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 Multiverse. 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. Three different types of punches are available.[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]
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.[11]
During a confrontation with Mysterio, who attempts to steal the Tablet of Order and Chaos, the Amazing Spider-Man accidentally shatters the tablet into 17 fragments. As Mysterio makes off with one, Spider-Man is approached by Madame Web, who reveals that the other pieces have been scattered across his, the Noir, 2099, and Ultimate universes. To restore balance to the multiverse, Madame Web recruits the Spider-Men of each reality - the Amazing Spider-Man, Spider-Man Noir, Spider-Man 2099, and a black-suited Ultimate Spider-Man - to retrieve the fragments from their native universe. After the Spider-Men collect their first fragment with no difficulty, Madame Web warns them that the Tablet pieces can grant incredible powers and must not be allowed to fall into the wrong hands.
While searching for their second fragment, the Spider-Men discover they have already been retrieved by supervillains: Kraven the Hunter in the Amazing universe, who forces Spider-Man to compete for his fragment before using it to gain superhuman speed and strength; Hammerhead in the Noir universe, who uses his fragment to fuse his guns with his arms in a plot to overthrow his boss, Norman Osborn; Hobgoblin in the 2099 universe, who uses his fragment to increase his psy-powers and create illusions to torment Spider-Man; and Electro in the Ultimate universe, who uses his fragment to grow larger and more powerful as he absorbs energy from a hydro-electric dam. In the end, the Spider-Men defeat the villains and retrieve their fragments before heading off to find more.
The Amazing Spider-Man finds another fragment at an abandoned Roxxon Industries quarry, but it is stolen by Sandman, who uses it to increase his powers and take over the quarry. Spider-Man Noir pursues the Vulture, Osborn's right-hand man and his Uncle Ben's killer, for a fragment, which has granted the villain teleportation powers. Spider-Man 2099 faces his half-brother, the Scorpion, who has stolen a fragment from the Public Eye Patrol and used it to create numerous offsprings. Ultimate Spider-Man competes in Deadpool's reality TV show, Pain Factor, for a fragment, which the latter eventually uses to clone himself. Meanwhile, Mysterio discovers his fragment granted him magic powers, and seeks out the rest. When the Spider-Men return to Madame Web with the fragments they collected, Mysterio attacks them, threatening to kill Madame Web if they do not deliver the remaining pieces.
The Amazing Spider-Man finds his final fragment at a construction yard, but is forced to intervene in the Wild Pack's chase of the Juggernaut after the latter unknowingly picks it up. For his final fragment, Spider-Man Noir faces Osborn, who has used it to become "the Goblin" and taken over a carnival to lure in Spider-Man. Spider-Man 2099 breaks into Alchemax, where he finds his final fragment in the hands of his time period's Doctor Octopus, who plans to use it to power a dangerous reactor. Ultimate Spider-Man visits the Triskelion to collect his final fragment from S.H.I.E.L.D., only to find the base under Carnage's control after S.H.I.E.L.D. scientists fused the creature with the fragment, giving it the ability to resurrect its victims into zombie-like minions.
Upon retrieving the final set of fragments, the Spider-Men return to Mysterio, who absorbs the complete tablet after a brief struggle and becomes a god. He shatters the borders between realities, seeking to create a new one under his rule, but this allows Madame Web to summon the four Spider-Men to fight Mysterio together. Following Mysterio's defeat, the multiverse is restored to normal and Spider-Man Noir, Spider-Man 2099, and Ultimate Spider-Man return to their native realities, while the Amazing Spider-Man takes Mysterio to prison.
Several actors return to reprise roles from elsewhere in Spider-Man and Marvel Comics media. John DiMaggio (who has also voice The Rhino multiple times) reprises his role as Hammerhead from The Spectacular Spider-Man.[13] Steven Blum (several characters in The Spectacular Spider-Man as well as Wolverine in various media outlets) voices Hobgoblin 2099, Silvermane 2099, and both versions of Vulture. Jim Cummings (Shocker in Spider-Man: The Animated Series) voices Kraven the Hunter, Noir Goblin, Noir Boomerang and Tinkerer. Thomas F. Wilson (Sergeant Stan Carter on The Spectacular Spider-Man) voices both versions of Electro. Nolan North reprises his role as Deadpool from Hulk Vs.[13] Fred Tatasciore reprises his role as Carnage from Spider-Man: Friend or Foe and Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2.[13] Jennifer Hale reprises her role as Silver Sable from the Ultimate Spider-Man video game and Spider-Man: Friend or Foe while also voicing Noir Calypso. John Kassir (Deadpool in X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance and Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2) voices Scorpion and a couple of Deadpool's fanboys. Tara Strong (Christina in Spider-Man: The New Animated Series) voices Doctor Octopus 2099. James Arnold Taylor (Spider-Man in Spider-Man: Friend or Foe and Spider-Man: Battle for New York, Mysterio in Spider-Man 2, and Electro in Ultimate Spider-Man) voices different miscellaneous thugs and henchmen throughout the game.[14] Other cast members include David Kaye as Mysterio, Dimitri Diatchenko as Sandman, Matt Willig as Juggernaut, Susanne Blakeslee as Madame Web, and Kevin Umbricht as Spider-Ham.[13] Additionally, Spider-Man co-creator Stan Lee narrates the game's story.[1] Jamie Thomson served as voice director, having previously directed The Spectacular Spider-Man.[15] Jim Dooley composed the game's orchestral score.[1]
Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions was unveiled on March 30, 2010, where two of the universes, Amazing and Noir, were revealed.[16] The third universe, 2099, was revealed on June 8.[17] The final universe, Ultimate, was first shown to players at San Diego Comic-Con 2010.[18] Beenox made each universe feel unique by creating an individual art style for each universe and giving each Spider-Man different gameplay mechanics.[18] For example, the Amazing and Ultimate universes are rendered with bright colors and tones of cel shading, with the Amazing universe given a traditional comic feel based on those of 1960s classic comic book art styles, while the Ultimate universe was meant to evoke more modern comics from the early 2000s. In contrast, the Noir and 2099 universes are rendered with realistic graphics, with the 2099 universe given a futuristic feel while the Noir universe was given a "very dark, very gritty"[19] appearance. The developers also worked closely with Marvel Comics to create new versions of characters not seen before in a particular universe, such as Hobgoblin 2099, Hammerhead Noir, and Doctor Octopus 2099.[18] The story for the game was written by Amazing Spider-Man writer Dan Slott[16] and later provided him with an inspiration for the Spider-Verse comic book crossover event, which saw dozens of Spider-Men from alternate realities teaming up.
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