Spiders of Mars

About

Spiders of Mars is a side scrolling shooter where you pilot a spacecraft defending a Martian base from waves of spider shaped aliens. You control a ship that moves left to right across the screen firing at enemies while dodging debris and avoiding collisions. Each level increases in speed and complexity with more enemies appearing as you progress. The goal is to survive as long as possible while collecting power ups to boost your firepower. The VIC-20 version is notable for its minimalistic approach. With only four moveable sprites on screen at once, the game uses simple pixelated graphics and basic sound effects to create tension. Players can earn bonus points by shooting spider clusters that multiply with each hit. While the 1983 release lacked the polish of later ports, the straightforward mechanics and increasing difficulty keep it challenging. It holds a 7.8/10 on Metacritic with retro gaming sites praising its addictive loop despite technical limitations. Over 5000 copies were sold on cassette tape alone.