Spidersaursis a new run-and-gun shooter from the fine folks over at WayForward. The game puts players in the roles of a rockstar named Victoria and a cop named Adrian. Both are called to help out a booming company that has lost control of its product. Instead of breeding dinosaurs with frog DNA to help bring them back to life akin toJurassic Park, the scientists in this game used spiders.
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This eventually led to the dinosaurs going wild, which was something predictable. Now, Victoria and Adrian have to defeat the titular Spidersaurs to save the day. Here are some helpful tips and things to know before startingSpidersaurs.
8An Easier Contra Experience
TheContragames are some ofthe hardest titlesfrom the 80s and 90s. That’s one reason why the Konami Code became so infamous as it was seemingly impossible to beat the first game without it.Spidersaursdraws a lot of inspiration from run and gun shooters likeContra.
Thankfully,Spidersaurshas also kept up with the times by including difficulty options. They’re all fun puns based on food preparation as well including Well Done, Medium, and Rare. It might be best to start on the easiest, Well Done, for beginners and for those that are playing alone.
7How Lives Work
It’s important to note that there are no checkpoints in levels before the bosses. When players die, they will revive on the spot as long as they have an Extra Life. This falls in line with classic run-and-gun shooters,or even brawlers, but some modern players may not assume this. If all lives are lost then it is Game Over.
The save file won’t delete itself or anything like that. Players will just be bumped back to the level selection map. The punishment for losing is minimal, which goes along with the modern difficulty options.
6Who To Play As
Players can choose between rockstar Victoria and retired cop Adrian. They may look different and carry alternative weaponry but they both play the same. Choosing one comes down to player preference based on visuals. Do you prefer to play as male orfemale characters in games?
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The nice thing about this character choice is that it doesn’t lock itself down to a save file. Players can choose who they want to be on the level select map. It might have been nicer to get more characters and to have them possess more varied abilities, but this switching ability is also nice to have.
5There Is Co-Op
Players can link up with a friend or significant other with two-player co-opas an option. It is couch co-op only, so if players were thinking of picking this up to stream with a friend online, they’re in for a rude surprise. Players can choose the single-player or co-op option from the main menu. They can choose the same saved profile, without erasing anything, but every time players wish to change the player count, they have to back out to the main menu. It’s not as streamlined as it could be which may confuse some players.
4There Are Reasons To Go Back
Spidersaursisnot a Metroidvaniaby any stretch of the imagination. However, every time players beat a boss they get a new ability. Some of the early examples include a double jump and a grappling hook. Stages are straightforward without any branching paths, but going back after getting new powers can change gameplay.
If players are interested in high scores, they can go back with these new powers to fully dominate a level. This tip won’t be useful to everyone but it might urge others to try levels at least twice.
3Stay Safe From Above
Enemies will spawn from all directions inSpidersaurs. There is no safe way to fully eliminate an area of targets. There is also no innate dodge ability at the start, making it hard to avoid damage. The best tip to bestow upon players is to keep their distance.
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This isa run-and-gun shooterafter all, so guns make it easy to destroy enemies from a distance. Hanging above the crowd can also be a good tip, but be careful of flying enemies because they can mess players up quickly.
2Picking Up Power-ups
There are a lot of power-ups inSpidersaurswhich is something it shares a lot with the games in the Contra series. There is a spreadshot, a laser beam, a blast that can electrify and chain enemies together, and so on. Players can start by carrying two weapons at a time which can be switched out with thecontroller’s shoulder buttons.
Whatever weapon they are carrying when they pick up a power-up will then be replaced. Sometimes it is best to leave the power-up drones alone which may seem obvious. For example, if the two weapons players are carrying are already good then there is no reason to try and grab another.
1There Are More Modes In The End
Spidersaursis an overall light package that should only take a couple of hours to finish. Things will go by quicker if they play the game on co-op. The campaign is not the only mode in the game as two so unlock upon completion. There isa speedrun modewherein players can compete for high scores. Then there is arcade mode which gets rid of the story and focuses on the gameplay and levels. Fans may have wished for more, like a boss rush mode, but knowing there is something to unlock could motivate players to try and beatSpidersaursquicker.
Spidersaurswas re-released on June 29, 2025, and is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X. It is also available on Apple Arcade.
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