The ability to pet animals has become an increasingly popular feature in video games, as it allows players an opportunity to experience a brief and heartwarming respite from their more demanding tasks at hand. In fact, the feature has seen such an increase in prominence over the years that a Twitter account has existed for some time with the sole purpose of keeping a record of every game that lets players pet its in-game animals. Aggro Crab's Another Crab's Treasure has heard the demand for more pettable animals in video games and included a "dog" for players to interact with, sometimes even at their own peril, it seems.
Another Crab's Treasure is a Soulslike unlike any other, as its shameless silliness ultimately sets it apart. Even ahead of Another Crab's Treasure's release, that silliness can be felt and seen in Aggro Crab's marketing campaign for the game, which includes a hilarious series of "Can you pet the dog" posts on the developer's Twitter page. After a post by @MythosVT that facetiously claimed they would refund their pre-order of Another Crab's Treasure due to the lack of a "pet the dog" feature, Aggro Crab responded by saying it would add a "pet the dog" feature if its Twitter account managed to reach 85K followers. Not a day later, that goal was achieved, and the beloved feature was added to the game. Among other things, The Best War Games recently spoke with the studio head/art director Nick Kaman, along with creative director/narrative lead Caelan Pollock, about this feature.
Petting Another Crab's Treasure's Dog Might Be a Fatal Mistake
Another Crab's Treasure's dog isn't just any old dog; after all, it wouldn't make sense for a dog to live in the game's underwater world. Befitting Another Crab's Treasure's humor, its pettable dog is actually a fish. However, while it might seem enticing to pet the "dog," the feature apparently comes with its risks. During our interview, Kaman and Pollock spoke briefly about a scenario Kaman had encountered the night before. It seems some players may want to be wary when petting the dog, as it might result in the untimely demise of some unassuming players — for now, at least.
KAMAN: I was testing last night, and I died because I pet the dog mid-combat.
POLLOCK: I bet you did.
KAMAN: I tried to pick up a shell, but it pet the dog instead.
POLLOCK: Maybe that will be fixed by launch.
According to Kaman's testing, petting Another Crab's Treasure's "dog" can lead to some arguably hilarious mistakes. Specifically, it seems the "pet the dog" action in Aggro Crab's Soulslike shares a key/button with the "pick up shell" action. Based on the game's demo, players will be constantly swapping shells in Another Crab's Treasure, even in the heat of combat when their currently equipped shells are destroyed. Currently, if the "dog" is too close to a shell when players attempt to pick one up, they could end up petting the "dog" instead and subjecting themselves to their enemies during the animation. While this could result in some unfortunate underwater catastrophes, Aggro Crab doesn't seem too concerned about resolving the issue, as Pollock only said "maybe" it would be fixed. After all, it's a pretty hilarious scenario benefiting the game's tone.
Pollock's "maybe" could be referring to the time it might take to resolve the issue before the game is released, but it could also be a sign of Aggro Crab deciding whether to lean more on the side of the comical incidents it could produce. Either way, Another Crab's Treasure players may want to be sure their pet fish is nowhere near any shells they're attempting to pick up, especially if there are dangerous enemies nearby. At the very least, players can expect to see this adorable fish during Another Crab's Treasure's Soulslike boss battles, it seems, never leaving them to die alone. Or maybe causing them to die, either way.
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
