The short answer: No. It is not the best Spiderman game ever. I still give that honor to Spiderman 2. However, it is a very good game that is a vast improvement over games like Spiderman 3 and Web of Shadows.
STORY: The plot of the game is straight forward and simple. It is all I expect or need from a Spiderman game. Mysterio tries to steal a magical tablet. Spiderman breaks the tablet, scattering the fragments throughout 3 other dimensions. Now, with Madame Web's help, the Spidermen of the Amazing, Noir, 2099 and Ultimate universes must collect the fragments before they fall into the wrong hands (which they do).
GAMEPLAY: This game is a breath of fresh air. It has semi-linear level designs, which is a nice change of pace from the "sandbox" style that I began to feel bogged down by in games like Spiderman 3 and Web of Shadows. You know, sometimes I dont feel like web-slinging my way from one side of New York to the other to start a challenge or advance the story. Side missions have also gone by the wayside. Instead, we are presented with in game challenges that can be completed to earn points to spend on combat upgrades and alternate suits. The levels are designed to feel as if each one is one long boss fight. Villains are introduced, and scrap a little with Spiderman before running off like the cowards they all are. As you chace after the villain, various henchmen and other little baddies try to slow you down. Obviously they are no match.
ACTION: What can I say? It is a Spiderman game. If you can press square and triangle with any regularity you can make it through this game with no problem. I felt as if a real opportunity was missed in the combat mechanics. Some of the upgradeable combat moves are pretty cool, but in the end it just turns into a tornado of kicks, flips and punches. I was really wanting a combat system more along the lines of Batman: Arkham Asylum. I would have loved some zooming and slow motion to add some real depth to the takedowns.
VILLAINS: All of the villains are presented in new and in some cases, exciting ways. Old foes like Hammerhead, Scorpion, Vulture, Goblin and a WTF Dr. Octopus have been revamped and reimagined specifically for this game. Several of the boss fights such as the Goblin and Sandman were great. Others fell flat (I'm looking at you Scorpion).
VISUALS: Shattered Dimensions does not have ground breaking graphics. However, they are leaps and bounds better than those of Spiderman 3, which gave some us some nastalgic PS1 graphics. The cut scenes (what few there are) are sleek and give a nice fresh tone to each of the levels. The art design of each universe is different and well made. I especially like the art designs for the Amazing and Noir levels.
VOICE ACTING: The voice acting may have bee the best part of the game. All 4 Spidermen have their own tone. The standout being, Neil Patrick Harris (Amazing Spiderman) and Christopher Daniel Barnes (Noir Spiderman). Some of the dialogue between Spidey and the various villains can be laugh out loud funny. I especially loved the dialogue in the Noir universe. It was 30's-tastic.
THE BAD: Of course it's not all peaches and cream. I'm sure you have all read that the camera sucks. Well, it does. Especially while wall crawling and trying to keep an eye on some thug. I also grew very frustrated with the Noir universe (as cool and refreshing as it is). I was instructed to stay in the shadows, and was still spotted fairly easily. My main concern is with the length of the game. I did not need an 18 hour epic like Infamous, however, the game can come to an end around the 7-9 hour mark. I found myself wanting just a little more. Which is a good thing I guess.
OVERALL: This is not the Arkham Asylum level game I wanted, however, it is a must own for die hard Spiderman fans like myself and a solid rent for anyone who is a fan of the 3rd person action genre.
8.5/10
By the way, this was my first review or major post of any kind since joining CBM a few years back. I would love to have some feedback.