Spidersaurs by WayForward is a beautiful and fun run ‘n’ gun game blasting its way to PlayStation consoles. Find out what it’s like in our Spidersaurs review!
Spidersaurs by WayForward is a beautiful and fun run ‘n’ gun game blasting its way to PlayStation consoles. After watching the splendid Sunday morning cartoon-style intro, you’ll get started with the game’s story after selecting between punk rocker Victoria or cop in training Adrian. The game can also be played in local co-op, with each player controlling one of the characters. Both end up in a room at InGest Corporation, the world leader in next-generation food distribution and development, which created a mutated mix between spiders and dinosaurs to be able to feed people. Those in charge explain to everyone in the room that some of the experimental flavor varieties (a.k.a. some Spidersaur species) have breached the security and found a way to escape, but they are currently contained.
As an early tester of their products, you have tasted some food that altered your DNA, and you have been identified as someone who can help to contain the Spidersaur. While you’re being briefed, you suddenly hear huge screams, and then the screen turns black. When the lights turn back on, only Victoria and Adrian are left from all of the other testers, so they’re immediately promoted to paid internships and are sent out to take on the Spidersaurs that have escaped.
This is a run ‘n gun game, so you’ll be playing through stages in a sidescrolling fashion. You move around with the left analog stick or the D-Pad, and you can jump with the X button as you fire your gun with the Square button. Since you can fire in eight directions, you can hold the R2 button to stand in place while aiming with the left analog stick or the D-Pad. As you progress through each level, some special pods will pop up, giving you access to additional weapons, which you can collect. You can hold only two weapons at a time and can swap between them with the L1 or R1 buttons. If you pick up the same weapon twice, you’ll get a powered-up version of said gun. If you’re hit, it will revert back to the regular version. At the end of each stage, you’ll gain additional abilities that will change how you approach the next level, adding an extra layer to the gameplay.
Apart from the tutorial level, the game will take you through levels that take place in different areas of the InGest Corporation facilities. Each one is separated into two parts, which means that if you lose the lives, you start each stage with, you’ll have a halfway checkpoint to start back. Once you’ve beaten Story Mode once, you’ll unlock Arcade Mode, which is basically the same experience minus the story part and a goal of getting the highest score possible, and a Speed Run Mode, where your goal is to finish the game as quickly as possible, with all abilities unlocked from the start.
From its iconic cartoon intro to its equally good level design and animations, this game is one of the most beautiful sidescrolling games I’ve seen in recent years. It feels like you’re watching a cartoon! The levels are original, and the creature design is just as fun to discover as you get to the end of the game. It’s been a while since I had played a run ‘n gun game, the last one being one of the Metal Slug games a few years ago, so I was happy to see what Spidersaur had to offer. I enjoyed Story Mode from start to finish, and I had an incredibly great time. The gameplay is fun, there’s a lot of variety in the enemies you’ll encounter, and the level designs are simply great. As for the boss battles, they are also varied, and each one is an epic fight.
On the downside, I found the game a little difficult at times, even on the easiest of the three difficulties it offers. If it wasn’t for the halfway checkpoint, I probably would’ve never been able to make it to the end of the game. The other negative thing I found about the game, which is also a compliment to how good it is, is the short length. Sure, there are Arcade and Speed Run Modes once you complete the story, but it’s still the same stages you’ll be playing over. The levels are so fun that I would’ve loved to have a lengthier game and not be done with all the stages in two hours or so.
As for the trophies, the vast majority can easily be earned by beating the Story and Arcade Modes. The first trophy you’ll get will be for completing the tutorial stage. There’s one trophy for completing a level without ever standing still – you’ll see what I mean when you play through the game. If you want the Platinum trophy, though, you’ll have to at least complete a stage – and the boss for it – without getting hit, as well as completing the game without dying, which will likely be the one trophy that will keep many from that shiny Platinum. The list has 3 Bronze trophies, 7 Silver trophies, and 8 Gold trophies for you to work on.
Spidersaurs is a great run ‘n’ gun game that’s definitely worth your time. Add to that the coop mode, and it’s definitely something you can spend a lot of good time with. Just don’t expect a lengthy campaign since run ‘n’ gun games are never that long. Spidersaurs is out as a Cross-Buy title on PlayStation with a $19.99 price, giving you both the PS4 and PS5 versions of the game.
Disclaimer
This Spidersaurs review is based on a PlayStation 5 copy provided by WayForward.
