Summary
- Combat is crucial in Soulslike games; Another Crab's Treasure excels with unique mechanics like shell-swapping.
- Stowaways in the game provide buffs and abilities; choosing the right ones can greatly enhance gameplay.
- Certain Stowaways, like Fruit Sticker and Sea Cucumber, offer benefits for all playstyles in Another Crab's Treasure.
While world design, boss design, art style, atmosphere, and story are all important aspects of a Soulslike, by far the most integral feature of any game in the genre is its combat. Setting a lofty bar right from the get-go, FromSoftware's unique approach to methodical, deliberate action gameplay is what runs through the DNA of most Soulslike games, and if those fundamental mechanics aren't received well, then it's usually game over. Thankfully, Another Crab's Treasure not only nails those Soulslike fundamentals of combat, but also throws in a handful of its own unique gameplay mechanics for good measure.
By far the biggest novel gameplay mechanic in Another Crab's Treasure is its shell-swapping feature, which sees players experiment with a variety of different shield-like shells, each coming with their own special ability, weight class, and durability. These shells add a ton of variety and strategy to Another Crab's Treasure's combat, but they're not the only feature to do so. Though they don't take center stage, Another Crab's Treasure's Stowaways still pack a meaningful punch.
Another Crab's Treasure's Stowaways Shouldn't Be Overlooked
Another Crab's Treasure's Stowaway Mechanic Explained
Unlocked very early on in Another Crab's Treasure, Stowaways essentially function like rings in games like Dark Souls and Elden Ring, granting the player special buffs, stat boosts, and abilities. At the beginning of Another Crab's Treasure, most Stowaways that the player will find can be equipped right away and provide stat boosts like increased vitality or increased health effectiveness. As players progress, they'll start to unlock more powerful Stowaways that grant significant buffs to stats, attacks, abilities, and shells, but these will also often come with specific prerequisites needed to equip them, such as a skill at a certain level.
Though the individual benefits of each Stowaway can be easily overshadowed by Another Crab's Treasure's powerful Adaptations or Shell Spells, it's not a mechanic that should be easily overlooked, as having the right roster of Stowaways equipped can drastically improve a player's chances of survival, especially later on in the game when it starts to throw some even tougher enemies at them. It's important that players are constantly keeping tabs on the Stowaways they pick up and the benefits they provide so that they can choose the best set to match their playstyle.
Players can increase their Stowaway capacity at a store in the Lower Crust of New Carcinia, just opposite the blacksmith.
Some of The Best Stowaways For All Playstyles
While it's true that players need to carefully choose the right Stowaways to match their own personal playstyle, there are a handful of Stowaways in Another Crab's Treasure that are just all-around great, regardless of the player's chosen build or tactics. The Fruit Sticker Stowaway is the perfect example of this, and also one of the first all-around great Stowaways the player will stumble across during their undersea adventure. Rather than increase any character stats, the Fruit Sticker increases the number of Microplastics the player will receive upon defeating an enemy, which is exceptionally useful, especially during Another Crab's Treasure's early game where Microplastics aren't too plentiful.
The Sea Cucumber is another great Stowaway for any playstyle, with it simply increasing all of the player's stats across the board by 3. The "Another Crab" Stowaway is also very useful to have, reviving the player once upon death. However, this Stowaway does break after its initial use, making it a less reliable option in the long run.
Another Crab's Treasure
- Released
- April 25, 2024
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 NATURE
As 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 DEPTHS
The 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.
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Crude Humor, Language, Use of Tobacco, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Aggro Crab
- Publisher(s)
- Aggro Crab
- Engine
- Unity
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
