This article contains MAJOR spoilers forAnother Crab’s Treasure
At a glance,Another Crab’s Treasurelooks like a bright and charming Soulslike that offers a lighthearted break from its often more oppressive contemporaries, and while it is all of those things, it’s got a lot more bubbling underneath the surface. Behind its vibrant art style and its cartoon characters,Another Crab’s Treasureis hiding a wealth of commentaries on the state of the modern world. While some of these commentaries take the form of light, satirical jokes, there are some themes inAnother Crab’s Treasurethat run a little deeper, encompassing whole story and character elements.
One of the biggest and mostovert themes inAnother Crab’s Treasureis pollution, and more specifically, how pollution affects undersea wildlife. This theme runs through the entire game, with Kril’s shells being made of trash, the game’s currency being Microplastics, and the hub city of New Carcinia being made entirely out of humans' discarded garbage. But right alongside those commentaries on pollution comes both direct and indirect comments on capitalism and its potential dangers, and the character of Firth is the primary mouthpiece of this.
Firth Exemplifies The Issues with Capitalism in Another Crab’s Treasure
Firth Is a Selfish Ally
Introduced towards the beginning ofAnother Crab’s Treasure’s story, Firth is a blue-colored hermit crab that doesn’t look too dissimilar from the game’s protagonist and player-character, Kril. But unlike Kril - who wants to find the mysterious treasure at the heart of the game’s plot just to get his old shell back - Firth wants to use the treasure simply as a means to get rich and powerful. From the get-go, Firth is portrayed as a selfish, self-proclaimed “businesscrab” who only cares about fame and glory, though he at least attempts to mask it.
Throughout the course ofAnother Crab’s Treasure, Firth will pop up now and then, trying to reach the treasure before Kril does. But early on, Firth realizes that he could just sit back and let Kril do all the work, and that’s exactly what he does. But this doesn’t stop Firth from mocking Kril repeatedly whenever the two meet, often referring to Kril’s worldview as naive, and firmly cementing his own beliefs that you should always strive to get to the top, no matter the cost to others. His own selfish worldview is reinforced by Roland, the mustache-twirling southern gentleman who essentially keepsthe city of New Carciniaunder his thumb by owning and controlling much of its economy.
Firth’s Inevitable Betrayal Is Fueled by False Righteousness
Right atthe end ofAnother Crab’s Treasure, Kril finds an all-powerful, reality-bending shell known as the Perfect Whorl which briefly takes control of his ally Chitan and forces the two to fight. After defeating his brain-washed friend, Kril turns to use the Whorl to save him from death, but before he reaches it, Firth appears out of nowhere, taking the Whorl for himself and proclaiming that he’s going to “save” New Carcinia with his newfound powers. Though Kril pleads Firth to use the Whorl to save Chitan, Firth refuses to listen, instead deciding to explain his new three-step plan.
Firth plans on using the powers of the Whorl to crash the giganticTrash Islanddown onto the city of New Carcinia below, showering it with garbage, and in his own words, starting a “second golden age” for the city’s economy. Despite Kril exclaiming that this plan is going to severely harm those below, Firth decides to continue anyway, strongly believing himself to be the “hero” that the ocean needs, being completely blind to the selfish desires that actually drive him. Firth is a character solely focused on his own personal gain, and he’s a key part of the game’s satirical take on capitalism.
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.
