Activision and Beenox’s Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions was released in 2010 (same year Red Dead Redemption came out) on PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii and Xbox 360. The game earned positive reviews from critics, fans and gamers alike. Plus, it sold enough copies worldwide. A follow-up titled, “Edge of Time” was released a year later. Unlike Shattered Dimensions, it received mixed reviews. There are two reasons why I wanna share my thoughts on Shattered Dimensions. First, “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” just came out. Second, Insomniac Games’ highly anticipated sequel to Spider-Man will be released in Fall 2023 exclusively on the PlayStation 5.
This review contains no SPOILERS. Feel free to read my non-spoiler article.
Spectacular & Trashy Qualities
Spectacular: Previous Spider-Man voice actors including Neil Patrick Harris, (short lived MTV cartoon) Christopher Daniel Barnes, (’90s cartoon on Fox Kids) Dan Gilvezan (Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends) & Josh Keaton (The Spectacular Spider-Man) all did an excellent job for their respective performances as four versions of Spidey.
Mr. Barnes is my favorite Spider-Man voice actor. While Tobey Maguire is my favorite live-action portrayal of the character.
Other Voice Actors from previous Spider-Man media such as Steve Blum, Jennifer Hale, John DiMaggio, Jim Cummings, Nolan North & Thomas F. Wilson (not kidding) all did a great job for their respective voiceover performances.
Stan Lee (may he Rest in Peace) narrates the game.
Dan Slott wrote the script. Retaining Spidey’s quips. He also wrote several Spider-Man comics.
The game’s story centers on four versions of Spider-Man who are recruited by Madame Web after Mysterio stole an ancient tablet and accidentally destroyed it in battle, causing a few pieces scattered across four universes. The four Spideys embark on a mission to retrieve every single piece or else they’ll fall into the wrong hands.
Gameplay/Mechanics
- Presented as a third-person action-adventure beat ’em up, gameplay/mechanics lets you control four versions Spider-Man from Earth-616, (Amazing) Noir, (1930s-1940s detective crime-thriller) 2099, (an alternate future) & Ultimate. (former imprint updating Marvel characters in the 21st Century)
- Each one has a level set within a selective universe with a unique beat ’em up style. Amazing Spider-Man’s just your typical modern ‘beat ’em up. Spider-Man Noir must rely on stealth tactics taking down one baddie at a time. Spider-Man 2099 uses a bullet time-esque ability to slow down time. Ultimate Spider-Man wears the Symbiote costume triggering a temporary power boost mowing down large groups of enemies.
- Besides hunting down a villain, Spider-Man traverses on foot and web swings, crawl on walls, web zips and use spider-sense to track down henchmen and objects.
- Combat’s another factor displaying a distinctive fighting style.
- As you progress, you earn points from beating up baddies and completing challenges. You can spend your points on fighting techniques and costumes.
Boss Fights are really intense. Use your tactics to exploit his/her weaknesses. Here’s a list of who’s who.
- Kraven the Hunter (Amazing)
- Juggernaut (Amazing)
- Sandman (Amazing)
- Mysterio (Amazing)
- Green Goblin (Noir)
- Vulture (Noir)
- Hammerhead (Noir)
- Lady Octopus (2099)
- Hobgoblin (2099)
- Scorpion (2099)
- Deadpool (Ultimate)
- Carnage (Ultimate)
- Electro (Ultimate)
Graphics captures an immersive experience with each universe creating an organic atmosphere.
My favorite levels are the ones with Ultimate Spider-Man. Gotta love the black suit and a boss battle with Deadpool puts the icing on the cake. Thank goodness Ultimate Spider-Man didn’t have a victory dance like the infamous dance scene from “Spider-Man 3.”
I’m giving Shattered Dimensions credit for inspiring the “Spider-Verse “comics and the animated film “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.”
A Post-Credits Scene is played for laughs.
Trashy: Only problem is the short length. The game can be beat in 10-20 hours.
The Final Verdict: A-
Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions is a near-perfect game. If you’re stoked to see Across the Spider-Verse or feeling impatient over Insomniac Games’ Spider-Man 2 like me, Shattered Dimensions is a must-buy for Spidey fans.
Nickthemoviecritic.com 