A Refreshment for the Series.
The Basics
Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions is refreshment for the series after the last few major games released in the series. The graphics look pretty good opting to choose motion comic style cut scenes done in the style of the 4 universes. The in game graphics are pretty good as well allowing one to be immersed in the world of the four universes that look startlingly different. There are no major glitches in the game, which the last few Spider-man games had a plethora of.
What a difference.
The story in this game is minimal and the main story acts secondary to the individual stories of the Spider-Men. Amazing and to a lesser extent Ultimate Spider-man didn’t have anything going on while the dimensions were shattered and are able to devote more time to it.
The levels are divided into three acts with four levels, each being devoted to a Spider-man, a tutorial level and a final level. The levels are also linear with web swinging acting more like something to speed up or run away from scripted events other than the main form of movement. The levels average at about 30 minutes on normal for me giving me almost 7 hours of playtime which feels a bit short for me but it seems that DLC is on the way, especially when the game starts with a scan for DLC. However the game uses challenges and scores as well as collectibles to increase replay value.
All of the game-play elements like movement and combat are basically the same. A guard stance that allows for evasion, light and strong attacks, an enhanced spider sense which acts like detective mode, web zipping and swinging, etc. One of the unique features this game has to offer is the climactic first person fist fights in the boss fights using the analog sticks. These are scripted events and usually used in the climax of the fights. The game also uses “Spider Essence” to buy upgrades and bonuses by defeating enemies, beating levels and challenges, and collecting items. The challenges also unlock new upgrades for purchase.
Amazing Spider-man: 
Peter Parker went on a field trip to a lab experiment where he was bitten by a radioactive spider and gained spider powers! Amazing Spider-man set up the events in the game while battling Mysterio. Mysterio tries to steal a mystical tablet from a museum when suddenly Spider-man arrives to stop him. While Spider-man tries to deal the knockout blow to Mysterio, it gets shattered by Spider-man’s punch and spreads across the Marvel Multiverse. Madame Web then comes and warns the four Spider-men of the danger the Shattered tablet poses to the universes.
This dimension of Spider-man uses a very comic book style in game with bright colours and heavy outlines. This universe doesn’t get as dark in tone taking cues from the older comic book days and not the newer Spider-man books where he makes a deal with SATAN! FUCKING SATAN!!!! Ahem, sorry about that. Neil Patrick Harris fits the character well and speaks pretty fast so sometimes it sounds like he never stops talking.
Spider-man’s combat is mainly web focused and used as his strong attacks. These web attacks give Spider-man a mid level range with a wider area of attack. Not much to add here since his attacks are enhanced Web of Shadows techniques.
Spider-man Noir: 
Peter Parker was raised in the early 20 century where he gains powers from a mystical totem to become the 30’s Spider-man. Noir’s story centers on him trying to bring down a mob boss by the name of Norman Osborne AKA “The Goblin”. The atmosphere is very dark and the colour pallet uses brown, black, and gray a lot. Christopher Daniel Barnes voices this eras Spider-man in a hasher and more aggressive tone then the other Spider-men given the darker content and era that this Peter Parker lives in.
Noir’s levels mix stealth and combat together. The stealth is used for the majority of the level. Using the shadows to hide and take out enemies without being spotted since this Spider-man can’t take a bullet as well as the others (at least in the context of the game). The takedowns feel like they have some weight to it especially for someone who can’t kill based on the characters’ moralities. The combat is less focused in this dimension given his abilities. His attacks are all short ranged with low area of effectiveness. Because of this the bosses use both stealth and combat. Conventional combat is used at first in the fight or not at all and Spider-man must find a way to blind the opponent or hide to strike.
Spider-man 2099: 
Miguel O’Hara had to wipe his molecular structure clean after being infected with a drug but when he tried to do it he was sabotaged and accidently given the powers of Spider-man! This dimension focuses on the corrupt company Alchemax and the Public Eye private police force. The tablets are being used by Alchemax for some mysterious purpose and 2099 must stop it. The style in this dimension has a lot of lens flare with many blue colours. It makes you think of a clean future with something a bit off about it. These are probably the best designed levels from an artistic standpoint since it just looks awesome. Dan Gilvezan plays Miguel with a deep voice that sounds heroic which makes sense since he is fighting an evil corporation and police force after all.
Most of 2099’s game play is combat focused. This Spider-man uses speed as his asset. Most of his attacks strike fast with an small area around him feeling his attacks. 2099 also has the ability to see things as if they are in slow motion, this ability can be used at any time thanks to a replenishing bar, it allows him to get behind enemies who are shielded and better evasive abilities for attacks and traffic which bring me to the next point. Spider-man 2099 lives in a high city, which means that free falls are likely. In these segments 2099 must reach the ground safely, and if there are any enemies, must defeat them as well using the grab maneuver. These segments can be very fast if trying to catch up to a target so his accelerated vision is highly useful here.
Ultimate Spider-man: 
Peter Parker went on a field trip to Oscorp and was bitten by a genetically engineered spider giving him the abilities of a spider. Madame Web gives this Spidey his old symbiotic suit since he isn’t as strong and experienced as his older counter parts. The suit ends up making him the strongest of the group. This world seems like a newer age comic book in it’s style. There are still dark outlines and brighter colours but not nearly as bright as the Amazing universe but never getting to dark either. Josh Keaton pulls off a young Spider-man really well, he doesn’t sound like a child like the last Ultimate Spider-man game nor does he sound like he’s an adult. It’s in the range of the mid to late teens.
The Ultimate levels are heavy on the combat. Spider-man’s black suit gives him the ability to attack with tentacles. These tentacles gives the young one a large range and powerful strikes. The suit also comes with the “rage mode”. Rage mode enhances the range of the tentacles as well as enhances strength, durability, and a new moveset. The rage bar is filled by getting attacked and attacking enemies in combat.
The Conclusion
Shattered Dimensions is a fun and smooth experience with a lot of replay value for people who enjoy collecting and completing challenges as well as character action gameplay. The levels are beautiful and well designed. The characters are different enough so that it feels like a new experience but similar enough to not have to learn to many new controls and concepts. However for people that don't care about Spider-man or aren't into the character action genre with a short single player it may be a three star rental to you. But when you play this game it controls pretty well with little to no mess-ups with set piece experiences that can be memorable to any Spider-man fan.
