Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions

Spider-Man Shattered Dimensions cover.jpg

If you can't decide which Spider-Man version is the best

Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions is a video game based on the Marvel Comics superhero Spider-Man. Players control four different versions of Spider-Man, each originating from a different universe in the Marvel Comics multiverse. Previous Spider-Man voice actors Neil Patrick Harris, Christopher Daniel Barnes, Dan Gilvezan, and Josh Keaton each voice one of the four Spider-Men.

The game revolves around an artifact known as the Tablet of Order and Chaos. When it is shattered into pieces during a fight between Spider-Man and Mysterio, it causes problems with multiple Marvel Universe realities. Madame Web calls on four versions of Spider-Man from four realities to assist her in bringing the realities back into balance: the Amazing Spider-Man, Spider-Man Noir, Spider-Man 2099, and Ultimate Spider-Man.

Shattered Dimensions received fairly positive reviews from critics. Reviewers generally praised the idea of bringing four Marvel universes together, and lauded the voice acting and humor, though criticism was aimed at the story, choice of villains and the overall design of the cutscenes as well as technical difficulties.

The player can control four versions of Spider-Man, spanning the Amazing, Noir, 2099, and Ultimate universes. During some of the boss battles, Shattered Dimensions switches to a first-person perspective. The player can then use the analog sticks (or the Wii Remote and Nunchuk in the Wii version) to control the given Spider-Man's arms, punching their opponent and dodging their attacks. The punches can also be modified by holding down certain buttons.

Each universe's Spider-Man has their own unique fighting style :

Amazing Spider-Man uses a combination of melee and web-attacks, mixing up-close and long range combat. He can deal increased damage by using weapons created by using webbing on the environment.
Spider-Man Noir uses stealth and timing to silently defeat his enemies in combat. Noir gameplay focuses heavily on sneaking around enemies and uses color to indicate detection by enemies, with the screen turning black and white when concealed from enemy sight.
Spider-Man 2099 uses acrobatics and his suit's advanced abilities in combat, adding unique free-fall gameplay segments. He has accelerated vision similar to a spider-reflex which allows him to dodge attacks quickly.
Ultimate Spider-Man uses the powers of the symbiote suit to overwhelm enemies, using abilities like symbiotic spikes and tendrils, as well as a Rage mechanic.
The Nintendo DS version of Shattered Dimensions differs heavily from the console and PC versions. The game instead features side-scrolling gameplay, with each Spider-Man controlling identically to the others, and does not include the Ultimate Universe. This version also has several different bosses from the console versions, such as Amazing Electro, Amazing Tinkerer, Noir Boomerang, Noir Calypso, 2099 Vulture and 2099 Silvermane.

Mysterio attempts to steal an artifact known as "The Tablet of Order and Chaos", but is stopped by the Amazing Spider-Man, who accidentally breaks the tablet in 17 fragments. While Mysterio escapes with a fragment, Madame Web appears and reveals to Spider-Man that 12 of the fragments have been scattered to three other realities across the multiverse, including the Noir, 2099, and Ultimate universes, each of them with their own unique Spider-Man. To restore balance to the multiverse, Madame Web also recruits Spider-Man Noir, Spider-Man 2099, and a black-suited Ultimate Spider-Man to retrieve the fragments from their respective worlds. After a short tutorial, each Spider-Man easily retrieves their first fragment and returns to Madame Web, who warns them that, even shattered, the tablet can grant great powers and thus must not fall into the wrong hands. Meanwhile, Mysterio discovers that his fragment has granted him real magic powers.

The four Spider-Men return with the final fragments and hand them over to the Amazing Spider-Man, who hesitates in giving them to Mysterio. He eventually decides to attack Mysterio, but in the process he drops the fragments and, while Mysterio lets Madame Web go, they combine with the other fragments, recreating the tablet. Mysterio absorbs the tablet and becomes all-powerful, shattering the borders between realities and planning to build a new one under his rule. Madame Web tells the four Spider-Men that they need to work together if they want to defeat Mysterio and save the multiverse, so they take her advice and battle Mysterio one after another: Spider-Man Noir sneaks up to Mysterio by staying hidden within the shadows and avoiding his light; Ultimate Spider-Man battles numerous minions of Mysterio, including several magic spheres that mimic the powers of all the previous defeated villains; Spider-Man 2099 makes a long free-fall to catch up with Mysterio, avoiding his attacks in the process; and the Amazing Spider-Man battles Mysterio himself, eventually smashing his helmet against a giant rock and stripping him of all his powers. By doing so, the four Spider-Men successfully save their realities and defeat Mysterio, who in the process is separated from the tablet and then knocked unconscious. As the realities return to normal, Madame Web thanks the Spider-Men for all their help and, while Amazing Spider-Man takes Mysterio to prison, the others return to their respective dimensions, ready to save the day once again. The game ends with a short narration from Stan Lee and all four Spider-Men swinging through their respective dimensions, stating that out of all the Spider-Men out there, they are the best one.

In a post-credits scene, Madame Web is visited by Spider-Ham, who had hoped to help save the multiverse as well, but arrived too late.

No comments: