‘SPIDER’S GAME’

Please feel free to comment on my review.

The first time I saw this ‘Beast Wars’ episodes was on New Year’s Day in January 1999. It was the second of two episodes I saw that morning on GMTV, with the first being ‘The Spark’. That episode introduced Airazor as a new Maximal character, which I enjoyed very much.

‘Spider’s Game’ introduces a new Predacon character in the form of Inferno, voiced by Jim Byrnes, who can transform from a giant red ant into a robot and vice versa. I was able to record only half of this episode on VHS, as I ran out of tape at the time of recording it. 😦

Thankfully, years later, I was able to enjoy the episode in full on ‘The Beginning’, Volume 3 VHS. Had I recorded the episode in full on VHS back on New Year’s Day in 1999, it would’ve prepared me for what would be in the Season 1 two-part finale ‘Other Voices’. 😐

In the episode, the two spider Predacons – Tarantulas and Blackarachnia – team up to steal a new stasis pod that ends up on the planet they’re on. It’s intriguing I saw ‘The Spark’ and ‘Spider’s Game’ on New Year’s Day in 1999 that introduced two new characters.

Tarantulas and Blackarachnia intend to turn the Maximal protoform robot into a Predacon. Unfortunately for Tarantulas, he doesn’t get to have a new spider robot working for him, as the stasis pod preselected a form that’s suitable for the new Predacon to be born.

When Inferno emerges from the stasis pod, Tarantulas and Blackarachnia find that he’s a deranged Predacon who believes himself to be an ant rather than a robot. When Blackarachnia distracts Inferno after shooting down Airazor, Tarantulas steals the pod. 😮

Apparently, the stasis pod is what Tarantulas wanted all along. It’s revealed that he wanted the pod to use as an escape ship since apparently, the planet the Beast Wars being fought on is ‘doomed’. Tarantulas doesn’t share how he knows this to Blackarachnia.

Tigatron manages to destroy the pod but gets severe blows to him by Tarantulas, Blackarachnia and Inferno. Thankfully, he’s saved by Optimus Primal and Airazor who take him back to the Maximals’ base whilst Inferno has his head blown off in the episode.

‘Spider’s Game’ rating – 9/10