Review: SPIDERSAURS is a Fun and Challenging Run-'N'-Gun from WayForward
WayForward recently launched Spidersaurs on Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One. The game is a run-’n’-gun game similar to Contra and I was excited when it was first announced for consoles and PC. The team at WayForward was kind enough to provide me with a review copy of the game on Xbox Series X|S and my thoughts are below the launch trailer.
Lock and load for the Saturday-morning-cartoon-inspired run-'n'-gun action of Spidersaurs, an original property in which one or two players must save the world from an onslaught of genetically engineered dinosaur-spider hybrids. Though created by InGest Corp to provide all the meat and muscle humanity needs to end world hunger, the Spidersaurs are loose and on a destructive rampage, leaving it to two taste-tasting interns — punk rocker Victoria and officer-in-training Adrian — to run, jump, climb, and shoot their way through multiple stages of over-the-top, high-octane mayhem. Equipped with an arsenal of character-specific weapons (such as Victoria’s Laser Show and Adrian’s Football Rocket) and special Spidersaur abilities they gain along the way, players will blast through an infested laboratory, a sweltering jungle, the heart of a live volcano, and more!
One of the great things about Spidersaurs is the fact that there are 3 different difficulty settings. I found this very necessary as even on the Medium difficulty in co-op, I really struggled. I eventually restarted on the easier (Well-Done) setting and it was still challenging, but I was able to make significantly more progress. That probably says a lot about how I don’t normally play these games, but I love the art style and WayForward’s other games have fun characters and stories, so I really wanted to play this anyways. Speaking of which.
I’ve come to love a lot of the style that WayForward puts in their games. The art style is bright and a lot of fun, the types of stories and characters are over the top in the best ways, and the music is almost always a banger. You combine all these things and the games do often have a vibe that reminds you of Saturday morning cartoons. In Spidersaurs, a company has created these creatures whose meat could be harvested and used to end world hunger. You have to go through as a punk rocker or a pizza delivery boy training to be a cop and try to stop them from breaking out and causing chaos because you had previously volunteered to let the same company do some experiments on you. It’s very fun and lighthearted.
Are there things that could be better? Yes. I hate the fact that you cannot backtrack in Spidersaurs. There have been many times where just being able to go back a little bit would’ve really helped. There were a few times playing cooperatively where one of us thought we had gotten stuck and then discovered you can go through floors. Also, at the beginning of levels there are things that you choose from (I think called “tents”). I have yet to come across any explanation as to what these are and you’re left to figure it out on your own. From what I can tell, they will occasionally fly overhead in a level and if you destroy it, then a different effect occurs depending on what kind it was. The ice one seems to rain ice down in a small area, the fireworks burst out, and I’m not sure what the last one does. A little more explanation would be nice.
Overall, Spidersaurs is a very challenging, but very fun game. If you’re looking for some run-’n’-gun action, this is a pretty good call. Yes, there are some things that I’d like a bit more polish on, but it’s not enough to hinder the game. Check it out if it sounds like your thing.
