Spider-Man: Shattered DimensionsDS

Not necessarily a “lost gem” in the DS’s catalogue, but still a good metroidvania game on a system that had few competent ones. Griptonite managed to do an excellent job of capturing the “feel” of traveling both the rooftops and streets as Spider-man, and—surprisingly—“Shattered Dimensions’s” most satisfying feature is its combat. Ability upgrades can be located as you progress, and some of these abilities can be chained to your existing move-set to create lengthy combos that require some finesse to pull off right.

The game does have a few shortcomings, though. There are only 4 main enemy types that vary slightly in attacks across “universes,” and the fun is just over way too soon (the game is quite short). There is also an inane touchscreen mini-game that must be completed to move between universes, and it can be a frustrating break from the main action. But if you prefer web-slinging and combo-based fights over the macabre styles and attribute-development systems of the DS’s Castlevania games, then give this one a look.

Score: 7/10