Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions

Common Sense Media says

One of the better Spider-Man video games in recent memory.

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Quality(i)

 
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What parents need to know

Positive messages

Spider-Man is a superhero who fights against evil, so the game's overall message is positive. But Spider-Man uses violence to take down the game's many villains and their respective henchmen. 

Positive role models

Overall, Spider-Man is a good role-model as he is a "good guy" who fights against the "bad guys." But as you'll hear in this game, he's very mouthy, and he relies primarily on combat to achieve his goals -- two things parents might not want their kids to imitate.

Ease of play

After the mandatory tutorial level, players should get a hang of the game mechanics. In the PlayStation 3 version tested, the controls were fairly easy to remember.

Violence

As with many comic-based superhero games, there is plenty of combat -- and this title is no different. Spider-man can beat up baddies (including combo attacks) but there is no blood or gore. Most of the fighting is of the hand-to-hand variety (punches and kicks), plus there are some web-based attacks, too. Some combat sequences switch to a first-person perspective and are shown closeup and in slow motion.

Sex

Some sexual references in some of the dialogue, including "You pervert" and "Touch me -- go on, no one's lookin'."

Language

The game does have some mild profanity, including "bitch" and "bastard."

Consumerism

This is based on the Spider-Man brand.

Drinking, drugs, & smoking
Not applicable

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions is a "Teen"-rated superhero game that serves as an interactive comic book. The web-slinger engages is a lot of combat -- between the four different worlds and four falvors of Spider-Man characters -- including a stealthy level that requires you to sneak up on unsuspecting enemies. Fighting involves hand-to-hand fisticuffs (punches and kicks, including combos and aerial attacks), plus he can use his web to inflict damage, too. Some of the fighting is from a first-person perspective in closeup and slow motion.

Parents say

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Kids say

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What's it about?

He's baaack. The web-slinging Marvel superhero has returned to a small screen near you in SPIDER-MAN: SHATTERED DIMENSIONS, Activision's latest interactive comic book for multiple platforms. Narrated by Spider-Man creator Stan Lee, we learn at the start of the game of a magical artifact being shattered by Spidey himself, which pulls at the fabric of time and space. In order to reverse the damage, the all-knowing Madame Web calls on four versions of Spider-Man, from four realities, to retrieve the four tablet fragments. As such, players will play as four different Spideys: the Amazing Spider-Man (the classic acrobatic and web-slinging hero); Spider-Man Noir (a darker, stealthier Spider-Man); Ultimate Spider-Man (the modern-day Spider-Man with the black Venom suit); and Spider-Man 2099 (in the future, with special vision and abilities).

Is it any good?

QUALITY
 

Yes. While ambitious, this Spider-Man game gets a lot right, though some of the worlds are better than others. For example, the Amazing Spider-Man and Ultimate Spider-Man levels were more enjoyable than Spider-Man Noir and Spider-Man 2099 (as the latter two felt more repetitive and limited in Spidey's bag of tricks). Along with unique abilities and upgrades, each of the four worlds have its own environment, enemies, bosses, and 15 specific challenges. Overall, the developers did a great job making players feel like they're in control of distinct heroes. The controls are tight, enemies are memorable and voice-acting is terrific (both the writing and delivery, including some familiar voices such as Neil Patrick Harris). Spider-Man fans looking for some action won't be disappointed with Shattered Dimensions. Note: Despite some control and visual discrepancies, all versions of the game are the same between platforms, except for the DS version which is rated E10+ and only has 3 version of Spider-Man.

Families can talk about...

  • Families can talk about whether a combat-heavy game like this is more suitable for younger players than other fighting-based video games. After all, it's clear the game looks like a comic book, with most worlds bright and colorful, plus he's a superhero who fights against evil. Or is this Spider-Man game no better than other fighting games? Is violence still violence even if you dress it up in comic book fiction?

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Game details

Platforms:Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS, Windows
Price:$59.99 ($49.99 for PC)
Available online?Not available online
Developer:Activision
Release date:September 7, 2010
Genre:Action/Adventure
Topics:Superheroes
ESRB rating:T for Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence (Nintendo DS, Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3, Windows, Xbox 360)

This review of Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions was written by

Marc Saltzman

About our rating system

  • ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
  • PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
  • OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
  • NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids of any age.

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Quality

Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Learning ratings

  • Best: Really engaging, great learning approach.
  • Very Good: Engaging, good learning approach.
  • Good: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
  • Fair: Somewhat engaging, okay learning approach.
  • Not for Learning: Not recommended for learning.
  • Not for Kids: Not age-appropriate for kids; not recommended for learning.

Find out more

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Kid, 11 years old March 23, 2011
AGE
9
QUALITY
 
Greeat game. all spidermen are good and fight villans. Though two spidermen kill an enemy by burning them and letting them fall to there death. Both not completly human The villans will resort to killing but nothing to extreme. Basicly great game not for 8 and below.
What other families should know
Too much violence
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Parent of a 11 and 15 year old Written byCeltic1962 April 21, 2011
AGE
10
QUALITY
 
What other families should know
Great role models
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Kid, 10 years old October 9, 2010
AGE
2
QUALITY
 
this one looks sweet. i really want it.
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