Spyder
By Chad Sapieha,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Retro spy adventure skips violence for puzzles.

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Spyder
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What’s It About?
SPYDER is a retro-style spy adventure that swaps out dapper and debonair human agents for a tiny robot spider named Agent 8. Players are given control of this wee machine, guiding him around a variety of fully three-dimensional environments -- including a bunker, a space capsule, an airplane, and more -- that he can crawl around just like a real arachnid, climbing up walls and even running across ceilings. He's small enough to go mostly unnoticed (though he can still be detected by cameras and sensors) as he navigates the world searching for vital information, interacting with physical objects, and repeatedly foiling the evil plans of a global criminal organization. As a robot, he also has skills that go beyond those of a biological spider, including a laser beam, a grappler that can help him cross gaps, and the ability to carry important objects such as keys. The game can be played with touch controls but also offers support for Bluetooth controllers, such as the PlayStation DualShock 4.
Is It Any Good?
Apple Arcade games don't come much prettier than this one. Spyder's lush 3D environments are loaded with detailed period-specific furniture, technology, and knickknacks that Agent 8 gets up close and personal with as he moves about, investigates, and interacts with the world. The visual presentation is nearly on par with that of many big-budget console adventures. But if you're playing using touch controls, you'll likely find it a little more frustrating than something like Super Mario 3D World. The camera automatically repositions itself to keep up with Agent 8's movement as he climbs over obstacles and up walls, but not always the way you'd expect, which can result in an inability to anticipate nearby dangers. It's annoying, and it verges on aggravating at times.
Outside of the controls and camera, there's a lot to like about Spyder. Exploring the world can be a blast as you learn to think of nearly all surfaces -- below, beside, and above you -- as places to which you can easily climb. And using Agent 8's tiny but surprisingly powerful legs to manipulate levers, keys, and buttons makes for some satisfying interactions. The designers have clearly thought long and hard about what it would be like for a spider to control, say, a scrolling mouse ball, using its legs to spin it and delicately maneuver a pointer into position on a screen. Again, though, the controls can be a bit finicky. Feel free to give Spyder a shot using the basic touch interface, but you'll likely experience a lot more fun and less aggravation if you happen to have a Bluetooth gamepad you can connect for improved control.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about screen time. Spyder's missions tend to last around half an hour each, but can you play just one adventure at a time before getting up and taking a break?
Agent 8 can walk on walls and ceilings, but what animal ability would you most like to have?
Game Details
- Platform: Apple Arcade
- Pricing structure: Free (Free to play with a subscription to Apple Arcade ($5/month).)
- Available online?: Available online
- Publisher: Sumo Digital
- Release date: March 20, 2020
- Genre: Puzzle
- Topics: Robots
- ESRB rating: NR for No Descriptions
- Last updated: April 9, 2020
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