Crabby Adventure An Amazing Cover Art a Not-So Amazing Game | Octavius King

[@sleepytime999998]

Gotta love Octy. It's the game review equivalent of finding a random mushroom in the forest and thinking, "It's gorgeous. Someone has to eat it."

[@blokewithsuperpowers3475]

That was my sister on the cover of Phalanx, I'll have you know she spent 4 days in a beauty spar... her fingernails were something to die for, i thought I'd send a message after about 30 seconds, but, why is that crab leaking? What's happening? Fever dreams of the past for the win!

[@CJJC]

We’ve all had a crabby adventure the day after a disappointing night out.

[@joeyparkhill8751]

Especially when you get back from the STI clinic!

[@the80hdgaming]

Crab Champions is the game Octy had the expectations of playing, but got Crabby Adventure instead... 🤣🤣🤣

[@mightyfilm]

Well, what I was expecting was a terrible bunch of coloring pages and slide puzzles all accompanied by a Dingo Pictures cartoon of some sort. A lost Wabuu adventure where he goes to a seafood restraunt. "Most crabs are SHOOOOO SHTUPEED!"

[@josephkarl2061]

"Like Zuma, but with crabs" That sounds to me like Zuma had a wild night out on the town, and is really regretting it now 🤪

[@vinching926]

Zuma ate too much pebbles then turned itself into a crab

[@migueldias8546]

2:06 We actually have the story. The publisher of the game knew the game was average (good but average) and it will be hard to make this game stand out. They also knew rental was a big thing at the time so they on purpose went with a WTF cover. The old man on the picture is actually a model for the photographer (mainly Santa Claus pictures). His name was Bertil Valley (if you Google it, you will open the pandora box).

[@migueldias8546]

"My ad agency had the Kemco account, and our task was to develop packaging and marketing materials for over 40 titles. Kemco would typically buy their games from 3rd party developers in Japan. Some were good, and some were not good. Weaker games needed more help graphically to get them to stand out on the retail shelf. We wanted people to pick up the package, get engaged with the story, and buy the damn game. The package was also used to help Kemco sell the game to retailers, so it had to make the buyers think the game would sell at their stores (i.e. Walmart, etc.). Most of the games back then were in a look-alike category: same genre, same kind of graphics. Nothing to differentiate them from each other. Keith was not a gamer, and, in fact, none of us were in our agency. But Keith was a brilliant idea guy and always was. We knew the game didn’t have a lot to offer, but we wanted to make the package arresting. Keith called this kind of thing the “heavy huh factor.” If we couldn’t do anything else, we’d try and get the potential purchaser to stare at the package and try and figure out what just happened. Today it might be called a WTF moment. So Keith could have done some predictable spaceship shooting bullshit that would have been like every other game out there. Or he could create a story that would make people stop and think about it. And I guess it’s proof that was a good idea because people are still thinking about it. Phalanx was a very average game with an unexpected cover design. It needed a great/weird idea to stand out from the crowd."

[@lilliputmoss]

There's an alt timeline where that Donkey Kong is canon and they had the DK Death Metal instead of rap.

[@octaviusking]

I hate how much I wish that were a thing - Louis

[@bofh139]

Mario Kart in Carmageddon style with a Death Metal soundtrack. Or can we get this version of Donkey Kong to turn up in the next Mario movie?

[@MathewHaswell]

@@bofh139 Like Ugly Sonic in the Rescue Rangers movie?

[@shocknawe]

So we’re finally here, performing for YOOOOOOOOOU. (Death growl) OOOOOORRRRRRRRRRRhhhhhhhHhhhhrrrrrrrRRRRRR

[@JamesShow]

That NOT sponsorship alone is worth the like. WAY to KNOW your audience!

[@greenhowie]

Makes me wish Yahtzee still did that "Judging by the Cover" series. Extremely glad someone sent this in, it's a wonderful piece of Art.

[@joeyparkhill8751]

I see you are a person of culture! Yahtzee is so vulgar & so foul... & HE'S FU*KING AWESOME!!

[@MathewHaswell]

0:48 - That's the Atari 2600 version. Even says so in the corner. At least one run of the Intellivision version *did* use that boxart, but my point stands.

[@UnclePhil73]

I will say you have a knack for finding the most obscure of the obscure.

[@WhatHoSnorkers]

We were robbed of a full Crabby RPG. Level up your claws! Your armour! Your walking sidewise! Gah.

[@octaviusking]

You have no idea how happy I would be to play that.

[@primokarmasilver]

Crab Fight on steam is great thou

[@ninjacat230]

I didn't see any of the other crabs in the boxart until you pointed them out

[@primokarmasilver]

I've got crabs

[@Blas4ublasphemy]

Well I got VD from a he/she in D.C., but you don't hear me bragging about it....

[@ed_j_webb]

14:07 - Oil Platform Simulator? Now that needs a video of its own.

[@Dead-EyeJuncan]

Fight Crab is the game this should be. It is a crab fighting game with weapons.

[@MathewHaswell]

I tried linking to it, but my comment was eaten.

[@MrPixiepantz]

​@@MathewHaswell The first rule of Fight Crab is you do not talk about Fight Crab.

[@thelittlehooer]

The box art clearly depicts the Arthurian Curry Legend set in the oceans. "Whosoever draws this sword shall be the true King Posideon" The Crabs of the Oval Dining Table seek the Holy Pail, the sword Pecscalibur is then repaired by the Bint of the Beach who pegs it back into the sea after Aquaman breaks it. (I would play that game) I love the boxart of Phalanx, it's very much of the 90s Benetton print advert style with a random library photo. The spaceship in the background looks like it was lifted from movie "The Last Starfighter"

[@jonothanthrace1530]

Now I wish they'd made a reskin of this starring Wabuu.

[@Ashley6100]

I do know that Pang was released here in the UK under the original name, at least on the Spectrum. The loading was one of those ones where you had to individually load levels from the tape as you went so you spent ages trying to rewind to the right place, so I didn't get far. The music is bloody great, though.

[@therealRichardBianco]

Richard from Australia here......love your work...keep it up 😊

[@sueagplant]

That's odd I remember playing pang in the arcade in salt coats as a kid. I have no recollection of buster brothers

[@artofnoise5013]

That sponsorship reference was pure gold.

[@BuzzaB77]

Peggle is legit. In fact all of popcaps games were great. RIP Popcap, they were eaten and destroyed by EA.

[@coyoteartist]

Who hasn't been?

[@MathewHaswell]

@@coyoteartist Unicronic Arts, as Sterling calls them.

[@firecrest3325]

I love your videos, it is something I look forward to, one of the few good female reviewers with a good dark humor based in reality. Taking medication to even get get out of bed and over obsessing on things is a daily for me. Thank you for making it easier.

[@thebongmaster]

I would Play the SHIT out of a GTA-With-Crabs Game :0

[@Jackalblade9]

You and me both. This must become a thing.

[@AgentTasmania]

Grand Theft Arthropod. Different gangs are the five lineages of 'crabs'

[@ZonicMirage]

Same.

[@unicornep1818]

Ya, Octavius has a new video, an actual good Tuesday. Luv & Hugs

[@paulnash9851]

Phalanx is a brilliant game tho’... Should be in the collection of any self-respecting Schmup fan. Glad to see your doing well Octavious.

[@AstraVex]

8:55 I always knew you'd be a Black Books fan! 😀❤️👍📚

[@stevenwhuntva]

I have had such a dreadful week, and this video brightened my spirits a bit. THANK YOU

[@Pencliff]

I want Crab Theft Auto now

[@SuperMegaCoffeeGuru]

That Louis bloke seems like a nice fellow, letting you get mail at the same box. But seriously, great video as always, thank you for the laughs and the peak into an otherwise (nearly) forgotten bit of.... fun? Well it was fun to watch anyway!

[@sir_ashley_richards_o.b.e]

Remember that game 🎮

[@scramblesthedeathdealer]

"They died as they lived, miserably." 🤣🤣🤣

[@DavidFrankland]

oh wow, Peggle. now there was a game that kept me up late way too many times. and now I'm off to find it at 1am

[@magicmarcus409]

Octy you are a legend!!

[@wickedwhispers595]

I cant stop smiling from the stupid cat with the phone lmaoooo

[@UpLateGeek]

LOL that GTA with crabs clip was hilarious! And I'm pretty sure your analysis of the box art was exactly the head canon that the artist came up with when they created it. Honestly, I feel like it would've been more work getting the pointer working when they ported the game across, rather than just throwing in a couple of lines of code to make the crab's direction equal to the direction of the analogue stick. That would've easily solved the controller issues you were having.

[@gcheshire07]

Having worked on most Phoenix games I still wake up some nights in cold sweats and a head full of bugs.

[@RetroAmateur1989]

That phoenix games logo is a mark of excellence. You know you're buying quality.

[@klarfindel]

Would buy the Animal Soccer World but I already have it for both the Playstation and the PS2. Also, my dear Sweetpea says Crabby (or all crabs?) looks like a calzone with legs. I have to live with that image in my head and now you do too. A calzone that scuttles. Lastly, we both agree that your version of the game would be absolutely badass. GTA Crab WHEN?!

[@adamdenby1282]

That cat going to kick ass and take names

[@professorpenne9962]

the box of usa phalanx is a modern art masterpiece

[@justinbollaert2253]

Loved seeing your rat! We would love to see new rats and tat. Thanks for the new awesome video, stay warm and happy.

[@simonday9013]

Sick as the proverbial dog today. This was just what I needed, thank you.

[@AstraVex]

For the Phalanx artwork, The advertising company responsible for the box art later admitted that they had deliberately chosen this theme in order to attract the customer with something original, considering there were many space shooters in the market that looked alike. So I guess you were pretty right 😊

[@professorpenne9962]

in the usa we had a huge flood of sci fi "old guy finds alien spaceship in his back yard" movies, so I guess that's what they were going for. it was that or a ship looking like an adult toy like the other box arts for phalanx 😅

[@crabman3144]

24 seconds in, and I see the Phoenix Games logo. This is going to be a rough one. If you want some other crab games to try out, I recommend Crab Champions, Neo Aquarium: The King of Crustaceans, King of Crabs, Fight Crab, and Adventures on the Polluted Islands. None of them are GTA with Crabs, and I hope someone makes that, but we have an OK selection overall. They're all on Steam, have a look if you have time.

[@mrdeatheli]

Yes! Let's go!!!

[@Mike14264]

It actually looks kinda funn- OH GOD PHOENIX GAMES!!! BURN IT!!! Caddicarus trained me to spot the phoenix, which is an apt mascot for them - whenever you think it's dead in your mind, another game pops its rear in, and the memory of Phoenix Games rises from the ashes of your forgotten memories yet again.

[@artebirklaus]

As you analysed the box-art, I started imagining a swash-buckling, side-scrolling action game in the style of Cool Spot (probably because of that first Cool Spot level on the beach, with crabs). Crabby wielding a sabre, jumping about, slashing, collecting treasure etc. Also very amusing to see that Intellivision Donkey Kong cover art. I would never have thought I'd see Nintendo-approved art like that of any of those characters.

[@TheElcustard]

😂 The Raid Shadow Legend sponsor getting shushed off the screen

[@yungwellbutrin]

This 110% made my day! TY

[@Dogmeatwest]

This video honestly gave me flashbacks to early 2010s game reviews, which is really what I need. Great work!

[@shocknawe]

That Phoenix shield is ALWAYS attached to quality.

[@branchonequal]

5:27 Is that a ghost crab in the middle of the cover or has Crabby summoned a demon crab from the depths of hell? The cloud is glowing! 9:29 When you stab time... is it pissing out? 10:31 Hey Socky! 11:00 FFS, what's with his arms? Is he a spider? 11:33 OOF. We *need* GTA with crabs now, it's looking awesome! Thanks for this fun review, great stuff as always. ❤

[@octaviusking]

Aw you recognise the Socky One :D she was very interested in what I was filming.

[@MathewHaswell]

@@octaviusking "Countess Custard Pie (aka Sockbag) is an old sock, filled with more socks... " - Your chat commands

[@branchonequal]

@@octaviuskingAw, bless her. She's such a lovely lass. ❤

[@NickM...]

As an aside, did you know if you get a crab drunk they walk forwards & backwards.

[@ZombieGamer80]

*Cover art was Crabby, actual game was Crappy.* PS: Great vid Octy. We

[@michaelturner2806]

Box art reminded me of that sort-of game with the swimming dolphin and selectable music tracks. Imagine the dolphin swimming until it got to that scene and just hovered there for a while. Maybe placed a bet with the crab on the right on the outcome of the middle crab fight.

[@inventiveusername5191]

Crabby gets great attack but he's slow and only starts with bubble, so he isn't great for an adventure by himself, at least until gen4 when he gets vicegrip at level 5 and can benefit from the physical/special split. Why yes, I have been watching a lot of JRose recently.

[@lifeisraph]

Yaay! New Octavius video! :) Proceeding to watching it right away!

[@tenebrousoul9368]

Always a good day when they drop

[@lifeisraph]

@@tenebrousoul9368 So absolutely true! :) I love her sense of humor :D

[@MathewHaswell]

@@tenebrousoul9368 *He/They , hence the gender-dysphoria gag partway into the video.

[@tenebrousoul9368]

@@MathewHaswell oh. Shit. I'm sorry. I missed that. I'll change it

[@frankowalker4662]

GTA with crabs ? Yes please.

[@techkev140]

Rats roundhousing a cardboard box, i wouldn't have any idea what that sounded like. However, mice running the perimeter of a room after a failed parlay i understand.

[@AfterBurnerTeirusu]

You can find photos of the Phalanx guy dressed up as a creepy mall Santa if you google hard enough.

[@TheBiggerburger]

Octy is back, cool!

[@blistlelo1700]

I remember I saw that cover and thought it looked pretty nice until I saw Phoenix logo and realize it's likely a trap! It's actually their best logo ever.

[@JesusKristov]

I love Crabby. He doesn't even look like he's ready for an adventure. Poor guy just wants to have a snack and hide under a rock

[@shaniel1877]

Had a rough start of the day, then I saw a new Octavius video pop up. Thanks for making me smile!

[@Siege69m]

Octy video with added rat. What a treat! ❤❤

[@RetroCabeza]

You should play Fight Crab! It's a 3D fighting game with sword-wielding crabs. There's a free demo on Switch. You'll love it.

[@omegaXjammur]

This game's cover art vs. the actual gameplay is an extreme tonal whiplash. Would totally play it on mobile.

[@DoctorStagger]

Octavius is back! 🥰 You are great fun! Hope you are well. Xxx

[@Boogie_the_cat]

Phalanx was the top tier cover art for a f***ing shoot em up. It's the best, sorry Crabby I am a crab expert, too, at least until my doctors appointment later this month. 🦆💨

[@binkman853]

Crabagedon! Loved it. Thanks!

[@mario-mario822]

Totally want that 😺 📱 🎮 on ps1 It's absolutely adorable 😍

[@Nosferatu755]

Good to see you again, Louie

[@chloeirnes]

I too would like to play Grand Theft Auto but with Crabs!

[@strain42]

I definitely remember you loving this box art way back when, and it's a great one! If I were a crab, I think I'd be a very good crab.

[@Cycl0id]

Your father the adventuring crab is your father!

[@tenebrousoul9368]

I miss your theme song Octavius. Thank you for your hard work.

[@MathewHaswell]

It revolved too much around the OG "gamer girl" Octavius persona, which was causing Louis too much hassle. The lyrics had to go.

[@tenebrousoul9368]

@@MathewHaswell oh, I understand, completely. But I'm relatively new to the channel, and just found it a bop.

[@chuckflangemaster1325]

There had to be more than one crab on the cover, they're shellfish enough so they had to share the space. Keep doing what you're doing, honestly entertaining and well produced. Thank you. No I'm not sorry for that badass pun up there. Bwahahaha.

[@WolfenSG]

That "Crappy Adventure" is almost like Zuma... almost... :) Great video Octavius! ❤

[@RustBunny]

Crab Theft Auto would be a good game, wouldn't it? Well, okay... better than some of the stuff out there.

[@wisteela]

I approve of all the cuteness in it. I'd love to see a video on Oil Rig Simulator.

[@ThePerradox]

Loved this video 😂 Somehow my brain being reminded of the existence of the species called Coconut crab couldn't help but show me a quick flash of a certain Rat dressed in a crab costume. 😅

[@ThePerradox]

Shapest crab ever :D

[@SweetStevieAaron]

That’s the 2600 version of Donkey Kong. I had it. I thought the art was awesome. What’s funny is, the art on the instructions are in the more traditional cute style.

[@WurlyBurger]

Cheers Louis, keep er lit.

[@jamesburchill7522]

Crabby Adventure. Sounds like my last summer. 🤔

[@_The_Jim]

i found your channel via noltalgia nerds "action 52 " video. I'm loving it so far.

[@fernandoorozco3751]

This video made me hungry for Crabby Patties.

[@atkelar]

Meow! 🐈📱🎶 Can't go wrong with cats and technology! - yes, I'm biased!

[@coyoteartist]

Well maybe not so much that meowing ringtone. I once spent an hour searching a building in college because it was believed a stray cat had gotten in and being the cat nut in the class I was told to go look. There was a stray cat who was hanging around the area so it was a fair ask. Turned out though that it was someone's cell phone meowing.

[@JugglerOfWords]

maybe the real Crabby Adventure with that cover art crab should be a Yakuza spin-off on the ocean floor where you can summon humans like in Final Fantasy to do magic..... or do your taxes...... or maybe it's an RPG that takes place in the sunken city of Utter Bobbins.... I might be having a fever and/or aneurism right now....

[@Boogie_the_cat]

Klonoa is the hardest O.G. MF'er in the universe. I also enjoyed seeing Ratty (to continue the previous lazy naming convention, i apologize deeply)

[@vattmann1387]

There is always FIGHT CRAB on the PC if needed lass :)

[@channelzero2252]

I'd not seen those covers before and especially Phalax really did make me laugh loudly!

[@TheVoid1221221]

You should check out Crab Champions.

[@DmitriyK12]

Pet in TV for the Sony PS1 has got to be the oddest and most rarest, at least to me, video game title; it must have been a PAL only release because I didn't hear about this title before my 20's, 30's, etc.. or played it by renting it at my local Blockbuster Video (before they sadly closed down).

[@Bipdark]

So this is a real game with gameplay, such a surprise! Seems like quite an ok version of this kind of gameplay, just much better with a mouse. My favorite games with this gameplay are Sparkle unleashed and Sparkle 2, really awesome games. For our desires for crabs action you should check the videogames Fight crabs and Crab champions, both silly games wich can be really fun to play.

[@Mr_J_138]

Love all you're videos..stay strong love

[@petrolhead0387]

Hi Octy, glad to see another video from you. Is there any update on the book? Last I remember you said you were considering scrapping it, and can't find any updates on unbound after April last year. Is it officially scrapped, or do we still have hope?

[@paulklasmann1218]

Is this the same book that took 599 pledges of £10 per pledge? If it's cancelled then everyone who paid is owed a refund.

[@Mauvecube]

You are so bloody funny, you're videos make my day!