“Souls-like” is a considerably exhausting time period. It will get thrown round rather a lot in a gaming panorama the place titles are endlessly in comparison with Demon’s Souls and FromSoftware’s oeuvre since then. No matter whether or not you assume Souls-like is a “actual” style, it’s helped lump the various video games that flagrantly raise the aesthetics and design of FromSoftware’s history-shifting work (e.g. sci-fi Darkish Souls, 2D Darkish Souls, anime Darkish Souls, Pinocchio Bloodborne) for followers with an unquenchable thirst for that profitable components of demanding mechanical precision and sparse, atmospheric storytelling.
I’ve performed a lot of the Souls-likes listed above and appreciated the laborious work that went into making an attempt to bottle and riff off that FromSoftware magic. Nonetheless, I couldn’t get it out of my head that I used to be experiencing a mere imitation of one thing extra actual. I by no means thought a recreation starring a protagonist who seems to be like he might be the nephew of Sebastian from The Little Mermaid can be the primary Souls-like that bravely crawls far sufficient out of FromSoft’s shell that it makes the label really feel like a launching pad for creativity slightly than a recreation design bible.
Indie studio Aggro Crab self-published One other Crab’s Treasure in 2024 following a prolonged growth cycle. On one hand, it matches comfortably into the Souls-like label. As Kril the hermit crab, you discover semi-open ranges, scouring for cleverly positioned gadgets and interesting in punishing fight with any fish or crustacean whose private area you violate. Then again, the extent design requires navigation and 3D platforming that typically feels as paying homage to late-90s Uncommon as 2010s FromSoft. Holding the leap button to increase Kril’s waterborne motion by swimming is paying homage to Kazooie flapping her wings to maintain Banjo afloat. It’s an bold enlargement of style influences that feels impressively pure.
As somebody who enjoys FromSoft’s moody aesthetics, I’ve to confess I used to be initially postpone by One other Crab’s Treasure’s cartoonish visuals and punny writing. The storytelling is extra easy right here with established characters and dialogue that has some curiosity in explaining issues to you. As I performed previous the preliminary hour, although, this superficial judgment pale away because the darker thematic richness that lurks in these ocean depths started to floor. Driving Kril’s journey is a surprisingly considerate story concerning the perils of environmental hurt and capitalistic exploitation. And actually, what’s extra tragic: the hubris and downfall of Lord Gwyn and his empire, or the destruction human waste has wrought on our Earth’s lovely, expansive oceans?
To begin issues off, a literal mortgage shark seizes possession of Kril’s shell and disrupts his peacefully solitary life on the ocean coast. After giving chase, he finally ends up on the seabed the place issues… don’t look so good. The primary fellow crab he meets has a hole look in its eyes and assaults Kril. Seems this widespread hostility is because of the Gunk spreading all through the ocean, which seems to outcome from the extreme waste plaguing the ocean flooring. Determined occasions have additionally pushed the remaining sane creatures in direction of energy grabs and exploitation.
This could all be a actuality examine for Kril, who shows a privileged “out of sight, out of thoughts” social philosophy. All he needs is to get his shell again and return to his airtight life away from this hopeless, miserable actuality. He’s a relatable character, to say the least.
The world in One other Crab’s Treasure is constructed across the methods a society of crustaceans has tailored to all of the trash and Gunk that now surrounds them. This fantastical but alarmingly actual premise manifests easily into the sport’s personal tackle environmental storytelling and its iterations on Souls-like mechanics.
The inventive stage design delights with environments primarily based on oceanic biomes made unnatural by all of the litter that’s conveniently laid out as a platforming playground. As Kril is navigating these areas, you’ll be reminded of all of the belongings you’ve thrown within the trash—from plastic toys to pizza containers to electronics. Every principal space is a definite area with loads of challenges and hidden gadgets to find. All of them scratch that Souls itch whereas feeling contemporary to navigate.
Smaller trash additionally has its goal. As I stated, Kril had his shell stolen, which makes our little misanthrope fairly weak. Thankfully, the ocean flooring are suffering from dozens of potential substitute “shells” that may be outfitted as each Kril’s armor and protect. I’m speaking tin cans, bottle caps, ink cartridges, tennis balls, and way more. It’s fairly cute and disturbing on the similar time, which sums up numerous what One other Crab’s Treasure is doing aesthetically and thematically. Every shell comes with well being figuring out its sturdiness, weight that impacts the velocity of your dodge roll whereas carrying it, and considered one of 23 potential skills. Oh, and magnificence factors, in fact.
Shell sturdiness is a vital method for the fight to focalize blocking and encourage experimentation whereas punishing pure turtling. I discovered the fight flows greatest when going toe-to-toe with enemies, blocking rigorously whereas aggressively counterattacking at any time when a chance presents itself. The sport has a singular strategy to parries the place you should launch block on the time of an enemy’s assault. It’s a difficult window to nail down after so many video games have conditioned me to faucet for a parry, however the distinction is a great match for the remainder of the design.
On the offensive finish, Kril’s weapon of selection is a fork. It may be upgraded however it’s the one main weapon you get. If that sounds boring, permit me to introduce you to the fantastic world of Umami. Severely, Umami is the sport’s time period for magic and the talents that eat your Umami prices, they usually scale with Kril’s MSG stat (you gotta find it irresistible). Shell skills eat Umami, as do Variations. Variations are flashy strikes you’ll be taught that vary from a sweeping, debilitating claw swing, a sea urchin sticky mine, and a bubble-blasting gun. You too can discover and buy Stowaways—equippable equipment that modify Kril’s stats or produce other properties.
What I’ll give most Souls-likes over One other Crab’s Treasure is a stage of mechanical polish achieved from devoted iteration on what FromSoft laid down. The primary few hours of combating within the recreation felt a bit undercooked because of this, however the pleasure of fight picks up while you begin incomes Variations and progressing Kril’s talent bushes.
By the again half of this 20-plus hour journey, your toolkit permits for sufficient mechanical expression that the sport’s lack of construct and weapon selection appears like much less of a difficulty. With that stated, not all of it’s rigorously balanced, a lot of the sport’s problem will be mitigated at that time. There have been a number of climactic boss fights that went down slightly unceremoniously.
Nonetheless, that is coming from somebody who’s performed most fashionable FromSoft video games greater than as soon as. The uninitiated is perhaps relieved to listen to that not solely is One other Crab’s Treasure a much less demanding Souls-like, however it even comes with a beneficiant menu of accessibility choices to make easing into the playstyle extra… effectively, accessible. Gamers can choose and select from these choices, comparable to Additional Shell Sturdiness, Decrease Enemy Well being, and Forestall Microplastic [read: souls] Loss on Loss of life. Truthfully, it’s an excellent method for the designers to take care of the Souls-like conference of One Problem to Rule Them All whereas providing some flexibility for inexperienced gamers to seek out their bearings with out getting discouraged.
Alongside the supposed normal issue, One other Crab’s Treasure has technical hitches that led to some further unintended issue. Throughout my playthrough, I skilled points with fall respawn factors, enemy tethering, character/environmental collisions, and different awkward frustrations to which “git gud” logic doesn’t apply. I perceive it is a consequence of the bold design I’ve been praising from this comparatively small staff, however it did briefly spoil the great enjoyable I used to be having a number of too many occasions. On prime of that, there have been occasional efficiency drops that had been stunning to see on a contemporary console contemplating that is definitely not probably the most technically superior recreation.
Regardless, One other Crab’s Treasure is the primary Souls-like I’ve performed that didn’t make me really feel like I’ll as effectively simply replay one of many actual ones. Not as a result of it’s a greater recreation than any of FromSoft’s fashionable classics, however as a result of it’s distinct sufficient to not really feel by-product. It’s not probably the most mechanically satisfying Souls-like I’ve performed, however neither is the unique Darkish Souls, and that is still my favourite attributable to its bold creativity and readability of imaginative and prescient—one thing One other Crab’s Treasure shares with it. Personally, I’d slightly builders invested on this younger style take iterative dangers than churn out extra FromSoft B-sides.
It helps that One other Crab’s Treasure can also be a Souls-like with a soul. The sport will follow me not solely due to the best moments from its ranges or boss fights, however in how cleverly and successfully its environmental considerations are baked into the entire of the expertise. By the tip, I used to be wanting into methods of lowering my waste output and microplastic publicity whereas reflecting on what particular person human “goodness” seems to be like in a world ravaged by our collective impression. Not dangerous for a recreation a couple of crab.
