We missed some great games during the year. In this ongoing feature, we look back at offerings we finally got a chance to review.

By Ronald Gordon

I never thought that a game with a cutesy, playful exterior could pinch me as hard as a crab’s crusher claw, yet here I am having died several times against a boss I don’t need to defeat because I just can’t quit. As much as the many ocean-dwelling creatures I faced off against were contaminated by microplastics, I too have been infected with this game’s deeper message. 

Another Crab’s Treasure is a souls-like action RPG developed and published by Aggro Crab where the ocean is filled with creatures of all shapes and sizes. Each one is affected by humans in one way or another, and Krill the hermit crab becomes another victim of our oppressive regime. Having had his shell stolen by a talking shark toy, Krill has no choice but to venture into the reef, where he finds all sorts of dangers lurking as he goes about trying to find his shell (and maybe getting out of having to pay his taxes).

The gameplay of Another Crab’s Treasure is straightforward and easy to understand: you have a light and a charged attack, a dodge, and a heal button. Once you find a new shell, you gain a block. As you continue further, you acquire different shell powers. This is the game’s bread and butter, as different shells do different things; the soda can shell fires off a spread of bubble bullets, for instance, and the tea cup shell gets you boiling hot for faster attacks. The shell powers allow for a good deal of versatility in terms of moves, allowing you to adjust your play style however you like. You’re not even limited to a single shell, since you can switch at any point with no trouble, replacing one that’s less useful with one that’s more suited to how you want to fight. 

I loved the variety of the shell system in Another Crab’s Treasure, as it kept me pondering which shell would work best for the road ahead. A lighter shell can’t take much damage, but sometimes the power it provides is worth it, even if it’s one and done before it breaks. Heavier shells have more health and can block more damage, but they also make your dodging slower, which is great if you want to be a hard crab to crack. You can find all sorts of shells around the world, sometimes in places you wouldn’t think to look, and you’re encouraged to keep trying out new shells in order to find one you like the best. 

I often found myself awestruck by how beautiful the game made the ocean look. Everything is tinted a vibrant blue, and the colors of the sand and reef really pop. But there’s a clever twist hidden in the hues of this world. Many of the darker moments in the story cause the world to dim and turn ugly, with the color draining as you approach an area with a boss or relevant story moment, and learn that many hostile NPCs have been poisoned by microplastics and gone mad. The music reflects this as well, changing from the bubbly ambience that surrounds you as you explore the seafloor, to the booming, ominous tones you hear as you battle with an afflicted boss.

I won’t lie and tell you that Another Crab’s Treasure is a game that everyone should play, as it can be quite challenging despite its cheery demeanor. Taking its status as a souls-like seriously, it will beat you down when you let your falter, and expect you to get back up and go at it once more with just as much energy.  I tend to enjoy games like this, since they keep me thinking more than I ordinarily do. No shell is meant to last forever, and if you’re not putting yours on the line to see what you can block or parry, then you won’t experience the full range of your skills. To survive in an ocean gone mad, you have to have a tough shell and be an even tougher hermit crab. 

Ronald Gordon is a New York Videogame Critics Circle Member & Mentor. He was the first of our writers – or any intern anywhere – to complete an internship at Rockstar Games.

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