Many terrifying creatures call the ocean their home, but few are as nightmarish as the Bobbit Worm. This sinister predator lurks beneath the sand, ready to devour fish, coral, and more in its powerful jaws. It makes a terrifying foe to fight in the underwater Soulslike game Another Crab's Treasure, a fact which the developers took full advantage of. Developer Aggro Crab re-imagined Another Crab's Treasure's Bobbit Worm as a tough Dark Souls- style enemy for protagonist Kril to face.
The Best War Games recently spoke to studio head and art director Nick Kaman, as well as creative director and narrative lead Caelan Pollock, about their decision to include the Bobbit Worm as an enemy in Another Crab's Treasure and how Kril can make use of its abilities as one of his Adaptation techniques. As soon as the Bobbit Worm was brought up, Pollock had this to say: "It fits in very well as a Dark Souls enemy. It's just a nightmare creature coming to kill you."
What is a Bobbit Worm?
The Bobbit Worm, also known as Eunice aphroditois, is a salt-water dwelling worm. It buries itself in sand or holes in rock, where it uses its antenna to detect prey. Once it has successfully detected prey, the worm can use its powerful jaws to quickly catch and devour its target. It eats many different types of fish, coral, and bottom-dwelling creatures, but can also eat algae if nothing else is available. Bobbit Worms are found mostly in the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific Ocean. The name comes from the infamous murderer Lorena Bobbitt, as female Bobbit Worms remove their partner's genitals and feed them to their young.
In recent years, some aquariums and private tank owners have found their habitats invaded by Bobbit Worms, which hide in small crevices in rock and come out at night to eat nearby fish and other organisms. They are extremely hard to kill, as they can regenerate if split in half. One infamous Bobbit Worm, chronicled on the Michigan Reefers forum, lived for several weeks in a private tank despite being repeatedly fed glue, ground glass, and various dewormers.
The Bobbit Worm is a Fearsome Foe in Another Crab's Treasure
In Another Crab's Treasure, the Bobbit Worm is one of the many foes Kril faces on his undersea journey. After he defeats the Bobbit Worm, he can absorb its powers using "Umami," the mystical life force that runs through all sea creatures. The Bobbit Worm is one of many creatures that can grant an Adaptation power to Kril, along with the mantis shrimp, electric eel, and many others. The Bobbit Worm's Adaptation has not yet been revealed, but teasers hint that it involves "ensnaring" the enemy in some way.
Pollock described the Bobbit Worm as "one of the easiest" creatures to translate into gameplay. While Pollock and Kaman debated which sea creatures to add to the game, and ultimately cut several, the terrifying worm was a lock. As Pollock said,
When it comes to translating creature abilities to in-game abilities, the Bobbit Worm is about as straightforward as it comes. You watch a video of what the Bobbit Worm is and what it does, and it's like yeah, duh, that's exactly a Dark Souls enemy.
Dark Souls and other Soulslike games are certainly known for their horrifying and powerful enemies from Dark Souls 3's Consumed King to Elden Ring's Dung Eater. Despite the bright and colorful aesthetic of Another Crab's Treasure, its take on the Bobbit Worm seems likely to join this pantheon when the game launches on April 25. Even the most hardened of Soulslike veterans might cringe in fear when this creature rises up from the sea bed to challenge them.
Bobbit Worm Image via BBC Science Focus Magazine.
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
