Summary
The Soulslike genre essentially came to fruition when developers started trying to reproduce FromSoftware’s distinct third-person action-adventure formula, and naturally, that’s led to a lot of FromSoftware tropes and conventions carrying through to the rest of the genre even over a decade later. One of the biggest FromSoftware features to remain a staple of the wider Soulslike genre is the developer’s penchant for intense, challenging, and spectacular boss fights. And while not every Soulslike can even capture a fraction ofFromSoftware’s boss fight magic,Another Crab’s Treasuredoesn’t have that problem.
There are almost 20 great, original bosses inAnother Crab’s Treasure, all of which boast a unique visual design and a distinct moveset. That being said, there are one or two bosses inAnother Crab’s Treasurethat make their influences a tad more obvious than the rest, and Inkerton, Crab Hunter is certainly one of them.
Comparing Another Crab’s Treasure’s Inkerton Boss to Bloodborne’s Father Gascoigne
Inkerton, Crab Hunter is a Clear Bloodborne Reference
First encountered as a brief boss fight in Flotsam Vale,Another Crab’s Treasure’s Inkerton bosspays clear homage to FromSoftware’s beloved Lovecraftian PS4-exclusiveBloodborne. WhileAnother Crab’s Treasurefeatures a few bosses that share a few similarities with their FromSoftware influences, few are quite as overt as Inkerton, whose visual design seems to be a direct reference toBloodborne’s iconic Hunter, specifically the one adorning the game’s front cover, equipped with the full set of Hunter apparel.
While Inkerton is a big squid and not a human, hisappearance still referencesBloodborne, with the fins on the side of his head closely resembling the sides of the Hunter’s hat. Inkerton’s arsenal is also a pretty clear reference to the classic Hunter gear set, with theAnother Crab’s Treasureboss wielding a large nutcracker in one hand, and a party popper in the other, designed to imitate the Hunter’s trick weapon and pistol combo.
Inkerton’s name also feels like a clear, somewhat on-the-nose reference toBloodborne, literally being called a “Crab Hunter.”
Inkerton’s Moveset Shares Some Similarities With Bloodborne’s Father Gascoigne
But while Inkerton’s visual design seems to be based onBloodborne’s Hunter player character, his moveset and general attack pattern seem to share a few similarities withBloodborne’s Father Gascoigne. Inkerton uses his weapon to swipe at the player but can transform it into a longer variation that has a wider sweep, just likeGascoigne’s trick Hunter Axe weapon. And also much like Father Gascoigne, Inkerton uses his projectile weapon to quickly catch the player off-guard mid-combo.
A big difference betweenAnother Crab’s Treasure’s Inkerton boss fight andBloodborne’s Father Gascoigne fight, however, is the speed at which these attacks are delivered, and the overall pacing of the fight. InBloodborne, Father Gascoigne frenetically zips around the arena, taking fast swipes with his axe and firing his gun in between them. InAnother Crab’s Treasure, Inkerton follows a similar attack pattern but performs these moves a little slower, giving the player plenty of time to evade oncoming projectiles and melee attacks. This slower pace means that the Inkerton fight doesn’t feel quite as intense asBloodborne’s Gascoigne fight, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing, as players are given more time to appreciate the boss' visual and mechanical design.
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.
