Hands-on: Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions for the DS

11:00 AM on 09.01.2010   |   Ben Perlee

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Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions for the DS was, quite frankly, a surprise. While the console versions of Shattered Dimensions are a great opportunity to see all the variations of the webbed wonder, they were, at the end of the day, a Spider-Man brawler. And that may not be a bad thing, if you've seen my preview. However, the DS version of the game was an entirely different experience. Basically, this is Spider-Man done Metroidvania style. The plot is, of course, the same as the console versions. Mysterio has broken the Tablet of Order and Chaos, and now Spider-Man has been brought forward across his universes to restore everything to normalcy. While only three of the four Spider-Man universes (Amazing, Noir, and 2099) are present, Spider-Man will also find himself in a new area original to the DS version of the game.

Shattered Dimensions also looks fantastic. Spider-Man has a slightly squat shape to him that makes him look more cartoony, but there is a lot of fluidity to his movement and motion. Since this is a side-scrolling platformer, each of the rooms and levels feel like they belong, as compared to the random arenas where fighting takes place in the console title. In addition, when Spidey jumps between the different realms, it feels much more natural, as if he were going through a door to the next logical place. This is additionally where we see some of the rare touchscreen minigames, where players have to protect a spinning tablet piece as it falls through the different portals.

Once in the different areas, Spider-Man will play a little different depending on what universe he is in. For example, Spider-Man Noir has some extra abilities in seeing secret places to go, while Amazing has extra web powers to get around the map. Ultimately, I came away very impressed with how great the game looks and plays, and with inspiration from Metroid, Castlevania and Shadow Complex, there are good things in store for the game. While it only takes about 4 hours to beat the game, it looks like this may still be a great game for fans of Spider-Man. Keep an eye out for Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions on September 7.