The Matrix: Path of Neo

"Keanu's bogus adventure"

I'll admit it. I actually enjoyed Enter The Matrix. Despite the sloppiness, and those awful driving sections I thought it was good fun and it had a great gimmick. Playing through the game gave you a different perspective of Matrix Reloaded when it hit the cinemas.

Enter The Matrix had one big problem though. You didn't get to be Neo, which is surely a bit pointless. Oh well, Shiny have put this right with Matrix: Path of Neo. This is your chance to play through the trilogy as Neo.

Graphics (4/10): Wow... considering that the Matrix films were basically style over substance you'd expect PoN to be gloriously attractive. Well it's not. The graphics seem to be from the early days of the PS2 when they still didnt know how to program the thing properly. And the animation... oh my.... Neo runs like he's wet himself.

Also, you can go from one attack to another and the animation literally jumps. There's no flow to it and frankly the whole game looks like it's going to fall apart at any minute.

Luckily there is plenty of footage from the films to watch and that all looks fine, although many of the best bits are recreated with the terrible graphics engine.

Sound (7/10): To my untrained ear this game sounds authentically Matrix-y, with Keanu and chums adding their vocal talents. Nothing spectacular, but nicely done.

Gameplay (6/10): So, can the gameplay save this ugly little beast? Well yes... suprisingly. First impressions are bad. You start off with no attack moves and basically have to escape out of Neo's office. It's pretty joyless and the controls are horrible. Luckily it gets better.

The 'I know kung fu' training sequence of the film is extended out and you get to learn new skills and test them out in different scenarios. I particularly liked the homage to Enter The Dragon.

They dont skimp on this section, you get to practise all manner of fighting and gunplay moves so by the time you get into your first fights you should be well skilled. These fights are lifted from the films (mostly) and are actually pretty enjoyable once you get past the dodgy controls and nasty slowdown.

After a while you'll be running up walls, running up people and kicking them in the face and doing all manner of fancy combos. It's pretty satisfying, especially when you take on the agents, but for the most part you can just bash the buttons randomly and you'll do okay.

Where the game loses points (after the controls, graphics and slowdown) is the gunplay. I dont know about you, but when I shoot a cop I expect him to die. I dont want to empty and uzi into him. Also the auto-aiming is a pain. I found myself ditching the weaponary and taking on the baddies with my feet and fists.

Overall (6/10): I know that this game is stupid, lazily-produced and riddled with flaws but it's quite good fun and that counts for something. The problem is I've seen this kind of thing done so much better though and even this year's Mortal Kombat offering probably edges this game out for gameplay.

One for the fans only methinks.

Reviewer's Score: 6/10, Originally Posted: 11/10/05