Crab Champions
- April 1, 2023
- Noisestorm
- 12h median play time
"Crab Champions" is a fast-paced shooter with roguelike elements, where players travel across exotic islands, defeating hordes of enemies to collect loot and build their power. The game features intense 20-40 minute runs, smooth movement and combat, carefully crafted visuals, and an original soundtrack. With the option to play solo or with up to 3 other players, all content is unlockable in-game with no additional purchases required. Every choice made in the game affects the outcome of each run, adding to the replayability and challenge.
Reviews
- music1,049 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in "Crab Champions" has been widely praised for its energetic and engaging soundtrack, crafted by the game's developer, Noisestorm, known for the viral hit "Crab Rave." Players appreciate how the upbeat tunes enhance the fast-paced gameplay, creating an immersive experience that keeps them engaged for hours. While some users noted a desire for more variety in the soundtrack, the overall consensus is that the music significantly elevates the game's fun factor and complements its vibrant visuals and chaotic action.
“The soundtrack, crafted by Noisestorm, perfectly complements the gameplay, pumping you up as you slide and shoot your way through the vibrant, colorful level stages.”
“It's amazing what some love, creativity, and a banger soundtrack can do for a game.”
“The music, the visuals, the gameplay, all of it come together to make a uniquely fun roguelike game.”
“The music feels really generic, like royalty-free generic, and the musical stings given to some enemy attacks feel as randomly chosen as the visuals.”
“The only aspect of the game that I do not like or feel like fits the game at all is the music.”
“The music gets repetitive really fast but it's decent.”
- gameplay934 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Crab Champions" is characterized by its fast-paced, fluid mechanics and engaging roguelike elements, offering a satisfying blend of movement and combat that keeps players hooked. While many players praise the game's addictive loop and variety of weapons and upgrades, some express concerns about repetitiveness and balance issues, particularly in later stages. Overall, the game is seen as a fun and polished experience, especially for fans of the genre, with ongoing updates promising further improvements.
“The gameplay loop is very satisfying, runs are on the shorter side for a roguelike.”
“The movement is dynamic and super fun, the gameplay loop is rewarding, and playing with friends leads to laughs and epic moments.”
“The gameplay is incredibly fun and the upgrades are surprisingly interesting.”
“Gameplay can feel repetitive, but it is early access after all.”
“The gameplay loop gets real boring real fast.”
“However, the gameplay loop gets rather stale after about an hour or so.”
- humor353 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a standout feature, with players consistently praising its quirky premise of a gun-wielding crab, leading to countless hilarious moments and chaotic gameplay. The game's charm lies in its absurdity, with players enjoying the comedic animations, witty dialogue, and the sheer ridiculousness of the concept, making it a fun experience both solo and with friends. Overall, the humor enhances the gameplay, providing a delightful and entertaining adventure that keeps players engaged and laughing.
“With its unique and quirky premise, the game delivers an unexpected mix of humor and action.”
“The game's humor, evident in animations and witty dialogue, adds a delightful touch.”
“I found myself laughing out loud at the absurdity of it all, and that's what makes Crab Champions so great.”
- graphics337 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their vibrant, colorful, and cartoonish style, which enhances the overall gameplay experience. Many players appreciate the smooth animations and attention to detail, noting that the visuals are both appealing and well-optimized, even on lower-end hardware. However, some critiques mention a lack of cohesion in the art style and occasional visual clutter during intense gameplay, which can affect performance. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's charm and enjoyment.
“The fluidity of gameplay is a masterstroke, a symphony of perfectly orchestrated chaos that leaves you breathless, while the visuals dazzle with a level of radiance that seems to defy the limits of technology itself.”
“The graphics are stunning and vibrant, making every arena come to life with vivid colors and intricate details.”
“The graphical fidelity and artistic stylings of this title are a feast for the senses, rendering each landscape a picturesque vista worthy of the galleries of old.”
“The game lacks in graphics and content but totally makes up for it with its gameplay.”
“The 'art style' for this game, if you can even call it that, seems to be to try to make everything look as much like store-bought assets as possible.”
“Only problem is the visuals as it looks generic and actually turned me off from buying this game at first.”
- replayability188 mentions
- 66 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, with many players highlighting the variety of weapons, difficulty modifiers, and procedural generation that keep each run fresh and engaging. While some users noted limitations in replay value or a sense of staleness after extended play, the majority found the game to be addictive and enjoyable, especially in multiplayer settings. Continuous updates and the potential for future content are also seen as factors that will enhance its replayability further.
“With many different runs and things to do, it is a great game with lots of replayability.”
“The continuously updating from the devs and replay value is #1.”
“Movement is incredibly fluid, game loop is basic enough to be intuitive yet interesting enough to be replayable for hundreds of hours, gunplay gets better every update, music slaps, it's an equally good experience solo or with friends, difficulty is extremely malleable, and I could go on and on about everything this game does right.”
“Game doesn't have much replayability.”
“I find a lack of replayability in this game simply because the game throws so many upgrades at you; it honestly feels a bit stale.”
“For me personally, what is stopping me from recommending this is the lack of replayability and lack of choices.”
- story127 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The reviews for the game's story are highly polarized, with some players praising its rich narrative and character development, while others criticize the complete lack of a traditional storyline. Many appreciate the emotional depth and immersive world-building, while others find the absence of plot progression and character arcs off-putting, describing it as a simple action experience focused on gameplay rather than storytelling. Overall, the game's narrative quality seems to depend heavily on individual player expectations and preferences.
“The story unfolds with masterful pacing, drawing the player into a rich tapestry of intrigue and adventure.”
“Crab Champions is not just a game; it's an emotional odyssey that captivates players with its charm, warmth, and delightful storytelling.”
“The story building, reminiscent of a living storybook, creates an enchanting atmosphere that pulls you into its embrace.”
“No story.”
“There's like no story, no real rhyme or reason for anything in this game.”
“No story, no plot progression, no niche character development, none of that boring stuff.”
- optimization87 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is generally praised, with many players noting smooth performance and minimal bugs, even during chaotic gameplay with numerous projectiles and enemies on screen. However, some users report occasional stutters and frame drops, particularly in late-game scenarios with heavy action, indicating that further optimization could enhance the experience. Despite these issues, the game is considered well-optimized for its genre, running effectively on a range of hardware, including lower-end systems.
“This game is incredibly optimized for a roguelike.”
“The movement is incredibly smooth, and the optimization is top-notch, making for a seamless and enjoyable experience.”
“The game feels so smooth and really optimized, the gameplay is nice, the enemies are good, the difficulty challenges are really great.”
“The game needs some optimization. I have an i5-13500H + RTX 350 6GB + 16GB RAM laptop, however when I play for a long time and have multiple power-ups + more enemies (late stage of the game after 2-3 hours), I start to have a lot of stutters at any resolution and detail (usually I play at 1900x1200 100% detail).”
“The performance of the game becomes noticeably degraded when the screen fills with dozens of gun rounds, enemies, fireworks, mace shots, dagger shots, grenades, black holes, crystal explosions, etc. I’ve never crashed this game due to performance issues, but as I write this, maybe I should give it a try.”
“I will say it definitely needs some optimizations, as once it hits into the hundreds of rounds and the absurd amount of projectiles does cause some slowdown, which makes the experience less enjoyable.”
- stability64 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 2 % neutral mentions
- 77 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag, with many players noting that while it is still in early access and has some bugs and glitches, it generally runs smoothly and is more stable than many AAA titles. Some users report minor issues, particularly in multiplayer, but many find the gameplay enjoyable and polished despite these hiccups. Frequent updates and a dedicated development team suggest that stability may improve over time.
“It runs great, has tons of replayability, is goofy, and gets constant updates.”
“Even in early access, this was stable, optimized, and almost completely bug-free.”
“The game runs great and does what it's supposed to on a fundamental level, and updates are frequent.”
“This game is hella buggy when playing multiplayer.”
“The saving feature can be buggy at times, with certain items missing from people's inventories sometimes after choosing to continue a run.”
“Game sucks so far bruh every time I tab in it just freezes and I can't play.”
- grinding63 mentions
- 5 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 68 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game elicits mixed reactions from players; while many find it addictive and rewarding, especially when pursuing unlockables and achievements, others criticize it for becoming tedious and repetitive, particularly in late-game scenarios. Some players appreciate the skill progression and the engaging core gameplay loop, but note that the experience can suffer from poor loot options and a lack of balance in higher difficulties. Overall, the game offers a grindy experience that can be enjoyable for those who embrace it, but may frustrate players seeking a more varied or less repetitive gameplay style.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“A bad run will (repeatedly) offer nothing but useless junk causing a very tedious experience.”
“Overall tl;dr- noisestorm really needs to cut back on the new content and should focus on refining the base game to a genuinely cathartic, stylized, and unique experience, as the theming of the game makes no sense when considering the assets, the core gameplay loop is grindy and unfun, almost all the base mechanics are basic and I've had more of a unique roguelike experience playing the sulfur demo vs this game that I've been playing for almost 3 years now.”
“If you try to 100% it the game becomes an insufferable and tedious dookie fest.”
- monetization35 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 34 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight a strong consensus that the game features no microtransactions, paid DLC, or in-game purchases, allowing players to unlock all content through gameplay. This approach is praised as a refreshing change in a market often filled with cash grabs, contributing to a positive gaming experience that emphasizes fun and community engagement. Overall, players appreciate the developers' commitment to maintaining a fair monetization model.
“The complete absence of any microtransactions of any kind is beautiful.”
“What I appreciate most about Crab Champions is that all content is available to unlock in the game by playing, and there are no loot boxes or microtransactions.”
“Cash grab but fun.”
“Needs microtransactions, maybe a battle pass.”
“The fact that there's no microtransactions (and as far as I know none in the future) makes me actually have hope for the future and community around this game.”
- emotional23 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its charming storytelling, heartfelt dialogue, and a soundtrack that enhances the narrative's emotional highs and lows. Players describe it as a wholesome experience that evokes a range of feelings, from joy to nostalgia, often leaving them with a lasting warmth and connection to the game's world and characters. The sense of community and shared experiences further enriches the emotional journey, making it a memorable and engaging adventure.
“Crab Champions is not just a game; it's an emotional odyssey that captivates players with its charm, warmth, and delightful storytelling.”
“The dialogue is witty and heartfelt, contributing to a narrative that effortlessly tugs at the heartstrings.”
“This game made me shed a tear from just how much story and emotion there is to this game.”
- atmosphere8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its enchanting and immersive qualities, enhanced by delightful music and sound effects that create a captivating experience. Players appreciate the game's vibrant visuals and varied environments, which contribute to a soothing and engaging ambiance reminiscent of a living storybook. Overall, the combination of addictive gameplay and a rich atmospheric design makes for a compelling gaming experience.
“The game’s music is soothing and relaxing, creating a serene atmosphere.”
“The story building, reminiscent of a living storybook, creates an enchanting atmosphere that pulls you into its embrace.”
“The music and sound effects significantly contribute to the atmosphere.”
- character development3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is praised for its richness and nuance, providing players with a deep and rewarding engagement with the protagonists. However, some users express dissatisfaction, noting a lack of story and plot progression, which detracts from the overall character development experience.
“Love the rich story and character development.”
“The character development is nuanced and multifaceted, offering a deep and rewarding engagement with the game's protagonists.”
“No story, no plot progression, no niche character development, none of that boring stuff.”