Another Crab’s Treasureis setting itself up to be a Soulslike game like never before. Not only has indie developer Aggro Crab created a game almost completely underwater, but the studio has also given the hermit crab protagonist Kril some magic powers and methods of defense,all thanks to the life force of Umami.
In one of the trailers forAnother Crab’s Treasure, players can see the different shells that Kril uses to protect himself against monsters and other sea creatures; he’ll switch through shells like an old sneaker, a busted metal can, and a handgun, should players so choose. In a recent interview with Game Rant, Aggro Crab studio head/art director Nick Kaman and creative director/narrative lead Caelan Pollock said that they initially added the handgun as a choice because they thought it was funny, and players and advocates for accessibility approved the humor.
Adding Another Crab’s Treasure’s Gun to the Accessibility Menu
Having consistent accessibility standards across video games has become vital nowadays.Accessibility featuresallow players with different impairments to still enjoy the game. Common features include customizable controls, text-to-speech and speech-to-text options, and difficulty options of varying customizations, to name a few. Aggro Crab added the handgun to the game because the studio thought it was funny, and then it added the gun to the accessibility menu because the studio thought it was funny too. However, it’s not all fun and games; Pollock would describe the handgun as the “ultimate difficulty option.” Kaman also explained that,
It was initially added because we were just like: “Wouldn’t it be funny if Kril had a shell that was a gun, a Glock handgun?” Then, we were right. It WAS funny. And then we thought, wouldn’t it be really funny if the gun was in the accessibility menu? And we were right. It WAS funny.
What we didn’t expect was that accessibility people - advocates for that community - also thought it was really funny. They thought it was a great feature.
Kaman would talk about how this feature hits at an important aspect of accessibility: fun. Games are meant to be fun, and at their core, accessibility options are about enabling more people to have fun with a game. The handgun removes some difficulty fromthe Soulslike gamebecause, when equipped, players can one-shot any boss. Kaman explained that if something has to be removed for a game to be accessible, it should be done in a fun way, and one-shotting Soulslike bosses with a handgun sounds like a lot of fun, at least once. As Kaman explained,
The lesson here is that accessibility should be fun, right? Like it shouldn’t just be: “We can make a button that lets you skip the boss.” Isn’t it more fun to shoot it in one hit? That’s it. That’s the point of a video game. If you’re going to take away an aspect of it, do it in a fun way.
Shooting Guns Underwater in Another Crab’s Treasure
Now, Kaman saidkilling bosses inAnother Crab’s Treasurewith a gun is fun once, but it’s essentially up to the player how often, or if, they use it. The handgun kills everything in one hit, which is why the Aggro Crab developers don’t expect everyone to play the game that way, but it’s there for those who want it.
As a fun bit of lore, it fits into the world as well. It doesn’t necessarily make sense that a handgun works underwater, but Pollock explained that it operates like anyshell inAnother Crab’s Treasure. It’s a shell with a Shell Spell, which is empowered by Umami. This magical life force of sorts enables Kril to use Shell Spells that recall past functions of ocean trash, which is what the gun has become. Of course, crabs really shouldn’t have guns, with Pollock adding,
Just don’t throw guns in the ocean. We don’t want crabs getting them.
From its storytelling to its accessibility features,Another Crab’s Treasureseems to be adding its own twist to the Soulslike genre, a different approach that players might appreciate. It remains to be seen how it goes over, but equipped with a Glock, a different shell, and a mighty melee weapon, Kril is ready to take the ocean by storm on April 25.
Another Crab’s Treasure
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 NATUREAs 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 DEPTHSThe 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.
