Enter the Matrix

"This truly is the evolution of video games."

To quote Neo from the Matrix: ''Whoa...''

That was exactly the reaction I got when I started playing this game. I couldn't believe a game could be this fun,and because the Wachowski Brothers themselves written and directed the project,it's very true to the movies. I would say this is the BEST movie to video game transition I've ever seen since Goldeneye 007.

Graphics - 10/10

Nothing but pure eye candy here. Ignore ANYBODY who says the environments look bland,because that is simply not the case. The character models,though a little blocky sometimes,are nearly flawless. The security guards, police officers, and Swat guards are so well done,you can almost feel their neck snapping as you nail them with a Roundhouse to the head! And both Ghost and Niobe look pretty much just like they do in the movies. And speaking of the movies,they couldn't possibly get any better than this. The FMV is razor sharp and crystal clear. No graininess or lack of resolution,this stuff is pure DVD quality,which is currently second to none. The ''cineractives'' as the game calls them, are also extremely well done,with great detail gone into tiny little things like individual strands of hair. Other than a few little quirks like some blockiness in character models and vehicle tires,the graphics are perfect,plain and simple.

Sound - 10/10

This is in league with the graphics. Pure ear candy! The gun fire and explosions,when heard through surround sound speakers will make you swear you heard bullets whizzing by your head. The voice acting is superb. You'll hear guards and officers shouting orders at each other through the game,and you'll be in constant communication with your Partner and Operator. This game also has an excellent score. With hard rock and techno blasting out of the speakers,the music is sure to get you pumped up for some of the intense action that occurs.

Controls - 10/10

At first,the controls seem awkward and unnatural,but after getting used to them they are excellent. Every button serves a specific purpose,so there will be no button mashing in this game. With a few taps of the Y button you can whip your double pistols or MP5 and raise hell with guns'a blazing. With a few taps of the A or X button you will bust out some wicked Kung-Fu combos that would make Jet Li curl up in a corner and cry. All the actions you can perform are quick and responsive. The third person camera angles are perfect for this game. You can see everything you or any character does. The first person mode is good for stopping for a few seconds to check your surroundings. Selecting between weapons is easy with just a left or right tap on the control pad. Aiming and strafing is also pretty easy while holding down the R button. Overall,the controls just plain work for this game.

Story - 10/10

Heh,what else do you expect? Although I won't give anything away,I can tell you that it is a bridge between The original Matrix and the newly released Matrix Reloaded,and it will give insight on 2 characters featured in Reloaded that we didn't get to know very much of.

Game Play - 10/10

Ah yes,game play. The heart of this game,and the best thing about this game. What more can you ask for with the virtual world of The Matrix? The levels are usually huge,and you can roam around vast areas doing whatever you want,unless you have some time limited objective you must carry out... Probably the single most awesome aspect about this game is the ability to ''Focus'',an action employed by the L button that will allow you to do any and every insane stunt or maneuver pulled off in the movies. While in Focus mode,time all around you slows down,and you will be able to dodge bullets, make gigantic leaps, run on the walls, back flip off walls into enemies,and anything else you can manage to muster up in the mountain of combos you can pull off. Another cool part of the game is driving/riding in vehicles. While playing as Niobe,you'll be able to ride around in your sleek,sexy black car,while Ghost rides shotgun and shoots cover fire outside the window to make sure nobody can get to you. Or if your playing as Ghost on the other hand,you'll have a field day blasting cop cars and innocent motorists while Niobe drives you guys to the hard line.
There is also a stunning array of guns you can pick up throughout the game to cause mayhem. And of course,you always have to watch out for Agents,which are just as tough to beat and as hard to avoid as they are in the movies (unless there's a ''Neo'' code somewhere to be unlocked...). The martial arts and hand to hand combat are all very effective in taking down enemies when ammo is short,and since every single Martial Art in the history of man has been downloaded to your brain,it won't be too hard to kill just about everybody in the game with just your bare limbs ;-)

All in all,this is one of the best games I have ever played. If you love The Matrix,then you WILL love this game. Or even if you want a great action game to rent for the weekend,then look no where else but here. But there is so much replay value in the Hacking mode and different difficulties/Characters,etc. that you can just rent this once and see everything in the game. This is a must buy for any Matrix or action fan. Overall Game - 10/10 BUY IT!!!!

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 05/19/03, Updated 05/19/03