Another Crab’s Treasuresets out to create a game in the Soulslike genre that isn’t afraid to lean into the silly side of things, with its underwater setting and charming cartoon art style. While it’s clear thatAnother Crab’s Treasurestands out thanks to this design, developer Aggro Crab had to find a balance between making the game accessible to all types of players while still including the core elements of a traditional Soulslike experience. Part of this design includes taking some of the genre’s more difficult mechanics and translating them to be more approachable for a wider audience.
TheSoulslike genreis infamous for its tough-as-nails difficulty, with punishing mechanics for failure that includes the iconic “corpse run,” wherein players must run back to the location where they previously died in order to reclaim their corpse or risk losing all the resources they had on them before they died. Game Rant recently spoke withAnother Crab’s Treasurecreative director and narrative lead Caelan Pollock, who described the team’s approach to this corpse run mechanic and how they balanced approachability with the Soulslike genre’s core identity.
Another Crab’s Treasure Will Feature the Soulslike Genre’s Signature ‘Corpse Run’
Veterans of the genre are probably already familiar with the struggle ofdying in a game likeDark Soulsand frantically trying to get back to the site of their death to reclaim their precious Souls without dying again and losing them forever. Since these resources are often crucial for leveling up and improving the player’s character, the corpse run adds an important element of tension to the genre that can be both engaging and frustrating to players. When it comes toAnother Crab’s Treasure’s corpse run, Pollock explains that:
“You will lose your money if you don’t re-collect your corpse. Since we’re going for a more approachable game, it was a big question for us. We think this sense of risk and real stakes to dying is really important to the Souls vibe in a way that’s much deeper than just ‘Oh, this makes the game harder.’ A lot of what we want to do, even though it is a more approachable Soulslike, is invite people to experience the Soulslike genre. We don’t want to make it more approachable by cutting out what makes the genre interesting or unique.”
Without this element of risk and reward, the Soulslike genre wouldn’t stand out nearly as much from other action RPGs. It’s ultimately good to see thatAnother Crab’s Treasureis striving to keep its Soulslike identityfront and center so that even newcomers to the genre can get an authentic Soulslike experience from the game.
How Another Crab’s Treasure Makes Soulslike Mechanics More Approachable
Although the corpse run element of the Soulslike genre appears inAnother Crab’s Treasure, the team at Aggro Crab actively looked for ways to eliminate other controversial mechanics the genre is known for without sacrificing the overall feel of a Soulslike game. One wayAnother Crab’s Treasureaccomplishes this feat is by followingElden Ring’s boss approachand reducing the need for players to make a long trek back to a boss if they die during the fight. Pollock notes that,
“Almost every boss in the game, you can respawn very close to it. It was kind of inspired byElden Ringdoing something similar to a lot of their bosses. They’ve got the Stakes of Marika, where you can respawn very close by. We decided, once we started doing that, why not take it all the way and eliminate pretty much all of them.”
This design decision serves as a nice trade-off with the inclusion of the corpse run, allowing players to experience that mechanic while not punishing them too harshly during a high-stakes battle like one ofAnother Crab’s Treasure’s boss fights. The result of this design should helpAnother Crab’s Treasuresuccessfully introduce newcomers to the genre to its staple mechanics without wasting the player’s time.
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.
