Enter the Matrix

"A big fat slice of Matrix action goodness, handed to you on a plate !!"

FOREWORD

I don't know about you, but I really enjoyed the Matrix movies - I thought they were unique and that the martial arts scenes in them were spectacularly done, so when I heard that plans were afoot to release a game based on the series ? I almost literally wet my pants with excitement.

Was all the hype worth me disgracing myself ?? Read on ...

OVERVIEW AND OBJECTIVE OF THE GAME

Set after a short movie entitled "Final Flight of the Osiris", you must take control of either Niobe or Ghost, and guide them through a variety of missions within the Matrix.

That's the very, very basic plot synopsis of the title.

The game takes place predominantly as a third-person 3/4 view game (all three-dimensional), in which you move your character around in the Matrix world, controlling your speed (you can make the environment around you go very slowly so as to avoid bullets, brutalise your enemies and generally look really cool), and whilst there are certain unique levels (where you wind up shooting from cars, piloting ships, etc., etc.), the majority of the game's play is done in this hands-on stylee.

GRAPHICS - 9/10

Graphically-speaking, this is an eye-candy treat. The characters are generally well-drawn, and very smoothly animated, with there being TONNES of individually-designed moves that you can do in Matrix Bullet Time, MANY of which will leave your jaw hanging wide open in amazement.

Even the animations that take place when you draw weapons are realistic, and well-reproduced, just like they were in the movies.

The action takes on a whole different perspective when things go into Matrix Bullet Time, graphically-speaking, as well. It is almost as though the developers have deliberately been very careful with the animation of the characters because they KNOW that you have complete control over when you slow down the action, so they wanted every single possible moment of gameplay to look at its best so that it would look even MORE amazing when slowed to a crawl.

... and it worked.

SOUND - 9/10

The sounds in the game are crisp, fresh and plentiful. There is an appropriate change in sounds when you enter Matrix Bullet Time (as, naturally, all the sounds need to be drawn out to show that they take a lot longer to complete), and all the gunfire, punches, kicks, holds, locks, throws, spins and other moves are satisfying to perform AND satisfying to listen to.

Incidental sound-effects, like people breaking glass windows to shoot at you, or moving around behind stacks of files, even down to the sound of their footfalls on solid surfaces, are all painstakingly reproduced in-game for your pleasure, and the overall experience is a very positive one indeed.

The music is of a high standard throughout the game as well, making this title a veritable banquet of tasty soundbytes.

CONTROLS - 9/10

Whilst it will take you some time to get used to how to get the most out of both Niobe AND Ghost (as each has subtly different moves during play), once you are comfortable using them, and controlling Matrix Bullet Time to maximum effect, then you will find yourself grinning like a MUPPET at the enjoyment you will have from playing this title.

You will be comfortably wading into rooms FILLED with guards armed with semi-automatic weapons, grenades and wearing body armour, without thinking twice about it, and you will be the only person that comes out the other end, and this is (for the majority) down to the game's very precise and involved control method.

Fortunately the developers have taken a long, hard look at the X-Box controller and decided how best to allocate the buttons so as to avoid you having to dislocate your OWN wrists to do what you want to do, but you do always have the option of changing the configuration yourself should you wish.

PLOT - 8/10

Whilst the game does borrow from the plot of the Matrix Reloaded in parts, for the majority of the time, the missions which you are asked to undertake (which do vary SLIGHTLY between Niobe and Ghost) are fresh and refreshing.

Your first mission, for example, sees you having to retrieve an item that has been left for emergency collection from within a heavily guarded Post Office in the Matrix, so you can see that the developers and designers have spent quite a bit of time trying to come up with novel and innovative ways of exploiting the Matrix concept.

The development of the plot takes place not just in-level, but via FMV cutscenes in-between the levels, so whilst you are playing you will start to get the impression that the game designers wanted you to relive certain moments from the movie, but from the perspective of supporting characters (in Niobe and Ghost), rather than focusing exclusively on Neo, Trinity and Morpheus as we do in the movies.

GAMEPLAY - 9/10

Be forewarned, this is an EXTREMELY fun game to play once you have the mechanics down pat. Those masters of using Niobe and/or Ghost will be able to attest to the sheer coolness factor of disarming an enemy holding a semi-automatic weapon with a spin, flipping him over onto the ground and karate-chopping him to relieve him of his weapon, or any of dozens of other, similar moves, all of which produce a feel good factor for you, the player.

Of course, when you screw it up, you REALLY screw it up, so it is not uncommon for you to run out of Matrix Bullet Time (which recharges, but only lasts a finite period of time), and then being brutally massacred by tonnes of armed assailants because you tried to be TOO flash for your mates ... but in time, you will get used to that, and work around it.

Fighting agents (which you only do very very rarely in the game - ONCE, if my memory serves) is satisfying because those fights are more akin to the Neo -v- Smith fight in the Matrix (the *first* movie) - i.e. really tough, and quite rewarding to boot !!

There is also a databank of sorts, which you can access to review lists of your skills, weapons, maps and other areas of the game. This makes a handy reference point, particularly when you have tried to amass all the skills in the game, and get a bit ropey with the odd one or two.

The alternative action levels (where you are shooting from cars, flying the Logos or similar) are not quite as enjoyable in my opinion, since they can be VERY fast-paced ... faster than I think the average player is likely to enjoy. Consequently I would have been content to give this title 8/10 for its gameplay, were the regular levels not so extremely enjoyable to go through !!

REPLAY VALUE - 8/10

Once you've mastered the game, seen all the cutscenes and played through the game with both Niobe AND Ghost, odds are you will give a few master classes to your mates once you've gotten them hooked on it, and then set it aside for a few weeks before playing a bit more of it, just to relive the coolness factor.

The mid- to long-term replay value of the title takes a gentle knock, because there has been a further title released in the series (Enter the Matrix: The Path of Neo) - however in my opinion this title is VASTLY superior to that, so the general replay value of this baby remains on the high side :)

VALUE FOR MONEY - 9/10

Considering the hours of fun I derived from this game, and the comparatively cheap price YOU should now be able to get it for, I think Enter the Matrix represents great value for money. It's the kind of game that you could give to somebody for Christmas and still find them playing at New Year (and with kids learning to play so fast these days, those games are few and far between !!).

OVERALL - 9/10 (This is NOT an average)

Enter the Matrix is a very polished, beautifully action-oriented, martial arts extravaganza, which borrows from the Matrix Trilogy to produce an experience that is heavily tied-in with it, but can stand on its own two feet at the same time.

It is both rewarding and enjoyable to play, and anybody that enjoys Matrix Bullet Time will REALLY get a kick out of playing this ;)

MAIN GOOD POINTS

* Use of Matrix Bullet Time is at YOUR discretion
* Great graphics, with beautifully animated takedowns and martial arts moves
* Sounds are varied and decent throughout
* Use of the data bank enables you to keep better track of your skills and development as you go through the game

MAIN BAD POINTS

* It will take you a little while to master Niobe and Ghost as playable characters, especially some of their more complicated moves
* Some of the non-mainstream levels can be rather frustrating because of their speed and the lack of preparation you have before getting thrown into the thick of it.
* You cannot control any of the principle characters - only Niobe and Ghost

SO SHOULD YOU GET IT ?

If you are a fan of the Matrix Trilogy, then yep - I would definitely suggest you scope out and pick up one of these beauties - I do not think you will be disappointed in it, and I would doubt you'll sell it off, unless you really Really REALLY need the cash - I certainly won't be parting with mine !!

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 08/23/07