The Matrix: Path of Neo

"The Desert of the Real."

I'd like to start off by saying that this game not only washes the bad taste that Enter the Matrix previously left us with, it gives you a new appreciation for it. This game to put it simply is amazing, the combat is great the lighting is amazing; it really is a great tribute to an amazing series. However I'd like to say that all of those “key matrix moments” were really watered down, which really hurt me so. It's far from perfect and the alternate ending is a sure kick in the balls to any decent Matrix fan.

Sound-7
+ This sound in this game will give you the feeling like you're in the movie. When the fighting starts you'll get your rock music, when your about to do something amazing you'll get the Matrix Theme in the background. Nothing is really wrong with it, the music is always appropriate and all the weapons sound ok.

- A lot of things get annoying while your playing, like at one point your fighting a lot of Smith's and out of nowhere I toss one and I hear this high pitched scream. Also there are allies who will scream for your help, and when you rush to go save them you'll find that they destroyed everything.

Graphics-7
+ The thing I noticed with the graphics engine is how weird or cool it can look at different times. I've noticed how the lighting is flawless, and then I watch cut scenes where the people's eyebrows rise to the top of their skulls. A lot of characters have poorly rendered hair, but they've really focused on making the primary characters look like there on screen predecessors with they accomplished.

- However, the only type of opponent that changes, are the agents, which they had too. Every security guard, swat member, swat captain, all look the same, which isn't very disappointing, but it feels very disappointing.

Gameplay-8
+ This is of course where the game shines. The fighting resembles something in between Devil May Cry and Jet Li: Rise to Honor, most enemies come en-masse, and in which you'll have to use combinations of guns, melee weapons and band fists to fight off mindless cronies. Most of the times, pressing the focus button and attacking everything that moves can instantly defeat any enemy that's too hard. However the fighting is really fun of watch, and for the first half of the game is thoroughly entertaining.

- Now I myself am a self-proclaimed Matrix fan, I have the Ultimate Matrix Collection, actively play the Matrix Online, bought Enter the Matrix despite the crap reviews it received, and really they mess with the overall movies to “appease gamers more”. Well I won't spoil it for you, but the alternate ending will make you say, WTF, trust me it will. Also they add stupid things to prolong the length, like hey, it seems that after Neo finally hits Morpheus, Morpheus leads him to a obstacle course where the race to a telephone. The burly brawl, that only reason I enjoyed The Matrix Reloaded, was so dissapointing I couldn't believe it. They make it look good in screen shots, but 98% of all those smiths that you see on that screen are all pre-rendered and do nothing but run around in a circle while you take about 5 smith's at a time. After a while all those cool combo's wont look as cool when you use them forty times every level, and the gun sections are complete jokes, and often depend on luck.

In conclusion, if you're a Matrix fan, you should at least rent this. However, the Wachowski Brothers have completely lost my respect from tricking everyone into, 1. Thinking the Burly Brawl was something it wasn't, and 2. Screwing up the movies so they could appease people who don't care on how it ends. I had fun with it for the first half or so, but it left me disappointed, but when I toke the Red Pill I knew it wouldn't be easy, I'm still left waiting to see how deep the rabbit Hole can really go.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 11/17/05