Originally released in Europe as Arac, this inventive side-scrolling action-adventure was rebranded Spiderbot for its 1988 North American release through Epyx. Players control a robotic spider-like droid tasked with saving an endangered reactor core buried deep within a sprawling, mechanical jungle. With only 30 minutes before meltdown, the mission is urgent: explore, evolve, and infiltrate the Citadel. Gameplay begins with limited mobility—basic walking, short jumps, and the ability to trap enemies in nets. As players progress, they capture enemies to acquire their powers, such as digging, high-jumping, or shooting different weapons. Scattered throughout the map are pieces of the robot’s full body. Once assembled, the Spiderbot gains advanced capabilities like climbing ceilings, reversing gravity, and unleashing powerful lightning bolts—necessary for reaching and disarming the core. The game’s structure blends platforming with exploration and progression-based upgrades, placing it squarely in the early Metroidvania genre. A 20-minute “short game” option allows players to start with a fully-formed robot, offering a quicker route to the final objective. Critics praised the game’s scale and depth, highlighting its clever design and animation, though many noted the sparse sound and steep difficulty. Despite those quirks, Spiderbot stood out for its unique mechanics and high replay value, earning a place as one of the more memorable arcade-adventure hybrids of its time.

This was originally Arac from Addictive Games, which was acquired by Prism Leisure Corporation, and eventually Freemantle Media.  There’s more information on our Licensor page.