Info about Fight Crab 2:

Official game description:
Crab battles, more epic than ever before!
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Armor-clad humans mount immortal crabs in the world’s newest combat sport! Select a weapon loadout (one weapon for each claw, of course!), assume an advantageous fighting stance, and unleash crab-fueled chaos on opponents.  
*   Select from 20+ crabs with distinct attributes like weight, agility, grip strength, toughness and more!  
*   Dual-wield 70+ weapons, from basic swords, shields and projectile cannons to flaming spears, beam sabers, boxing gloves, and yo-yos  
*   Equip 40+ special passive and active abilities, such as auto-parrying, increased weapon durability, or illumination of nearby weapons  
*   Duke it out across multiple arena types like wide open desert landscapes, villages full of homes, floating sky platforms (don’t fall off!), basketball courts, and more.  
*   Use obstacles to your advantage - knock enemies into moving trains!
Physics-Based Battles
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How do you defeat an immortal crab? Destroy its pride. Rack up damage against enemies to increase knockback power, then expose the enemy crab’s white underbelly by flipping them on their backs. Hold them down for a 3-count to achieve a wrestling-style victory.  
Each weapon has different attributes. Sharp-edged weapons like swords and spears deal more damage, while blunt-force objects like baseball bats deal more knockback.
Simple and Advanced Controls
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Opt for simplified arcade style controls, or embrace the physics-based mayhem with dual-stick controlled claws like in the original Fight Crab. Left and right stick movements are matched on-screen with equivalent swings and thrusts in every direction (Fight Crab veterans, rejoice!)
Crab Gauge
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Any damage received fills up the Crab Gauge. Fill it up and unleash tide-turning attacks including summoning assist animals, devastating long-range laser eyes, and much more!
Career Mode - Scuttle Towards Greatness, Fame and Fortune
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In Career mode, nurture and train a crab into a ferocious fighter. Imitation crab won’t survive this gauntlet - get in the gym to level up, and fight for justice (and popularity) in multiple event modes. Defeat evil crabs, mischievous monsters, or put a stop to wild farm tractors with a mind of their own.
Online Mode - Fight for the title of King Crab
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Face off in both casual and ranked matches, and create battle rooms with up to 5-player lobby waiting support.
Message from the Developer
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It's been 3 years since Fight Crab, and neither physics-based combat nor playable crabs are all that surprising to see in video games nowadays.  
So this time, other than just trying to create something entirely novel, I'm aiming for a game that can be enjoyed forever.  
The core concept is to "flip the opponent upside down", so I've prepared as many weapons, spells, and skills I could think of to achieve that.  
And then I created an infinitely replayable singleplayer mode where players could earn them.  
Now you can mess around with friends in room matches, or be super competitive in ranked matches, or treat it as a singleplayer game and aim for a new personal high score.  
If you don't have any plans, you can queue for an online match while raising crabs in Career Mode at the same time. Then you could use your raised crabs to clear challenges. I believe that would make for a wonderful crab life.  
And in order to make this game one that can be enjoyed forever, I would like to hear everyone's thoughts and suggestions during Early Access, so please send us your feedback!

Release date: Feb 13, 2024

Categories: Physics-based Combat, Fighting Game, Online Co-op, Character Progression, Monster Raising, 3D Fighting, Local Multiplayer


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 2.0h
  - Story completion: N/A
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The first quote gives a concrete completion time: about 2 hours for a first run. Because it refers to finishing a run rather than a separate story campaign, I map it to gameCompletion; no separate storyCompletion or typical session length is reported. The second quote only notes mission variety during the first hour, not a completion or session metric. The third quote says PvP can be played for hours, but it does not provide a specific endgame duration. The 3000-hour comment in the dataset refers to the previous game and is excluded.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: Fight Crab 2 is reported to deliver fun almost immediately, especially as a goofy party or co-op game with friends, though rough production, messy combat, and limited online replayability can add friction.
  - Stance: Fun immediately
  - Anchor: N/A
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: Rough production values; Messy gameplay feel; Limited Player 2 customization in career mode; Weak online replayability; Declining online population
  - Unlock drivers: N/A
  - Conditions: Playing with friends; Couch co-op; Party game context; Career mode content; 4P or online PvP; DIY skin customization; Remote Play Together; Early mission variety
- Player Archetypes:
  - Social Party Co-op Player (buy)
    - Motivation: Shared chaotic fun and laughter with friends.
    - Playstyle: Couch co-op and private 2P or 4P party matches, often casually.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Competitive Online PvP Battler (buy)
    - Motivation: Competition, rank climbing, and mastery of deep PvP systems.
    - Playstyle: Ranked and casual online matches, optimizing builds, training, and seeking worthy opponents.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: Super Smash Bros.
  - Beginner-Friendly Casual Player (buy)
    - Motivation: Accessible, low-pressure fun with an absurd crab-fighting premise.
    - Playstyle: Solo career and casual matches, using simplified controls and learning at their own pace.
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: beginners; not good at action
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Creative Customizer (buy)
    - Motivation: Self-expression through avatars, skins, and absurd personalization.
    - Playstyle: Importing VRM avatars, creating skins, customizing riders, and using them in online or co-op modes.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- VRoid and VRM integration (weight 0.67): The game supports VRM data and VRoid Hub integration, allowing players to import custom VRoid avatars for customization. Linking with VRoid is easy and lets users use their own VRoid characters as trainers or avatars.
- Game is fun and hilarious (weight 0.49): Many players describe the game as fun, hilarious, and enjoyable to play yourself. The gameplay is interesting and the overall experience is well-loved.
- Extensive weapons and spells (weight 0.49): There is a huge number of weapons, spells, and skills, with over 90 weapons and spells and over 40 skills for customization. The large variety makes combinations dazzling.
- Variety of crab species (weight 0.42): There are many different crabs to choose from, including various crab breeds and lobster family members. Each species offers multiple color options, adding customization variety.
- Balanced weapon cost system (weight 0.36): Strong weapons have a cost, showing balance consideration. The cost concept balances weak and strong weapons, allowing balanced fights regardless of weapon choice.
- Solo play supported (weight 0.31): The game can be played without friends, with plenty of single-player modes available. Single-player and multiplayer modes are both offered, catering to solo players.
- Great party game (weight 0.3): The game is good for party games with friends, and the gameplay is fun to enjoy with friends. The couch co-op is killer.
- Modern and classic controls (weight 0.3): New modern controls are friendly to general players and easy for beginners, alongside the option to use classic controls. This makes the game accessible.
- Weapon fusion system (weight 0.29): Weapons can be fused, which increases durability or transforms them into stronger weapons. The weapon fusion system is a notable feature.
- Crab fighting action (weight 0.24): The game delivers exactly what its title promises: intense crab-on-crab action. It is a favorite crab-themed fighting game.
- Realistic crab control (weight 0.24): Players have much more control of the crab, and handling it with a controller feels realistic and great. You can create your own strongest crab.
- Online battles and matchmaking (weight 0.18): The game features fun online battles with matchmaking for exciting fights. Online matching with other players is available.
- Substantial roguelike mode (weight 0.18): The roguelike single-player mode is substantial and fun, full of single-mode content. It offers an interesting roguelike experience.
- Unarmed crab combat (weight 0.17): Some crabs can be effective even without weapons, using claws to attack or grab. This adds variety to combat strategies.
- UI and navigation improvements (weight 0.17): UI improvements include easy-to-understand navigation and a clear navigation system. This enhances the overall user experience.
- Casual deck building (weight 0.17): Deck building feels casual like a card game. This adds a casual card game element to the gameplay.
- Spells with traps and fire (weight 0.17): Spells allow setting traps, fences, and breathing fire. These spell effects add strategic depth to combat.

Common complaints:
- Poor and Janky Controls (weight 0.8): Many players report that the controls feel inconvenient, unresponsive, not smooth, and janky, making the game difficult to play. This issue is mentioned in multiple clusters and significantly affects the overall experience.
- Poor UI and Graphics (weight 0.67): The UI is rough, large, flashy, and considered worse than the previous game. Graphics, models, and scene details are also criticized as crude and not improved.
- Low Online Player Count (weight 0.64): The game struggles with matchmaking because of a low player base, leading to dead online modes and a ghost server situation. This makes online multiplayer nearly unplayable.
- Repetitive and Lacking Content (weight 0.59): The game becomes repetitive across modes, with similar campaigns each month and a short lifespan. Players feel the content cannot support long-term play.
- Unplayable Due to Technical Issues (weight 0.55): Players experience severe technical problems such as being stuck in a loop on the start screen, buttons not showing, falling through the map, and constant crashes during matches. These issues render the game unplayable for some.
- Unbalanced Gameplay and Combat (weight 0.53): Combat balance is poor: small crabs can deal massive damage, blocking is ineffective, grabbing is useless, and ranged weapons are unbalanced. This leads to frustrating and unfair fights.
- Lack of Guidance and Tutorial (weight 0.47): The game lacks clear explanations, a proper tutorial, and guidance for casual players. The tutorial is not clear and is buried in career mode, making it hard for new players to learn.
- Minor Issues and Nitpicks (weight 0.42): Various minor issues are reported, such as missing audio, no free-for-all mode, inability to add AI, duplication of crabs, marketing effort, and the game not being from the same maker as Crab Champions.
- Complexity and Overwhelming Mechanics (weight 0.41): The game is complicated, with too many buttons, spells, and things to manage outside of combat. This overwhelms newcomers and makes the game hard to understand.
- Poor Crab Balance and Handling (weight 0.34): Heavy crabs are slow and unwieldy, while light crabs are weak. Weapons feel unwieldy, and some crabs have terrible handling.
- Worse Than the First Game (weight 0.3): Many players feel this game is worse than Fight Crab 1 in various aspects, including controls, UI, content, and overall quality. Some even call it a cash grab.
- Physics and Movement Problems (weight 0.3): The physics are bad, causing issues like being unable to walk up hills, flipping when jumping backwards, and getting stuck in fences. Movement and camera rotation are also slow.
- Limited Customization for Player 2 (weight 0.28): In career and splitscreen modes, player 2 cannot customize their crab, avatar, or have any choice, which disappoints some players.
- Unpolished and Unkind to Players (weight 0.28): The game is unpolished, unkind to players, and still feels like an early access title. Many aspects are rough and need debugging.
- AI Teammates Are Ineffective (weight 0.24): Partner crabs on your team often do nothing in important battles, just run in place or retreat, and lack weapons. This makes team modes frustrating.
- Missing Features from Previous Game (weight 0.23): Some weapons and features from the original game are missing, such as the crowbar and dagger. Additionally, the 2v2 AI co-op experience is absent.
- Performance and Optimization Issues (weight 0.23): The game suffers from stutters, lag, and crashes, especially on lower-end hardware like mini PCs with integrated graphics or when streaming. This affects playability.
- Lack of Innovation and Appeal (weight 0.22): The gameplay lacks major innovation, and the game's appeal and replayability are not sufficient. It doesn't feel like a crab game to some.
- Boss Difficulty and Spikes (weight 0.16): The Boss Instructor in year 2 is stronger than the lunar boss, creating a difficulty spike. Some levels also have issues like throwing cages off the map.
- Weapon Durability and Recovery (weight 0.16): Weapon durability requires stopping to recover, which disrupts combat flow. Some players also dislike that weapons can be destroyed.

Gameplay feedback:
- Crab-Controlling Gameplay Core (weight 0.89): Players control crabs directly, whether as a pilot, tamer, or trainer, and can grow and customize them. Single-player career involves gradually strengthening crabs through battles.
- Online and Offline Modes (weight 0.86): The game offers online battles, ranked and casual matches, local multiplayer, and a single-player challenge mode. Couch co-op and local two-player screen play are also supported.
- Career Mode Crab Raising (weight 0.77): A single-player career mode spans three in-game years, focusing on raising and training crabs with skill inheritance and weapon fusion. The goal is to become the strongest crab through arena matches.
- Crustacean Combat Focus (weight 0.7): The game centers on crabs fighting each other in 3D arenas, often with physics-based mechanics and ranked progression. Strategic weapon choices and crab types affect combat.
- Weapon and Skill Arsenal (weight 0.66): Crabs can be equipped with a vast array of weapons, items, skills, and spells. Weapons can break during battle, and each crab has different compatibility with weapons.
- Win Condition Flipping Opponent (weight 0.47): Matches are won by flipping the opponent or knocking them down for three seconds, with damage measured as a percentage similar to Smash Bros. The goal is to flip the opponent's mount or the opponent themselves.
- Crab Mounts and Riders (weight 0.45): Crabs can serve as mounts for human riders, who are customizable. Players can ride crabs into battle and fight alongside them.
- Deep Physics-Based Fighting (weight 0.32): Combat is physics-based with absurd style and sophisticated mechanics. Players must strategize to deal damage and operate their crab effectively.
- Multiple Crab Types (weight 0.24): Players can choose from different crab types, each altering play style, and unlock new types by earning tokens in challenge mode.
- Dismount and Weapon Pickup (weight 0.23): Players can dismount from their crab to run around as a human and pick up dropped weapons for later use.
- Single-Player Adventure Mode (weight 0.17): A single-player adventure mode is available for solo play.
- Goofy Physics Simulator (weight 0.17): The game is a goofy physics-based crab simulator where players control crabs through physics simulation.
- Monster Rancher Style Career (weight 0.17): The career mode incorporates Monster Rancher-like elements, focusing on raising and training crabs.
- Dual-Wielding Weapons (weight 0.17): Crabs can dual-wield weapons, using both claws to hold a weapon in each.
- Photo Mode Availability (weight 0.16): The game includes a photo mode for taking screenshots.

Performance notes:
- Stuttering during streaming and battles (weight 0.26): Players report stutters when streaming on a mini PC with integrated graphics and CPU, as well as slight stutter during battles. The game is also described as not smooth overall.
- Frequent crashes reported (weight 0.2): Multiple clusters describe the game crashing constantly, including a specific crash triggered when an AI enemy fires a weapon during a match. These stability problems appear across different hardware configurations.
- Extreme lag across devices (weight 0.11): The game is extremely laggy on both PC and laptop, indicating widespread performance issues regardless of platform.
- Stable on dedicated GPU desktop (weight 0.09): A desktop PC with a dedicated GPU runs the game stably, suggesting that hardware capability significantly affects performance.
- Minor audio issues (weight 0.08): Some players encounter minor audio problems, though these are less severe than the performance and crash issues reported.

Recommendations:
- Great for party play with friends (weight 0.45): Many reviewers highlight the game's suitability for playing with friends, making it a fun party game. It is recommended for group sessions and quick fun.
- Recommended for crab enthusiasts (weight 0.38): Players who enjoy crabs or want to become crab warriors highly recommend the game. It appeals to those seeking a unique crab-themed experience.
- Appeals to fans of bizarre games (weight 0.3): Reviewers recommend it for players who like bizarre-style or unique games. Its surreal and absurd elements are a key draw.
- Enjoyable for casual play (weight 0.25): The game is praised as an excellent choice for casual boredom and offers enjoyable casual fun. It is worth trying for light entertainment.
- Original Fight Crab recommended (weight 0.23): Some reviewers suggest trying the original Fight Crab first. Others note that the first game does not need to be played before the second.
- Unique competitive game (weight 0.23): The unique theme makes it a very good competitive game. Players seeking more challenges can increase difficulty or play online PvP.
- Appeals to action and raising fans (weight 0.23): Recommended for people who like action games and those who enjoy raising games. The game offers free and diverse combat.
- Find your own enjoyment (weight 0.22): Players are encouraged to find their own way to enjoy the game. Downloading and wholeheartedly recommending it are common sentiments.
- Good for card battle fans (weight 0.18): The game is recommended for those who enjoy card battles. It offers a satisfying experience for fans of that genre.
- Solo play is well-supported (weight 0.18): It is considered the best crab game for solo players, with a substantial single-player mode. The game offers a strong solo experience.
- Mixed purchase timing advice (weight 0.17): Some suggest waiting for a sale or for later buyers, while others strongly recommend buying now. The game is often seen as a good deal when discounted.
- Refund and uninstall reports (weight 0.17): A few players mention uninstalling and refunding the game. Some will refund until more co-op features are added.
- Good foundation but needs work (weight 0.17): The game needs improvement but has a very good foundation. Even those who might refund are encouraged to try it, as it can be amazing for some.
- Negative recommendation noted (weight 0.16): A negative recommendation uses 'you have to know' to imply it is not recommended. This suggests some players have reservations.
- Not for everyone (weight 0.16): The game isn't for everyone, and players should consider if they can get past the crude UI and guidance. Completing the tutorial reveals unique combat.
- Better with friends (weight 0.1): Reviewers recommend buying and playing, noting it is even better with friends. Cooperative play enhances the experience.
- Appeals to tired PvP players (weight 0.09): Players tired of human-versus-human fighting may enjoy the crab civil war aspect. It offers a fresh alternative to traditional fighting games.
- Beginner-friendly ranked builds (weight 0.09): The game provides builds for beginners to reach ranked matches. This helps new players enter the competitive scene.
- Performance concerns for streaming (weight 0.09): Players planning to stream on a low-spec PC should consider before purchase. Performance may be an issue for streaming.
- Overcome initial control difficulty (weight 0.09): Recommended for those who gave up due to difficulty with the first operation method. Persisting can lead to enjoyment.

Other player notes:
- Improved over first game (weight 0.68): Reviewers generally agree that this sequel is better than the first Fight Crab in many aspects, including physics, graphics, and tutorial. However, a few dissenters find the first game better.
- Sequel to Fight Crab (weight 0.66): Many reviewers note this is the direct sequel to Fight Crab, released in July 2020. It continues the crab fighting concept with a new look and expanded features.
- Early access release (weight 0.45): The game is currently in early access, with ongoing updates planned. Some mention that buying early is cheaper as the price will increase at full release.
- Various game mode comparisons (weight 0.35): Reviewers compare the game to Super Smash Bros for victory goal, Monster Rancher for campaign, and sumo wrestling. It also has challenge modes like time attack and a monthly evolving career mode.
- Developed by Calappa Games (weight 0.31): The game is developed by Calappa Games and published by PLAYISM. It is not from the same developer as Crab Champions.
- Weapon and spell variety doubled (weight 0.31): The quantity of weapons and spells has nearly doubled compared to the predecessor. New crabs and weapons have been added.
- Low online player population (weight 0.3): The online player count is declining, with few players on Steam and difficulty finding matches. Some worry about empty online servers.
- Casual card battle gameplay (weight 0.24): Described as a casual card-battle-like game suitable for everyone. It features casual match and ranked match modes.
- Physics and controls compared (weight 0.23): Physics engine is compared to Mount & Blade Warband, and controls are compared to Surgeon Simulator and QWOP. Some find controls worse than the first game.
- Aquatic theme and seafood games (weight 0.22): The game has an aquatic theme and is produced by a team known for seafood-themed games like Ace of Seafood. It is part of a crab game boom.
- Remote Play Together support (weight 0.22): Supports Remote Play Together, allowing friends to join four-player online battles without owning the game. Local two-player screen play is also supported.
- Developers active and update frequently (weight 0.17): The developers are active and update the game frequently. Updates will continue during early access with possible large updates.
- Includes photo mode and commentary (weight 0.16): Photo mode is included, and the game features battle commentary. These add extra features for players.
- Spell elements and cost system (weight 0.15): Spell elements have been added, and a cost system for weapons has been introduced. These add strategic depth to the gameplay.
- Hit and vibration effect added (weight 0.09): The first game did not have the Hit/Vibration effect, but this sequel includes it. This adds more feedback during combat.
- Players control crabs as humans (weight 0.09): In the game, players become humans who control crabs. This is a unique premise that sets it apart.
- Online connection works well (weight 0.09): The online connection worked well even on a direct connection from a distant region. This indicates stable netcode.

Emotions:
- Disappointment (weight 0.15): Players express disappointment due to the game being unpolished and inferior to its predecessor, compounded by technical issues and poor design choices. Missing features, lack of guidance, and a dead online community further diminish the experience, making it feel lacking overall.
- Frustration (weight 0.12): Frustration arises from severe technical problems such as constant crashes, extreme lag, and game-breaking bugs that prevent play. Imprecise and janky controls, coupled with difficult and unfair mechanics, make advanced techniques hard to execute and battles feel random.
- Amusement (weight 0.1): Amusement stems from the absurd and hilarious premise of crabs wielding weapons and engaging in silly antics. The janky mechanics and surreal visuals, like crabs lifting weights or riding tricycles, create a fun and laugh-out-loud experience.
- Excitement (weight 0.1): Excitement is driven by the innovative arena combat featuring crabs with diverse weapons and skills, fulfilling childhood fantasies of crab gladiators. The deep competitive environment, variety of playstyles, and whimsical charm keep players engaged and eager to explore.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.09): Enjoyment comes from the chaotic fun of physics-based combat, a wide variety of weapons, and engaging multiplayer modes. The game offers fast-paced action, tactical depth, and a novel experience that is especially enjoyable with friends.
- Confusion (weight 0.05): Confusion arises from difficulty understanding game mechanics and the overwhelming number of elements outside combat. Inconsistent boss difficulty and duplicate crab species add to the bewildering experience.
- Appreciation (weight 0.05): Appreciation is for the unique and deep combat system that becomes rewarding once understood. The game's rich content, innovative theme of humans mastering crab martial arts, and beginner-friendly features are highly valued.
- Surprise (weight 0.04): Surprise stems from the game exceeding expectations, with players enjoying it more than anticipated and finding unexpected strategic depth. The new controls also turned out to be more likable than initially thought.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.04): Satisfaction is derived from high-quality crab battle modules, satisfying action elements like parrying and guard breaking, and the rewarding feeling of knocking opponents down. Expanded item variety and deep strategic gameplay contribute to a fulfilling experience.
- Joy (weight 0.03): Joy is brought about by the humorous situations created by applying skills and magic to crabs, resulting in fun and funny battles. Both watching and playing the game elicit delight.
- Concern (weight 0.02): Concern is expressed over the declining online player count, which affects replayability and content longevity. The game's complexity, with all buttons used and added elements, also raises worries.
- Love (weight 0.02): Love for the game is rooted in sheer enjoyment and the belief that it is the best fighting game ever made. Players are deeply passionate about it.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.02): Enthusiasm is shown for raising crabs and competing online, with players praising the game as one of the best of its kind due to its unique gameplay.
- Attachment (weight 0.02): Attachment develops from raising crab builds over multiple in-game years, leading to a strong emotional bond with the player's crabs.
- Hope (weight 0.02): Hope is expressed through wishes for more customization and stages, and the desire for the game to be refined and gain popularity before full release.
- Annoyance (weight 0.01): Annoyance is caused by the Hit/Vibration effect after hitting a crab and the lack of knowledge on how to disable it, which detracts from the experience.
- Anger (weight 0.01): Anger is triggered by unnecessary steps required to start a fighting game, creating an inconvenient barrier to entry.
- Relaxation (weight 0.01): Relaxation comes from turning off your brain and wielding big swords, offering a carefree and enjoyable experience.
- Awe (weight 0.01): Awe is felt by players who consider the game perhaps the greatest of all time, highlighting its exceptional quality.
- Slight frustration (weight 0.01): Slight frustration is due to long matchmaking wait times caused by a low player count, which hampers the online experience.}