Fight Crab Review

Synopsis:
Welcome to Fight Crab, a 3D action game where you take control of a crab and battle other giant enemy crabs. Physics lets crabs move powerfully and quickly in this hardcore arena. Freely control your pincers to use weapons and develop your own crab-fighting style.

Publisher: PLAYISM
Reviewed on: PC
Also available for: Nintendo Switch (September)

Developer: Calappa Games
Game Development: Masafumi Onuki
Music Composer: DEKU

Anime crossed with crab-fiction meet in this crustacean street-fight where ocean life smash crust-on-crust for territory rights. It starts simple as you battle over sands in the first level, but soon things turn Kaiju-brawler as you’re fighting not only bigger crabs and other ocean life forms, but also in streets, cities, and inside stores.

Plain and simple: this is a game about crab fighting. There’s no way to sell it as something more artistic or noble than that — and why bother? Developer Calappa Games knows exactly what the game is and who they’re targeting: crabs. Alternatively, gamers seeking something a bit silly. You duke it out, and the first crab to keep the other on its back wins.

There’s no health bar; instead, a damage meter builds, and much like Smash Bros it makes flipping your opponent — or you — easier. Pinch ’em, slap ’em, flip ’em. Simple.

Each level plays out over several stages with one or multiple foes to defeat. Fighting is pretty simple: the crab moves automatically in a direction and you tap a button to change which way it side-steps. That leaves all your concentration for the claws which — as recommended — map to each analogue stick on a controller. You can whack away for days, attempt to block, parry, and pick up weapons.

I’m blasé about the combat because although it tries to sound masterable, there are too many random factors to truly “get good.” The game asks you to block and parry, but that’s the worst tactic; spamming buttons led to more victories. The controls make it feel like QWOP but crabs. The only thing I consistently managed was pressing the triggers to grab stuff with my pincers.

The hectic, random nature is part of the charm — to a point. It wore on me fast. Playing with a friend in PvP sounds more enjoyable as you yell and laugh together at the absurd crab fighting (yes, there’s a K-Rock song on the title screen). Playing solo through the campaign, not so much.

For those tantalised by the idea of a crab fighter, there’s enough here to keep you playing for a while. There are more crabs (and other sea life) to unlock than you’d expect, each with varying stats. You can level up your fighter and unlock skins (literally, I guess). There’s also online if you wish to test your skills. Crab at it.

Okay, I’ll stop.

Fight Crab is for a very, very niche audience — and if that’s you, you’ll know it. This includes Twitch streamers and YouTubers looking for an emotive, chaotic game; it’s a content-making machine. If none of that sounds like you, I’d skip this sand crawler.

(Fight Crab code provided for review)