanages to forge a unique identity for itself right off the bat, all while holding onto some integral Soulslike principles first established by FromSoftware. While an Indie game with such a small development team could never be expected to create a Soulslike on the same level asElden Ring,Another Crab’s Treasureexcels at what it can do, and there’s even one area in which it soars above past FromSoftware titles.
Another Crab’s Treasure Offers More Accessibility Than FromSoftware Usually Does
Another Crab’s Treasure Has a Suite of Accessibility Features
Generally speaking,Another Crab’s Treasureis possibly one of themost accessible Soulslike games ever made, with most of its core gameplay mechanics and features feeling as though they’ve been tailor-made to welcome newcomers to the genre. Some of the best examples of this can be found in any of the game’s combat encounters.
The window for parrying, dodging, or blocking an oncoming attack is very generous, an enemy’s attacks are almost always telegraphed clearly, and the player’s window for counterattacking is usually quite lengthy, and that’s all while retaining a good sense of challenge by making the enemies deal out a lot of damage.Another Crab’s Treasurealso features a bright and colorful world, and a cartoon-y art style, which makes the game feel much less oppressive and intimidating than many other Soulslikes out there.
But those ingrained mechanics are just scratching the surface ofAnother Crab’s Treasure’s accessibility options. Available right from the get-go, players can turn on “Assist Mode” inAnother Crab’s Treasure’s settings menu. This mode allows players to manually adjust a number of classic Soulslike mechanics to better suit their accessibility needs, such as reducing the damage taken by enemy attacks, increasing shell durability, lowering enemy health, and preventing currency loss upon death. For those who want a straightforward, challenging Soulslike experience,Another Crab’s Treasure’s accessibility menucan be completely ignored, but those looking for a bit more leeway can customize their experience fully.
One ofAnother Crab’s Treasure’s accessibility options even gives the player-character an absurdly large gun that one-shots enemies.
FromSoftware’s Accessibility is a Double-Edged Sword
FromSoftware’s games, rather notoriously, lack difficulty tiers and accessibility options like the ones inAnother Crab’s Treasure, and it’s an approach that’s caused much discussion over the last few years. On one hand, providing players with no way to customize the game’s difficulty allows FromSoftware to deliver one tailor-made, unified experience for all players across the board.
But that also means that FromSoftware’s games can be extremelydaunting for newcomers to the Soulslike genre. While many FromSoft fans love that feeling of being thrown in at the deep end with every new game, and being forced to learn new mechanics and patterns to overcome that immediate difficulty spike, many Soulslike newcomers are put off greatly by that intimidating uphill battle, and that’s a problem thatAnother Crab’s Treasuremanages to avoid.
Another Crab’s Treasure
WHERE TO PLAY
As Kril the hermit crab, you’ll need to wear the trash around you as shells to withstand attacks from enemies many times your size. Embark on an epic treasure hunt to buy back your repossessed shell, and discover the dark secrets behind the polluted ocean.TRASH OR TREASURE?In this undersea society, trash is not only a way of life, but a valuable resource, used for everything from fashion to firearms. But with the presence of trash comes a mysterious infection known as the Gunk, which could spell doom for the entire ocean.LEARN FROM NATUREAs Kril explores the ocean, he’ll gain a variety of Umami Techniques—powerful attacks learned from the denizens of the seas. Punch your enemies with the overwhelming might of a Mantis Shrimp, ensnare them with the horrifying Bobbit Worm, and much more.UNEXPLORED DEPTHSThe ocean goes deeper than one can imagine. Fight your way through kelp forests, coral reefs, sand castle cities, and even the unfathomable darkness of the deep-sea trenches, all in the name of getting back your prized shell.
