Hello all,
I'm here with my review for Spider-Man Shattered Dimensions. I'm going to start off by saying, this is the most fun Spider-Man game I've played since Spider-Man 2 so many years ago. The game's subtitle "Shattered Dimensions" represents the fact that your pretty much getting four Spider-Man games in one. It all starts off with Mysterio trying to steal a magical tablet and in the fight with Spidey, it breaks. The tablet has the ability to grant powers, so naturally a bunch of supervillians get there hands on the tablet shards. The shards have been sent into 4 different dimensions, so it's up to the amazing Spider-Man and three other Spider-Men from the remaining dimensions to save the day. Ultimate Spider-Man, in the symbiote black suit, Spider-Man from the year 2099 and, the Noir Spider-Man.
Each dimension plays differently from one another, each with varying game aspects, to keep it fresh. The look and feel of the worlds as well as the characters is very different as well. Th\e Spider-Men each have seperate fighting styles to boot. In the 2099 universe, there are plenty of flying cars and tall futuristic buildings to swing past. Ultimate feels like it's straight out of the comic book.
Along with the different looks, there are also different voices. Recognizable voices for anyone that's been following Spidey's animation career. The voice of the extremely popular... and still amazing... 90's cartoon, Christopher Daniel Barnes plays the Noir Spidey. From the 3D animated series MTV did after the release of the first film, How I Met Your Mother's very own Neil Patrick Harris is on vocal deetz. Dan Gilvezan from Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends dons the 2099 suit. My personal favorite Josh Keaton from the Spectacular Spider-Man rocks the black suit in the Ultimate universe. On top of that Stan "the Man" Lee also narrates, Excelsior!!!
*Trivia* Josh Keaton also played Harry Osborne in the Spider-Man movie based games!!
This game is reminiscent of the first 2 games of the franchise that Activision did in the early millenium. The games were mission based, as opposed to free roaming like the last bunch of games that came out after the second movie game. (which set the bar waaaaay to high for any super hero game)
The writing is good, Spider-Man is persistently funny. As well as Deadpool who is voiced by the one and only Nolan North. North reprises the roll from "Hulk vs. Wolverine" where he played the Merc with a mouth with such gusto that I can't see anyone else do it... save for Ryan Reynolds of course. The characters don't seem to act out of place. There is plenty of re-play value to be had. There are the standard difficulty levels to try to challenge yourself. There are challenges throughout each level that let you unlock bonus attacks and combos. As well as bonus costumes to wear while doing everything a spider can.
There are 13 unique bosses to fight. From Carnage to Kraven the Hunter. They all have different strategies to take them out. Some bosses you go into "Fight Night" mode as I call it. Your pretty much in first person view and your boxing with the boss! Some bosses take up the entire screen in size... which was kind of predictable given that it's Sandman and Mysterio. I swear Mysterio goes to gynormous proportions in every game he's in. I don't get it. Is that the only way to make fishbowl head cool or threatening? Spider-Man on PS1/N64, Spider-Man 2 the movie (PS2 and PSP) for example.
The levels are massive and take a fair bit of time to complete, usually about 45 minutes or so. There is one tiny flaw that I couldn't help notice and it's the matter of repetition. Every level seems to have the same pattern. The boss shows up, taunts you, you chase him, then fight him. He flees, you fight some henchmen, save some civilians, fight some more henchmen then boss fight. It's a decent pattern, but if your playing the game for over a couple of hours it gets old. I beat the game in 2 sittings, but I don't mind that.
I had so much fun playing this game. I will be playing it again. I also can't wait for some downloadable content to pop online. Some new levels and costumes would be a great addition. There was also a Spider-Ham easter egg in the middle of the game's credits. I think it would be awesome to fight Carnage as Peter Porker!!!!
I hope that this is a series that will continue. There are so many different universes with the Spider-Man mythos, it'd be a waste to not sieze that opportunity. This game however is no waste, it's a lot of fun and you will play more than once!!!
Spider-Man Shattered Dimensions gets an 8/10
-Justin
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