Run ‘n Gun games are not something WayForward Technologies is foreign to. After all, this is the studio that gave us Contra 4, a game on the Nintendo DS that is widely held to have been a great return to form for the Contra series. WayForward loves revisiting past games in new ways, and so we have Spidersaurs, a love letter to run ‘n gun classics that manages to push the genre forward.
Spidersaurs feels different right from the start. The game has two playable characters like many other run ‘n guns, but each has a unique personality that ties well into the game’s story. And boy does the game have a story, as WayForward managed to bring a well-written narrative to the run ‘n gun genre that manages to be funny and involving at the same time. It manages to have that WayForward charm, while not being afraid to be serious when it needs to be,
The basics of Spidersaurs are that you are an individual who was actually gene altered secretly and now must help fight mutant dinosaur-arachnid hybrid creatures that were being bred for food but have broken free and are rampaging throughout the facility. This rather insane premise actually works well for the game and ties into the ability progression system as well. While you have various weapons you can use, and each character has their own unique weapon style, the game also grants you new abilities after overcoming major enemies that will allow you to access more of the game.
These abilities include wall clinging for example, and since replaying older levels is something you can do, this opens up many opportunities to go back and explore in new ways. Of course, the weapons are nothing to sneeze at either, as the game has a wide selection of weapons to find and upgrade. Weapons can be upgraded by finding the right power-up, but when hit with severe damage, the weapon will revert back to its base form, so be careful.
Spidersaurs feels less like a retreat of Contra 4, and more like WayForward putting its own spin on the genre while using its older work as a base. The run ‘n gun action is great, and the boss fights are well thought out, but the draw is the WayForward factor as it were, that appears in games like Shantae and is now appearing here. This is a game that will definitely stand out from the crowd and that is what is important.
Spidersaurs has the usual WayForward style that we have come to expect from the developer. The visuals are excellent, and have a great comic book-like art style, while the music is both upbeat and cheery when it needs to be, and epic and serious when that is called for. The voice acting is also top-notch, but if there is anything to complain about, it is that some sound effects can be a little off-putting and shrill, but fortunately, this is not a major issue with much of the game.
Spidersaurs is a great game overall, and another hit from WayForward Technologies. This is an easy one to recommend, and indeed this is a must-play for any run ‘n gun fan. It builds on the classics by perfecting the old and adding the right amount of new. What more can you want?
Disclaimer: A review key was provided
Spidersaurs is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series, PS4, PS5, PC and Apple Arcade.
Reviewed on Nintendo Switch