Welcome to EXPlay, (Explain & Play) the review series where we care not for scores but tell it how it is when it comes to every game we get our hands on, whilst also taking the time to include some lengthy gameplay, to give you the reader, the chance to shape your own impressions and views whilst watching and reading.
In this explanatory review, we’re covering Another Crab’s Treasure by developer Aggro Crab Games:
Another Crab’s Treasure: (The Explanation)
Another Crab’s Treasure is a game with a cutesy exterior that hides a deep and at times difficult game under its shell. I finally had the chance to dive under the waves of this ‘Soulslike’ and I am pleased to report that what is here is a game that is loads of fun, while also being challenging.
The game opens with what looks like an 1980s PSA video on the environment and the dangers of plastics and pollution that has affected the well-being of ocean life. Panning down to Kril, at home in his shell, and awoken by a plastic puppet shark knocking on the outside of his home. You are quickly introduced to a system of protection from a Queen via taxes, though Kril, in typical video game fashion, doesn’t have what he needs to pay the debt.
Kril’s shell is taken and his quest to regain his home requires a visit to the queen. You navigate Kril by jumping and holding the jump button to wave his arms around to swim a little further. There are netted areas which Kril can grab onto and climb up to reach higher areas.
Once you enter the deep though the ocean life seems to be corrupted and it’s up to you to navigate quickly to find some offensive and defensive weaponry. Early on in the game you find a trident fork which acts as your sword in the game. By tapping R, Kril will swing his rusty fork attacking enemies and breaking glass bottles that block his path. Holding down R charges up your swing to a stronger move which is required at times to defeat the hardiest of foes.
Once you exit the small narrow corridor Kril needs to find the Queen at her castle and start his journey. Along the path Kril will come across Moon Snail Shells which act as the games save points and upgrade areas. Gathering enough microplastics will allow you to enhance your Vitality, Resistance, Attack, and Magic. Depending on your method of play you can create a build that will be attune to your playstyle.
The game has another core mechanic which is finding and using objects as shells for Kril. These shells will help boost his defensive ability against stronger foes, but also gain the upperhand in the world as he fights crabs, lobsters, and other sea creatures. Entering your shell can protect you from the strongest attacks, while popping out of your defense at just the right time adds a parry attack stunning your foe and knocking them back. Kril also gains the ability to hook shot across ravines and launch himself towards nets by using his hook and line which I was able to find early in my playthrough.
Talking to various citizens gave insight into the regime the Queen had been running and the control over smaller creatures in her climb to dominance. I found a certain band of soldiers were set out to recover an item for her, but had been lost. As a promise to restore my home and lessen Kril’s debt, the small crab set off on a mission to find the crew and return to the Queen with the item in hand.
Overall my EXPlay time with Another Crab’s Treasure was fun, albeit a bit on the difficult side. This game is no slouch when it comes to the work you need to do to dodge, hide, and parry attacks from the harder enemies strewn throughout the world. There is a bit of a learning curve to how the shells you find work and their various aid points to your overall defense and power. Finding and sticking with a certain type of shell is bound to happen, though I found switching in and of different shells fun in mixing things up. Some shells slowed you down but added a bonus of HP to them, while others allowed you to add a mix of magic to them in your parry attacks.
Another Crab’s Treasure, though, may ultimately be better on PC, Xbox, or PS. The game lacks some of the visual polish on the Switch compared to the other consoles. I was able to play the game on GamePass on my Xbox Series S and found enough visual and performance differences that I opted to play more on Xbox than the Switch. The load times on the Switch when respawning after dying, or jumping and out of Moon Snail Shells seemed egregiously long. If you have the ability to play elsewhere I would recommend that, but if you can’t, just know there are some quality changes that may affect your overall enjoyment.
If you are looking for a game in the ‘Soulslike’ genre and enjoy a good challenge, Another Crab’s Treasure is sure to strike gold for you. If you like a story and simpler style action-adventure game you might need to change the difficulty mode. You can also give Kril a gun and allow him to one-shot his way through the ocean floor. While it is fun, it does take all of the danger out of the game, but adds up to a hilariously fun time.
Another Crab’s Treasure: (The Gameplay)
Game Specifications:
Developer: Aggro Crab Games
Publisher: Aggro Crab Games
Platform: Nintendo Switch (eShop)
Category: Action, Adventure, Platformer, Role-Playing
No. of Players: 1 (Single System)
Release Date: April 25, 2024
Price: $29.99
File Size: 1.4 GB
Nintendo.com Listing
