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 realities across the Marvel Universe. Madame Web calls on four versions of Spider-Man from four realities to assist in bringing the realities back into balance: the Amazing Spider-Man, Spider-Man Noir, Spider-Man 2099, and Ultimate Spider-Man. The player controls each of the four Spider-Men as they attempt to retrieve the tablet fragments from villains within their respective dimensions, who now possess new abilities granted by the tablet.
Shattered Dimensions received fairly positive reviews from critics. Reviewers generally praised the idea of bringing four Marvel universes together, and lauded the voice acting, humor, and score, though criticism was aimed at the story, choice of villains and the overall design of the cutscenes as well as the technical difficulties. A sequel, Spider-Man: Edge of Time, was released in October 2011, although it features only the Amazing Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2099. Both the game and its sequel were de-listed from the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live marketplaces in 2014 following the expiration of Activision’s existing licensing deal with Marvel. Shattered Dimensions was re-released via Steam on October 24, 2015, but was later removed on April 1, 2017.
Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions is a level-based third-person action-adventure video game, where the player assumes the role of one out of four versions of Spider-Man, spanning across the Amazing, Noir, 2099, and Ultimate universes.[5][6] The gameplay revolves around each Spider-Man’s unique superhuman abilities; players are able to web swing, web zip, crawl walls, and use the ‘spider-sense’ to identify enemies or objects of interest. The combat of the game offers a large variety of fighting moves, and each Spider-Man has his own fighting style. The points necessary for buying upgrades and new fighting moves are earned from defeating enemies or completing various challenges in the “Web of Destiny.” The points earned can also be used to purchase 16 alternate costumes (four for each Spider-Man), which don’t offer any gameplay advantages and are purely cosmetic.
The game features numerous supervillains, whom the player engages in boss battles, usually twice in a level (some of the villains are created exclusively for the game, such as a 2099 version of Hobgoblin and Doctor Octopus, or a Noir version of Hammerhead). During the second battle, the bosses have a new series of powers, granted by a fragment of the Tablet of Order and Chaos. During specific parts of the boss battles, Shattered Dimensions switches to a first-person perspective, where the player can use the analog sticks (or the Wii Remote and Nunchuk in the Wii version) to control Spider-Man’s arms, punching their opponent and dodging their attacks. The punches can also be modified by holding down certain buttons.[7][8]
The gameplay may vary from one Spider-Man to the other. For example, the Spider-Man Noir levels put emphasis on stealth, whereas the Ultimate Spider-Man levels are mostly combat-based, due to this version of Spider-Man being provided with the symbiote black suit by Madame Web to increase his strength. The Spider-Man 2099 levels also feature a bullet time mechanic, allowing players to slow down time and dodge incoming projectiles, and free falling segments.[6][9]
Nintendo DS version
The Nintendo DS version of Shattered Dimensions is a side-scrolling brawler with little gameplay difference between the multiple iterations of Spider-Man. This version also omits Ultimate Spider-Man, and features less villains: Electro and the Tinkerer for the Amazing Spider-Man; Boomerang and Calypso for Spider-Man Noir; and Vulture and Silvermane for Spider-Man 2099. Not all the moves are available at the beginning, and can be unlocked as players progress through the game.[10] While most of the action is played with pad and button controls, the touchscreen is used to play a mini-game in between levels to help Spider-Man use the Tablet to travel between dimensions.
