There are plenty of features that set Aggro Crab’sAnother Crab’s Treasureapart from other Soulslikes, with its most notable standout feature being its humorous take on the genre. In the shoes (or shells, rather) of Kril the hermit crab, players embark on a daring adventure unlike any before it to reclaim Kril’s lost shell.Another Crab’s Treasure’s underwater worldis filled with a variety of colorful, brightly saturated environments, which is more than enough to make it different from other Soulslikes. In addition to being one of the more colorful and humorous Soulslikes to date,Another Crab’s Treasurealso features traditional platforming that inevitably plays into its unique environmental design.
Game development can be a tricky animal to tame, as each project comes with its own limitations — a reality thatAnother Crab’s Treasurehasn’t been able to escape either. Game Rant spoke with studio head/art director Nick Kaman and creative director/narrative lead Caelan Pollock ahead ofAnother Crab’s Treasure’s release to discuss the game in detail, and Kaman divulged that not all of Aggro Crab’s inspirations were able to come to fruition, including a level that was similar to one inThe Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
Another Crab’s Treasure Cut an Ocarina of Time-Inspired Level Due to Time Constraints
One of the most unforgiving obstacles in game development is time, as developers are constantly faced with the demands of personal deadlines and those set by their publishers. Aggro Crab is publishingAnother Crab’s Treasure, but that doesn’t stop it from bearing the weight of deadlines. Time is precisely what prevented Aggro Crab from including a level inAnother Crab’s Treasurethat might have been a huge delight for players, especially fans of what is largely acknowledged asthe bestLegend of Zeldagameever made,Ocarina of Time. During our interview with Aggro Crab, Kaman disclosed what this level might have been like and why the devs ultimately had to cut it from the game.
The only level we cut was the level that was going to be inside a whale that swallows you. It’d be kind of like the level inOcarina of Timewhen you go into the big guy, Jabu-Jabu. It’d be like that, except he’s eating a ton of trash, and it’s really sad and gross. That’s kind of the name of the game withAnother Crab’s Treasure,right? But yeah, we just ran out of time.
The level inOcarina of Timethat Kaman is referring to is one of the game’s early dungeons, while Link is still young. Upon learning that Zora Princess Ruto has been swallowed by the benevolent whaleJabu-Jabu, Link enters his belly to rescue Ruto and kill a parasite that has infected the whale. According to Kaman,Another’s Crab Treasurewould have had a level similar to Jabu-Jabu’s Belly, but its environments would have played into the game’s emphasis on pollution. Furthermore, unlike the real Jabu-Jabu’s Belly, it can be assumed thatAnother Crab’s Treasure’s inspired version might have been just as colorful as the rest of its world.
It would have been interesting to see Aggro Crab’s take on Jabu-Jabu inAnother Crab’s Treasure, but it also might be better that the developer chose to cut the level rather than rush it to completion. In any case, based on what has been revealed so far,Another Crab’s Treasure’s unique take on the Soulslike genreshows itself most in its bright environments and lighthearted tone, which may be more than enough to compensate for the lack of any ideas that were ultimately cut for quality’s sake.
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.
