The newest Aggro Crab titleAnother Crab’s Treasureisa self-described Soulslike, but at first glance, one wouldn’t be faulted for questioning that descriptor. It does a lot to differentiate itself from other games in the genre and create a unique world with its colorful art style, friendly and funny characters, and a heavy focus on platforming.
But at its core,Another Crab’s Treasureis a difficult and unforgiving entry in the Soulslike genre. Fromdodge rolls to difficult bossesand aSekiro: Shadows Die Twicecombat flow,Another Crab’s Treasuremechanics make it one of the most brutal Soulslikes out there.
Players who want a more laid-back experience should check the Assist Mode settings for a variety of modifiers that smooth out the Soulslike’s unforgivingly sharp edges.
7I-Frames And Dodge Rolls
It’s Not A Soulslike Without Dodge Rolls
The Dodge Roll inAnother Crab’s Treasureis very similar to thedodge mechanic in theSoulsseriesand other FromSoftware titles. With a button press and a directional input, Kril will quickly dodge out of the way of incoming attacks. There is no Stamina system inAnother Crab’s Treasure, and you may dodge as much as you like.
But the thing that really makes the dodge inAnother Crab’s Treasureso similar to the dodge in Soulslike games is its I-Frames. Short for Invincibility Frames, I-Frames let players completely avoid damage for a fraction of a second while dodging. When timed correctly, this enables dodge rolls to completely avoid incoming damage, but requires some precise skill from players to master.
6A Sekiro-Like Stagger System
Keep Up In Combat To Stagger and Stun Opponents
Though it is described as a Soulslike on its various game listings,Another Crab’s Treasureis reallya lot more likeSekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Kril won’t get up again for a second try after he dies, but you do only get one weapon, and the combat is structured as such to encourage you to stay in combat instead of dipping in and out.
The main mechanic is the Capsize system. As Kril continues to deal damage to an enemy in rapid succession, a small yellow bar will build below their normal HP bar. When this reaches max, and the HP bar starts to glow yellow, Kril has a few seconds to do a Heavy Attack to Capsize their enemy.
This does not enable an instant-kill like inSekiro, but it will stun them for a few moments – and it even works on bosses.
5No Map Markers Or Quest Icons
Figure It Out For Yourself – It’s More Rewarding
One of the hardest things for players new to Soulslikes to get accustomed to is just how little the genre holds players' hands. Acommon feature in Soulslikes– or lack thereof – is the way that quests are presented. NPCs will describe a place, how to get there, and what they want you to do, but that’s about all the guidance Kril gets.
There is no Quest tab in the menu, there is no way to check a world map and see a symbol depicting where you should go. Instead, players have to follow directions and immerse themselves in the world to find their way around. For players new to the genre, this is something that can be difficult to get used to.
4Parrying, But Not How We Know It
Parrying Happens On Releasing A Block, Not Initiating One
A staple of theSoulsseries,Elden Ring, and especiallySekiro: Shadows Die Twiceis the ability to Parry enemies and follow up with a Riposte or critical hit. In most Soulslikes the Parry animation is based on when youpressthe Parry input.
Parrying is present and an important feature ofcombat inAnother Crab’s Treasure, but the way Kril parries is different than what most are used to. When Krilleaveshis shell after blocking, you may Parry an attack. Be sure to learn the timing of this game’s unique parry system to master the flow of combat and continually build the Capsize meter.
3Varied Attack Animations & “Weapon Arts”
Memorize Enemy Attacks & Your Own Special Moves
Something all players have to learn pretty fast in anySoulsgame is that all weapons have unique animations, hitboxes, and attack patterns. A Broadsword inElden Ringswings differently than a Zweihander, for example. And bosses and enemies all have unique behaviors in combat, and attack patterns that you have to learn to figure out opportunities to get your own attacks in.
Kril can onlywield the Fork inAnother Crab’s Treasure, but it still has unique animations and attack patterns – especially if you get the ability to turn it into a hammer.
Though the game doesn’t have multiple weapons and traditional weapon arts, the shell-swapping system ofAnother Crab’s Treasureessentially offers the same thing. Each Shell has a unique Shell Ability, each of which can be useful for different situations. Be sure to try out a wide variety of Shells to find the ones that you like the most, and spend time learning Kril’s various attack patterns.
2Losing Microplastics On Death
You Can Recover Them, If You Don’t Die Again
When Kril is defeated inAnother Crab’s Treasure, and ifno Accessibility options are enabled, he will drop all collected Microplastics. Players must return to the same location where they died to recover their Microplastics (and the Shell they were wearing, if it isn’t broken).
But, if Kril dies again without collecting his dropped Microplastics, they will be lost forever. This mechanic is a staple of most Soulslike games, and incentivizes players to spend their resources and be careful when going to recover them.
1The Sands Between & Other Soulsborne References
What is this, Dark Shoals? Shellden Ring?
In addition to all the Soulslike features inAnother Crab’s Treasure, the game features abunch of Souls referencesthat aren’t necessarily indicative of its genre and difficulty of gameplay. For example, after leaving New Carcinia for the first time, players run into a central area called The Sands Between – a reference to the Lands Between ofElden Ring.
you may find Soulsborne references all over the world inAnother Crab’s Treasure,from boxes of Elden Bay seasoning to a costume that looks like Solaire of Astora’s iconic armor. There are lots of references to the things that inspired theSoulsformula in the first place too, like a Shell that references theBerserkmanga.
