Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions

Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions is an action game by Beenox that brought together four different versions of Spider-Man from parallel dimensions into a single story on PlayStation 3. Across the individual chapters, the player alternately takes control of the classic Amazing Spider-Man, the darker Noir Spider-Man from the 1930s, the futuristic Spider-Man 2099, and the symbiotic Ultimate Spider-Man, with each version having its own combat style, movement, and visual treatment of the environment matching its dimension. The Noir version relies on hiding in the shadows and silent takedowns of enemies, while Spider-Man 2099 uses special abilities derived from his futuristic setting, which makes each chapter play noticeably differently.

Instead of a single open world, the game is built on more enclosed, linear levels tuned to the atmosphere of each dimension - the Noir chapters rely on stealth, a dark atmosphere, and a slower pace, while the 2099 variant offers faster acrobatics and combat in a futuristic environment full of vertical surfaces. This division into four distinctly different play styles was the game's main draw and set it apart from the series' previous open-world entries. On PlayStation 3, the game used the console's power for smooth transitions between dimensions and a strong visual distinction between the individual Spider-Men, including specific effects and color grading for each of the four story lines. Between chapters, the player could invest earned points into upgrading the abilities of each of the four Spider-Man versions separately, gradually tailoring the gameplay to whichever dimension suited them best.

Why play it: Shattered Dimensions is ideal for players who want to experience four different takes on Spider-Man in one game, each with a different combat style and atmosphere, from the stealthy Noir chapters to fast-paced action in the futuristic setting of 2099.