Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions is shaping up to be pretty slick Spider-Man adventure, not just because it’s a wholly original game ripped from the pages of the Marvel comic, but because you get to play as four (count ‘em!) alternate Spider-Men.
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Read on for the skinny:
The finest example of a Spider-Man game to date – for me anyway – has been Spider-Man 2 The Game on PlayStation 2. It brilliantly fused the open world ideas behind Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto series with Marvel’s comic book crown jewel: Spider-Man. Developer Beenox looks set to match that spectacular combination on a whole new level with Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions.
While not entirely an open-world game (you can still explore the world and compete in up to 180 challenges, a large chunk of which will require repeated playthroughs), Shattered Dimensions thrusts you into a four alternate Spider-Man universe. They are: Amazing Spider-Man, Ultimate Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2099 and Spider-Man Noir with each one housing its own unique attribute.
For example, Ultimate Spider-Man puts you in control of Spidey in the black Symbiote suit, which makes for furious tentacle based attacks, whereas Amazing Spider-Man is primarily based around forming your webbing into weapons such as hammers to smash enemies into submission.
My favourite so far is Spider-Man Noir, a section based entirely on stealth as you skulk in the shadows waiting for the perfect moment to pick off enemy stragglers as soon as they break free from a group – it’s Splinter Spidey. There are also a huge number of upgrades to work towards too including slick counter attacks. To nab them all, you need to build up your in-game currency by smashing enemies and defeating mission bosses that include Juggernaut, Carnage and The Vulture.
Beenox has also gone to great lengths to make this a Spider-Man fans dream by drafting in current Amazing Spider-Man scribe Dan Slott to write the story, as well as four different actors to voice the different Web Slingers including Neil Patrick Harris (Doogie Howser!!) and Christopher Daniel Barnes, who voiced Spidey in the superb Spider-Man: The Animated Series back in the 90s.
I’ve been aching for a really great Spider-Man game since Spider-Man 2 The Game on PlayStation 2 and I’ve a feeling that Shattered Dimensions is going to deliver. What do you guys think, are your Spidey Senses tingling and which universe is your favourite of the four that Beenox has opted to go with? Let me know in the comments below and I’ll answer any other questions you might have too.
And when you’re done reading this, check out the interview with Beenox over on eu.playstation.com for loads more juicy bits.
16 CommentsAdd Yours
1
Posted on 30 August, 2010 at 2:11 pm by Carnivius_Prime
Looks decent. Spider-Man 2 was good though I preferred Ultimate Spider-Man on PS2 as well. Loved the PS1 Spidey games too just cos they were so much fun and I loved the ‘What If?’ mode too. Still often play the old Sega arcade game too. The 4 player one that was a scrolling beat ‘em up and occasionally zoomed out to be a platformer.
Posted on 31 August, 2010 at 10:06 am by Barry Keating
Loved the original Spider-Man games on PS one! Picked them up during my uni days. Remember the Doc Ock/Carnage mashup boss?
2
Posted on 30 August, 2010 at 2:16 pm by SlipperyFella
This article has actually made the game seem more appealing to me! The last few Spiderman games have been stinkers, so this might just scratch that superhero itch until Infamous 2 and Batman: Arkham City are released next year.
3
Posted on 30 August, 2010 at 2:28 pm by TalllPaul
Spiderman 2 is the only Spiderman game I played, and I liked it at lot with the free roam environment, if this is anything near as good as that I will be getting it.
4
Posted on 30 August, 2010 at 2:35 pm by TrulyALie
My main concern with the game is how disjointed it looks. Different graphics and gameplay for each world make me wonder why we can’t have a whole game focused on each of them that’s consistent and high quality. If any of the worlds are bad to play as, then you’ve lost a quarter of a game that you could be enjoying.
5
Posted on 30 August, 2010 at 2:37 pm by Krejsy
My spidersense might not be tingeling, but my gamersense most certainly is =)
6
Posted on 30 August, 2010 at 2:42 pm by ShoaibO
Let’s wait for the reviews, the last few spiderman games were quite frankly terrible
7
Posted on 30 August, 2010 at 3:03 pm by Falcon1991
I have and adore Spider-Man 2, I also have Web of Shadows which was OK.
I’ll be picking up this game for my birthday soon.
8
Posted on 30 August, 2010 at 4:10 pm by zadorvp
@6: Hopefully you don’t always get games based on reviews, you might miss out on a lot of good games depending on your genres of choice.
Posted on 31 August, 2010 at 10:08 am by Barry Keating
So true!
9
Posted on 30 August, 2010 at 4:23 pm by Carnivius_Prime
@6 I gave up on game reviews ages ago after playing some games that got average marks yet were far more fun than a lot of games that got really high marks. Just play it yourself whether a demo or ask in a game store to have a go if they’ve got a system set up already. Never trust the reviews of any magazines or tv shows or websites. Their taste is likely different to your own and hey who knows how much they may be paid to write lies
10
Posted on 30 August, 2010 at 5:01 pm by BellEvil
The game looks great. Any plans for a demo?
Posted on 31 August, 2010 at 10:09 am by Barry Keating
I’m not sure. Let me ask the folks at Activision and get back to you.
11
Posted on 30 August, 2010 at 5:29 pm by Mikal_Drey
hey hey
i agree with number 4
my spidersense predicts this is gonna tank 60-70% metacritic at best
spiderman screams out for a just cause free roam style just webslinging about new york crimefighting.
if the whole game played like the scarlet costume trailer then id certainly tingle but it looks like they have tried to cram waaay to much in it. i think those camera changes are gonna get anoying real quick.
if they produce a demo with either all 4 universes or 4 different demos .. . . . . it might get a sniff otherwise like number 4 said . its gonna be a gamebreaker if one universe is not to your taste
12
Posted on 30 August, 2010 at 6:50 pm by cognac-vsop
is this still coming out on the 7th of sept??
im waiting for the reviews too, im hoping it does well.
ill only order it after reading a bunch of reviews and seeing the gameplay vids..
13
Posted on 30 August, 2010 at 10:40 pm by SpiderMike_X
10th Sept. for UK.
I can’t wait. Loved Ultimate SM and SM2. Thought Web of Shadows was OK but lacking in production value and SM3 was worse than the actual film it was based on but this shows promise. Looking forward to it!!
14
Posted on 31 August, 2010 at 2:40 am by BoH3MiaNRhAPSdY
i cant believe they still wont bring a superman game
Posted on 31 August, 2010 at 10:16 am by Barry Keating
Agreed. I’d really like to see a developer tackle a Superman game on PS3. If you look around on YouTube you’ll find some interesting tech demos for a few scrapped ones over the years. My fondest memory of a Superman game was the 1988 Taito coin-up one? Remember it? I spent a lot of pocket money on that one!
15
Posted on 31 August, 2010 at 12:33 pm by BoH3MiaNRhAPSdY
@ barry keating
ha no dont remember it, tech demos look awesome, i can only dream what would superman would look like under ps3 power , if i were only a developer
16
Posted on 31 August, 2010 at 8:41 pm by Hackers90
I actually think that the greatest comic book game of all time is Spiderman 2, but Arkham Asylum is close. Hopefully this is the spiderman 2 for this generation of consoles.
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