Crabmeat features point-and-click controls, allowing players to complete the current early access content in approximately two hours. Players must survive by finding the best spots to catch king crabs to pay off their debts and save their family. However, these waters teem with aggressive crabs determined to sabotage every sailor who ventures into them.
The game unfolds in a dystopian world ruled by a fictional Feodarchy. The protagonist borrowed money from the authorities for rent but failed to repay the debt on time. As punishment, he was sent to Antarctica to catch king crabs. If he fails to meet the quota, he will be executed, and the debt will be transferred to his family.
Initially, players will need to get accustomed to the controls, where all actions – movement, interaction with the environment, and item usage – are performed with the mouse. However, after about an hour, the controls become intuitive, making even battles with crabs easier.
Operating the assigned vessel involves turning the helm, adjusting speed, and raising or lowering the anchor. The navigation map highlights areas rich in crabs and showcases traps left by previous debtors. However, harsh weather conditions and marine obstacles can damage the ship’s hull, complicating the journey.
The crab hunting process is quite detailed: players must use bait, deploy traps, wait for a catch, then haul them aboard and sort the crabs, separating valuable ones from debris. Traps left by predecessors can yield useful items such as first-aid kits, keys to hidden stashes, and ammunition.
Aggressive crabs periodically board the vessel, attempting to disable equipment. Failure to deal with these pests promptly leads to costly repairs. In one instance, a creature, screaming “Crabonimo!”, lunged at the helm, causing a collision with a bait replenishment station and nearly drowning the player.
Before attacking, larger crabs emit eerie screams, reminiscent of the Witch from Left 4 Dead. Self-defense options include an axe or a shotgun. However, the shotgun’s low damage, scarce ammunition, and slow reload make it better reserved for the final boss.
Timers on board the ship count down the allocated time for the mission. Even with relaxed play and mistakes, the quota is usually met well before the deadline. Additionally, propaganda materials from the Feodarchy are scattered around the vessel, condemning any form of deviation from the norm.
Conclusion
Despite its limited content, Crabmeat stands out for its high quality. Many actions are accompanied by unique animations, the crab hunting process is meticulously detailed, and the game world is immersive, down to subtle touches like snow appearing on deck.
In its current state, the game can be completed quite quickly. There is hope that the developers will add a greater variety of endings in the full release, as Crabmeat’s world is too captivating to part with so soon.