You already know that the last few Spider-Man games didn’t really set the world on fire and that production on the fourth movie is in turmoil. This might appear to be a bad time for Developer Beenox Studios to make a Spider-Man game, but those would-be roadblocks have seemingly allowed them to create a Spider-Man game that you actually may want to play. Yesterday, I got a look at Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions (PS3, 360, Wii), and I’ve compiled my impressions here. I also asked the game’s developers about Batman: Arkham Asylum’s influence on their game and what it’s like (both good and bad) to work with a company like Marvel on such a huge license.

I’m not a comic book guy, so the best way I can explain Shattered Dimensions’ setting is it is that there are several different Spider-Man series of comics, and this game takes place in four of the comics’ universes (“Amazing” and “Noir” are the two that have been announced). This, in turn, means that there are four distinct visual and gameplay styles. Beenox is working closely with the notoriously hands-on Marvel, so hardcore Spider-Man fans should be pleased with the game’s attention to detail. Speaking of Marvel, I asked Senior Producer, Meghan Morgan, to share the best and worst things about working with Marvel on a Spider-Man game. Here’s what she had to say:

The screenshot below is from the “Amazing” portion of the game. This is the Spider-Man that most people are familiar with. The level I saw takes place in a canyon and Spider-Man is going after Kraven. There was a lot of combat, and the way Spidey used his web to strike was very reminiscent of God of War. I’m not saying the combat was as refined as GoW (I didn’t get to play), but it looked similar. 

Particularly noteworthy in this level was the first-person boss fight that the developer compared toPunch-Out. This was basically an awkward exchange of punches with Kraven, and while I’m not sure it’ll be fun, it was unique.

Shattered Dimensions’ “Noir” chapters are based on the premise that Spider-Man discovered his powers in the 1930s. Those familiar with the series may notice that, in the screenshot below, Spider-Man is wearing a vest rather than the cape he wears in the comic books. The developer says that they couldn’t do the cape justice, so they worked with Marvel and agreed on the look you see below.

The “Noir” portion of the game is dark, has a gritty feel, and the gameplay is focused on stealth. If you hate stealth, don’t worry; while the level’s designed to reward sneaky behavior, you’re free to run around and pummel dudes. Avoiding light and quickly striking from the shadows immediately reminded me of Batman: Arkham Asylum, so I asked Meghan if that game’s success had any influence on the development team:

One of the best parts of Arkham Asylum was its voice acting, and while it has yet to be implemented in the build I was shown, it could very well be one of Shattered Dimensions’ strengths. Because there are four different Spideys in the game, there will be four different voice actors for Spider-Man. All have voiced the web-slinging hero at some point in time, but so far, only Christopher Daniel Barnes has been revealed.

So, what did I think? I really liked the “four universe” concept, and I’m encouraged with how the developers say they’ve listened to what people did and didn’t enjoy about previous Spider-Man games. None of the story elements were shown, but I believe the potential for a compelling narrative is there. I wasn’t a huge fan of the combat -- it didn’t seem to be much more than mashing buttons against less-than-brilliant enemies. However, the game’s not due until September, so it’s quite possible that this won’t be an issue in the final version.

Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions will be playable at E3, so expect more information and updated impressions in a few months. Until then, I’d love to hear whether or not you’re excited about the game, and what you think of the direction they’re taking this latest Spider-Man game.