On This Episode of Crustacean Chaos Z…
In the world of video games, there are games so delightfully bizarre that it’s hard to believe they’re real until you experience them for yourself. And yet, Fight Crab 2 exists, and it’s exactly what the name suggests.
Out now in Steam early access, Fight Crab 2 is a 3D arena-based fighting game where species of crab, lobster, and shrimp duke it out gladiator-style. This game is janky, unabashedly weird, and glorious in its dedication to anime-inspired crustacean combat.
At launch, the game features some intriguing new gameplay modes compared to its predecessor. Unfortunately, its rough and buggy user interface makes these new additions difficult to appreciate.
What Is Fight Crab?
The Fight Crab series is the product of developer Calappa Games and publisher PLAYISM. The original game, which released in 2020, offered a bevy of single-player fights (both one-vs-one and two-vs-two), along with online co-op and multiplayer matches.
Across 41 scenarios, Fight Crab’s campaign pit you against various crustaceans, each wielding different weapons in one of the game’s 11 battle arenas. These fights ranged from straightforward one-on-ones to absurd, larger-than-life epics. Because, again, everyone is playing as a giant crab.
I enjoyed the first Fight Crab and was excited to check out Fight Crab 2, from the same developers and publishers, when it was released in Early Access on February 13.
New Features to Claw Through
Like its predecessor, Fight Crab 2 offers a series of wacky challenges you can complete both on your own and through online co-op. This includes “Tractor Hunting,” where you and your crab comrades are tasked with knocking a murderous crab off of its tractor (while avoiding getting run over). There’s also the Mad Max-inspired “Immortan Takeshi” challenge where you face off against a small army of crabs in pointy, crudely modified vehicles as they chase you down (presumably for your “guzzoline”). By playing these modes, you earn Crab Points, which—as you might expect—let you unlock new crabs.
But the standout new single-player addition is “Career Mode,” a reimagining of the original Fight Crab’s campaign mode. It’s as bonkers as it sounds—you’re essentially training your crab to become the ultimate crustacean warrior.
You start your three-year career choosing your crab and its starting weapons, then proceed on an RPG-inspired “choose your own adventure” mode where you pick from three rotating arena challenges, including exhibitions, tournaments, boss fights, and event battles to advance your career. Each challenge adds months to your career, challenging you to choose your fights wisely. When you increase your crab’s stats, like strength, you see your crab pumping iron or performing various exercises in between matches. Some challenges pair you with allied crabs, while others make you face multiple crabs on your own. Watching your crab evolve with new weapons, special moves, spells, and stat bonuses adds a surprisingly complex layer to an already chaotic game.
There’s also a weapon fusion mode—a feature that, at first glance, offers a sandbox of creativity. The prospect of crafting my lightsaber sai or a Morningstar shield sounded tantalizing. Unfortunately, I could only merge one tutorial weapon; the menu became inaccessible to me through a bug that kept the main menu overlaid with the fusion screen.
Anime Aesthetics and Crustacean Shenanigans
Fight Crab 2 doesn’t just lean into its anime aesthetic—it spins into it while wielding dual flaming katanas. The game is a visual spectacle with lasers, fireballs, Dragon Ball Z-inspired power-ups, enormous ki-blasts, and absurd weapons, such as a gun ax or a giant drill to pierce the heavens. The gun ax was my go-to, letting me knock crabs on their backs from a distance while excelling at claw-to-claw combat.
Amid the chaos, Fight Crab 2 expands Fight Crab’s customizable avatar rider feature beyond online modes. Now, your customizable human riders lead you into battle both on and offline. Riders also have new responsibilities, such as issuing commands and jumping off your crab’s back to recover your weapons when you get disarmed. They also spend their downtime perfecting their Japanese pop-inspired dance moves in the background.
Dance in general plays a more significant role in this sequel, with some game modes centered around protecting dancers from hostile crabs or rescuing them from captivity. It’s a bizarre twist that fits perfectly within the game’s eccentric universe.
Additionally, the crabs no longer have to rely on just their spindly legs to scurry around the battle arena. Now, they can ride magic nimbus clouds, tractors, giant sharks, and other ridiculous modes of transportation (I had no choice but to try the tricycle for my career mode crab). It’s a whimsical addition that adds a layer of charm to the game.
The charm of Fight Crab 2 lies in its ability to blend wacky crustacean shenanigans with janky, jerky movements. There’s a depth to the combat system, allowing players to disarm opponents, block attacks, flip other crabs over, and summon additional weapons or powers. Even mastering the controls is an adventure in itself—for better and for worse.
A Battle of Pincers (and Patience)
The objective in any fight in Fight Crab 2 is to deal damage to your crustaceous combatants until they fall on their backs and stay down for three seconds. It’s frustrating, then, when the controls to accomplish this always seem to fight you as you play.
The game’s control scheme is, in a word, weird. The movement and manipulation of your crab’s arms take considerable getting used to, with each crab species offering a unique experience.
There are two control options to choose from: 1) Modern Control Scheme, new to the sequel, and 2) Classic Control, which is the same as the first game. Fight Crab had players control a crab’s pincers separately using the corresponding analog stick (or keys), and then separate controls for movement.
I found myself wrestling with the game’s Modern Control Scheme, which doesn’t always cooperate in making your crab’s limbs bend to your will. While the camera views and controls feel more like a “traditional” modern shooter, they don’t correspond to the intricacies of Fight Crab 2‘s absurdities. Mounts don’t necessarily improve things. Some, like the tricycle, are wobbly and easily fall over, while others, like the tractor, are tough to steer. This often resulted in a comedic yet frustrating struggle for dominance in the arena.
Opting for the Classic Control Scheme provided a semblance of precision, but the battle with the camera and controls never fully subsided. Maybe the lobster would be better off with a kusarigama instead of the boxing gloves? Maybe the blue crab excels with the buzz saw? It’s up to you to figure it out amid the floaty physics and finicky crab legs.
Each warrior has unique sizes, movements, and arm-flailing techniques, but getting a handle on it all can feel like grabbing at a slippery eel. The Modern Control Scheme tries its best, but sometimes it feels like you’re just suggesting movements to your crab rather than commanding them.
Final Thoughts
Fight Crab 2 is an experience that revels in its imperfections, delivering a unique blend of strategy, combat, and sheer absurdity. There’s an undeniable charm here, especially for fans of fighting games.
As the game continues to receive updates, I hope some technical wrinkles will be ironed out. I’ve decided to leave off a score for now, given its Early Access status. For now, though, Fight Crab 2 stands as a testament—however flawed—to the joy of embracing the hype, the weird, the wild, and the wonderfully wacky.
Score: N/A
Fight Crab 2 is available now in Steam early access. It retails for $14.99.
Disclaimer: A review code was provided by the publisher. Given the game’s early state, we have elected not to provide a score.
