With Dark Souls and gems like Bloodborne, FromSoftware introduced a genre into games that was unique in a variety of aspects. Although the developer’s style may have initially felt unnecessarily difficult, the Soulsborne genre is something that’s becoming more common. Hidetaka Miyazaki’s art proved to be quite influential, as many other games, like Aggro Crab’s upcoming Soulslike Another Crab’s Treasure, have been inspired by FromSoftware.
Perhaps the most interesting bit about the Soulslike by Aggro Crab is that it’s not inspired by the Dark Souls series, as it shares more similarities to a FromSoftware game that led Miyazaki to change his approach to the development process.
Aggro Crab’s Soulslike Is Inspired by a FromSoftware Game, but It’s Not Dark Souls
Regardless of whether a game comes from FromSoftware or some other developer, the Soulslike genre has earned the reputation of having dark themes and undertones, so it goes without saying that a cartoonish crab fighting creatures under the ocean seems more like a Disney animated film plot than a Soulsborne title. But Aggro Crab is ensuring that the gameplay mechanics in Another Crab’s Treasure feel just as challenging as Miyazaki games.
“It all starts with combat, and how do you get that Souls combat across in a game that doesn’t look anything like Souls, right?” stated creative director and narrative lead Caelan Pollock, aware of the challenges that accompanied the studio’s artistic choices.
Pollock went on to reveal that his take on the Soulslike genre is “closer to a Sekiro style of gameplay, as opposed to straight up Dark Souls,” as FromSoftware changed numerous elements to make Shadows Die Twice a fresh experience. A major aspect that made Miyazaki’s 2019 title stand out is that the combat was more fast-paced than other FromSoftware games, with the absence of a stamina system proving to be a highlight.
The Aggro Crab creative director revealed that his game encourages players to head into battles with nothing held back, confirming that Another Crab’s Treasure also doesn’t have “stamina.”
The Things a Hermit Crab’d Do to Survive in Another Crab’s Treasure
Pollock went on to explain that the initial conversations around the combat in Another Crab’s Treasure revolved around the things a hermit crab wants to do, and the answer was “he wants to hide in his shell.”
The shell plays a vital role in the gameplay of the Soulslike, as the crab can use it to block or parry incoming attacks and perform a counter-attack.
The narrative lead concluded that Aggro Crab wants players to “just want to get in there, take some hits with your shell, dodge when you can, but keep whaling on your opponent” while playing its take on the challenging genre.
Are you looking forward to Aggro Crab’s game after learning about its similarities with Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice? Let us know in the comments!
