Video Game Vintage Title: Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions

Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions

Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions is a video game featuring Marvel Comics superhero Spider-Man. Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions blends together four universes from the Marvel Comics multiverse, allowing the player to play as four different Spider-Men. Known Spider-Man voice actors Neil Patrick Harris, Christopher Daniel Barnes, Dan Gilvezan, and Josh Keaton voice a Spider-Man from each of their respective alternate universes.

The game revolves around an artifact known as the Tablet of Order and Chaos. When it is shattered into pieces during a skirmish 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, with reported aggregate scores averaging 74% or higher at GameRankings, and Metacritic reporting scores of 76 out of 100. Reviewers generally praised the idea of bringing four Marvel universes together, and lauded the voice acting. The game's story was more divisive, with some reviewers enjoying the link between the four universes, and others stating there was not enough depth to carry the game. Glitches and bugs present in the game also drew criticism.

Shattered Dimensions, along with most other games published by Activision that had used the Marvel licence, was de-listed and removed from all digital storefronts on January 1, 2014.

Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions Plot

The game begins in the Amazing universe, with Amazing Spider-Man pursuing Kraven the Hunter for his tablet fragment. When Spider-Man confronts him, Kraven uses the fragment's powers to gain super speed. Spider-Man manages to defeat Kraven and claim the fragment. The game then shifts to the Noir universe where Spider-Man Noir moves through the shadows to claim a fragment from Hammerhead. When confronted, Hammerhead uses it to fuse his guns to his arms, and decides to use it to overthrow Osborn. Spider-Man manages to defeat Hammerhead and claim his fragment. In the 2099 universe, Spider-Man 2099 chases Hobgoblin through the city and then uses the tablet fragment to amplify his psy-powers. Spider-Man eventually defeats Hobgoblin and claims the fragment. Meanwhile in the Ultimate universe, Ultimate Spider-Man battles Electro at a nearby dam where Electro uses the fragment to grow larger and make minions to fight Spider-Man. Spider-Man tricks Electro into attacking a dam which releases water, shorting out Electro's powers. Spider-Man then claims his tablet fragment. Meanwhile, Mysterio discovers that there are more pieces of the tablet.

Each universe represented in Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions features unique villains and a unique art style.

Amazing Spider-Man then finds a fragment in the clutches of Sandman at an abandoned quarry owned by Roxxon Industries. Sandman uses the fragment's power to take over the quarry and create minions, which he uses to attack Spider-Man. Spider-Man defeats Sandman with the use of water, claiming his fragment. Spider-Man Noir then pursues Vulture through the streets; Vulture's fragment grants him teleportation powers. When he finally faces Vulture, Spider-Man defeats him by exposing him to light, then claims the fragment. Spider-Man 2099 next discovers that Scorpion has used a fragment's power to lay eggs, which hatch into miniature versions of himself. When Spider-Man confronts him, Scorpion mentions that he is hired to steal the fragment. During the ensuing battle, Spider-Man traps Scorpion under debris and claims the tablet fragment. Ultimate Spider-Man is then challenged to appear on Deadpool's reality show. He maneuvers through the set while fighting Deadpool's fans, destroying cameras and evading tidal waves. Upon confronting Deadpool, Spider-Man is given a fake tablet fragment. Deadpool then uses the real fragment to make two clones of himself (each duplicate with a different weapon and same mind) and attack Spider-Man. He manages to defeat Deadpool's copies and claim the tablet fragment.

In the Amazing universe, Madame Web receives a fragment from Amazing Spider-Man. During the exchange, Mysterio attacks them, threatening to kill Madame Web if Spider-Man doesn't bring him the other fragments. Spider-Man finds the next fragment in a construction yard, encountering Juggernaut unknowingly grabbing the fragment while on the run from Silver Sable and the Wild Pack. Juggernaut uses the fragment's power to become stronger but the tablet's power is at odds with his Crimson Gem, leaving him vulnerable. Spider-Man defeats Juggernaut and claims the tablet fragment. In the Noir universe, Spider-Man Noir confronts Norman Osborn in a monstrous appearance through use of his fragment at a carnival. After a battle under a circus tent, Osborn is defeated and Spider-Man claims his fragment. In the 2099 universe, Spider-Man 2099 encounters Doctor Octopus, the head of Alchemax's Shadow Division, responsible for creating Hobgoblin and hiring Scorpion. Having been driven insane by it, she uses the tablet fragment to power a reactor used to wreak havoc on the world. Spider-Man shuts down the reactor and defeats her, claiming the fragment. Meanwhile in the Ultimate universe, S.H.I.E.L.D. has acquired a tablet fragment and Carnage in the Triskelion; however, they make the bonehead move of putting them together in an attempt to create new energy source. Carnage escapes, using the fragment's power to turn the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents he drained of their life into his minions. When Spider-Man arrives, the Triskelion is already under Carnage's control. Spider-Man stops Carnage with the help of reprogrammed Spider-slayers. After Carnage is defeated, Spider-Man claims his fragment.

When all of the tablet fragments are reassembled, Mysterio uses the tablet to increase his power, effectively becoming a god and shattering all the borders separating the other realities, planning to build a new one under his sole rule. The Spider-Men, teleported to their location by Madame Web, defeat Mysterio and separate him from the tablet. As Mysterio tries to reclaim the Tablet of Order and Chaos, the Spider-Men knock him out. Madame Web then thanks them for saving all of reality. After the others return to their own dimensions and the walls between them repaired, Amazing Spider-Man takes Mysterio to jail or "Super Villain Day Care".

During the credits, Madame Web is then visited by Spider-Ham hoping to help save reality but answered Madame Web's call a bit too late as he asks "So, what'd I missed?". Madame Web is left baffled by his appearance given the walls between realities are healed n

Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions Gameplay

The player can control four versions of Spider-Man, spanning the Amazing, Noir, 2099, and Ultimate universes. During key moments of gameplay Shattered Dimensions switches to a first-person perspective. During these sequences the player uses the analog sticks to control the given Spider-Man's arms, punching their opponent. Developers described these sequences as a reward for the player.

Each universe's Spider-Man has a unique fighting technique that distinguishes him from the others. Amazing Spider-Man uses a combination of melee and web-attacks, such as web hammers designed to combine webbing with the environment, mixing up-close and long range combat. Spider-Man Noir uses stealth and timing to silently defeat his enemies in combat. When the player is in the shadows the screen turns black and white, signifying concealment. When the player is exposed in light the screen becomes colored meaning the character can be seen.

Spider-Man 2099 uses acrobatics and his suit's advanced abilities in combat. He has talons which give him a close combat advantage. He has accelerated vision similar to a spider-reflex which allows him to dodge attacks quickly, much like the Spider-Man 3 video game. Ultimate Spider-Man uses the powers of the symbiote suit to devastate enemies, generating symbiotic spikes and tendrils which act like extensions of his own body much like in Spider-Man: Web of Shadows. There is also a rage meter for the Ultimate universe, much like the Spider-Man 3 video game. Ultimate Spider-Man does not appear in the Nintendo DS version.

Reception
The game received fairly positive reviews from critics. The PlayStation 3 version averaged 78.60% and 75/100 at GameRankings and Metacritic, respectively. The Xbox 360 version averaged similar scores, with GameRankings reporting 79.37% and Metacritic reporting 76/100. The Nintendo DS has an aggregate score of 74.50% at GameRankings, and the Nintendo Wii version reports 75.30% at GameRankings and 75/100 at Metacritic.

IGN awarded it 8.0 out of ten and said "Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions has a lot of great things going for it." Game Informer awarded it 8.5 out of 10 and said it "delivers a non-stop action ride with something new around every corner." GamesRadar awarded it 7 out of 10 and said "Shattered Dimensions is a good game, but it fell short of an Ultimate Marvel Team-Up." GamePro awarded it four and a half out of five stars and said "Thankfully, latest adventure, Shattered Dimensions, is one of his best yet, offering four unique worlds, classic Spidey action, and an engaging story that puts it near the top of the franchise both in terms of quality and impact."

The Nintendo DS version of the game drew mixed reviews. IGN and Digital Chumps praised the visuals. IGN felt the visuals stayed true to the comics, while Digital Chumps the smooth and detailed animations. Reviewers felt that overall the 2.5D Metroid-style gameplay was enjoyable, and fit the DS well. Sounds and voice acting were also praised. Some reviewers felt the game was too short, and that not enough emphasis was put on exploring the open world.