Opinion: Dino Crisis needs to rectify the wrongs done to the Spinosaurus
The coolest thing to ever roam the planet, and let’s be honest, were the dinosaurs. It is not even close. In modern times, we have been lucky enough to learn about this superiorly ancient time through the fossils left behind. The awesome work of paleontologists has been able to give us an idea of what was likely correct. Sometimes, however, even they can get accuracies incorrect. So what happens when we discover the incorrect ideas and how it affects entertainment value that has used the prior information! Yes, let’s talk about the Spinosaurus.
Maybe we can blame it on awesome entertainment such as Land Before Time, Jurassic Park, and Dino Crisis, but there is a lot of infatuation about dinosaurs. It is likely that folklore creatures such as dragons we based on fossils found early on in ancient times. It is a topic that truly intrigues many from the point of childhood to the grown adult man-children in a lot of us.
A newfound fossil tail is changing what we know about Spinosaurus—and stretching our understanding of how and where dinosaurs lived. For more iconic storytelling like this, subscribe to National Geographic: https://t.co/wUHbBSAkyF pic.twitter.com/KsoHk0qBJe
— National Geographic (@NatGeo) April 29, 2020
Recently, new findings of the Spinosaurus aegyptiacus have led us to discover more about how the dinosaur truly lived. While it has been known that it was an aquatic theropod dinosaur, the tail had been inaccurately depicted for quite some time. The Discovery of a nearly full tail near Morocco shows that the tail was paddle-like. This explains more of how the spinosaurus would have navigated the waters, like a fish or a boat propeller.
Jurassic Park III
Jurassic Park III was likely the introduction to the spinosaurus for many. While the film did a decent job of displaying a size for the spinosaurus based on the information of 2001, there are a few inaccuracies we can point out. The setting of a jungle-roaming spinosaurus is unlikely to happen, but rather near large bodies of water or river outlets. An argument can be made that Jurassic Park III takes place on an island and maybe a spinosaurus would wander briefly into some jungle area. Still unlikely for its size.

The primary concern with Jurassic Park III is the fight between the spinosaurus and the Tyrannosaurus rex. While it was an awesome battle to watch on film, it is extremely unlikely for a spinosaurus to win such a battle. While the spinosaurus is much larger in length than the rex, the bite was not as nearly as powerful. The chances of a neck-snapping sequence are better left to the Jurassic World’s Indominus rex than a spinosaurus.
This is not the first time Jurassic Park has misled us though. The series also improperly depicts the Utahraptor as being a Velociraptor. The raptors also lack feathers, but that’s an argument for another time.
Ark: Survival Evolved
Furthering inaccuracies of the spinosaurus are one of my most beloved games in Ark: Survival Evolved. While I love the game, it has notoriously bastardized the anatomically correct proportions of most creatures. While the spinosaurus has undergone a massive change from the release, this new finding shows it to inaccurate again. In the game, the spinosaurus is shown nearly the size of Tyrannosaurus rex, but now without the paddle tail, I don’t believe I can look at it with confidence. No propelled tail is a no-go for me. Luckily for games, making changes is as simple as a patch. Wildcard Studios has already put the spinosaurus through one of its “TLC” updates, what about another? The spinosaurus should have its tail properly displayed and it’s size reconfigured to appropriate sizing. At least the developer put the spinosaurus near proper habitats.
See More: Ten Tips for Surviving Ark: Advice From An Ark Veteran
One good thing Ark: Survival Evolved does significantly well is the dossier. This gives explanations about the prehistoric beasts on a scientific naming level. While the sizes and anatomies may be incorrect, the names are not.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
The most recent culprit of bad spinosaurus depiction would be Animal Crossing: New Horizons. The game is wildly popular and allows you to collect fossil specimens for the local museum. Blathers is thrilled every time you bring something new in, however, what happens when the fossil is inaccurate? With how popular the game has become, the inaccuracy of the spinosaurus anatomy seems it will continue. Should Blathers shoulder some blame for this?
Nonetheless, this discovery is post-release of Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Blaming the developers for the inaccuracy is not completely fair. Only slightly.
https://twitter.com/Foervraengd/status/1255525696476270593
Dino Crisis
This leads me to my resolution. While I believe it would be cool for games like Ark: Survival Evolved and Animal Crossing: New Horizons to fix, there is another that can do more. That would be Capcom to revive the Dino Crisis series and accurately display the spinosaurus. Calls for a remake or a reboot of the franchise has been brewing for years. Not only does the series have a chance to deliver a new game but it can also give a proper anatomically correct spinosaurus! This would put a modern Dino Crisis leagues above any other game featuring the prehistoric giant! Not only the spinosaurus but other findings can finally be given as well!
Would you accept this in a new Dino Crisis game?
Sources: Nature