SpiderHeck

SpiderHeck (2022) is a chaotic fighting game where a weaponised spider tries to take down opponents. You sling webs, shoot and slash at enemies, while frantically jumping about the dangerous arenas to land the decisive blow for victory. It's a strange concept, made even more so by the laser swords, explosives and lava-infested areas you play in. The bizarre meets the competitive with its fluid and surprisingly nuanced controls, assortment of silly spider outfits.

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You start with only a handful of weapons, ranging from laser swords that can shoot energy to giant battle axes. You move around the stages by crawling on the floor, walls and ceiling, and also shoot webs and use them to swing quickly from one area to another.

When playing cooperatively, you and the other players all work together to try and defeat wave after wave of enemy spiders controlled by the computer. Competitive play involves trying to destroy the other players using your weapons. It's fast-paced, and fights tend to be short because one hit by any weapon eliminates you. All the time, you need to be moving around to avoid attacks and thinking of inventive ways you can catch other players out. As you play, you unlock new wacky outfits and weapons, with each weapon offering a different way to attack, so experimenting with what works best for you is the key to success.

The result is a game that doesn't take itself too seriously, offering lighthearted and silly but still competitive fun, with simple controls that allow players of all ages to get involved in the action, but still rewards skill, practice and ambition.

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Our examiner, Ben Kendall, first checked SpiderHeck 19 months ago. It was re-examined by Jo Robertson and updated 10 months ago.