This review contains spoilers, click expand to view.
Spiderman: Shattered Dimensions is not a good game. If you are expecting a triumphant return to form for the Spectacular Web Slinger you will be sorely disappointed. Similarly if you are expecting this to be the Spiderman version of Arkham Asylum (crazy I know, but some actual do/did) then I suggest you just play through that again rather than waste your time here.
To appropriately review this 'game' It is easier to just start with what Beenox did do right as there isn't really much to say in this regard.
First off, the game can be quite humorous in places. Whether it be when the Amazing Spiderman is being shown his alter egos for the first time by Madam Web as she explains how dire the situation is, and all he can do is focus on the singular image of a cartoon pig dressed like him. Or when Ultimate Spiderman meets the powered up Electro and despite the overwhelming power before him, it's all the spider can do to avoid looking at the mans "junk". If you've heard of Dr Manhattan, I'm sure you will understand.
The game is also nice to look at, the different graphics styles do work well and the attention to fan service is appreciated. Aside from that...yeah, on to the bad, and first the generic problems which crosses all four Characters.
During play you will be able to unlock new moves by collecting 'Spider Essence' and completing challenges in the 'Web of Destiny'. The problem however is that outside of a few must have moves, such as the standard counter. There isn't any moves that would really cause a player to salivate at the bit and save up his hard earned essence to buy. Especially when even on the hardest difficulty you can beat every bad guy (bosses being the exception of course) by mashing X a few times and sometimes holding down Y to launch the blocking henchman into the air. The simple fact is, the moves are boring. I hate to draw up a comparison but the combat in Arkham Asylum was as near to perfect as I have seen. Why did Beenox feel it appropriate to then deliver this button bashing dog present and call it Icecream.
Even in terms of character upgrades, there is nothing to look at but extended health/vision/rage bars and their appropriate recharge rates. That is it. Zero imagination went into these upgrades.
Staying on the generic. This game is absolutely plagued by the horrible concept of invisible walls. There is no exploration, none. No alternate routes either. Each level boils down to the same formula: Meet main boss, chase boss, enter area, fight bad guys, enter next area, fight more bad guys, enter next area, fight boss, chase boss...again, fight more bad guys, etc, etc, etc. It gets old really really quick.
There are two examples that really stick in my mind with regards to these walls. The first is in the second Noir level where you are chasing down the Vulture. You end up following him down an alleyway with several gun toating henchman. At this point your immediate thought should be that all you need to do is climb onto the roof tops, avoid the henchies and chase down the Vulture. Simple enough really. Except you cannot do this. Beenox have taunted you by allowing you to climb right up to the edge, you can even look over the rooftops, but the invisible ceiling prevents you from going any further.
Like I said, Beenox has designed one path for each level and you will follow that path. There is no choice.
Another example, when Amzing Spiderman faces off against the Sandman, there is a segment where you have to make your way around a sand pit with a sand tornado in the middle, jumping from platform to platform to eventually reach a water tank which will put the tornado out. However this platform is easily seen from the start point of the area and considering that these spidermen can apparently web swing using nothing but the air and clouds to attach the webbing to. You would think, "Ok well I'll just swing over there and finish this quick". Only once you leap off of the platform a nice big webbing disabled icon appears and you plumit to your doom.
Yes that is right. Beenox has gone to such lengths to keep you on the singular path they envisioned that they even disable your powers to prevent you from doing anything even remotely simple as exploring.
This is Spiderman for goodness sake! He is meant to swing free and clear, zipping from structure to structure whilst giving a generously gracious salute to the people stuck in rush hour traffic below.
Instead, this game plays like when Peter intermitently kept losing his powers in the original comics. There is no warning when it will happen, just rest assured that each time it does you will lose a little bit of your sanity.
Sadly I'm not even half done and it seems I've already filled this reviews limit. As such, I will begrudgingly end with just this. Leave this game be, do not let Beenox believe that this kind of tripe is acceptable in this day and age.… Expand
Spider-Man: Shattered DimensionsYour Score0 out of 10User Score
