Enter the Matrix

"Movie? Amazing. Game? Terrible..."

I'm a little startled to see such high scores this game is getting on this page, I can't help but feel like maybe I am becoming one of those ''jaded'' gamers who simply expects too much. Hmm. NO. Actually, this game blows, here's why:

Graphics: Wow. SUCH a disappointment. This looks like an N64 game. No, I am not exaggerating. It's that weak. The textures are bland and uninspiring, jagged edges are everywhere. Look at the car tires, for example. No smoothness whatsoever. Straight edges on car tires is an embarrassment. How can games with graphics like this be released when titles such as Midnight Club 2 feature HUGE, EXPANSIVE environments yet still maintain an amazing level of graphics? This game is not pushing any limits whatsoever. Maybe that's why it's been ported to EVERY platform under the sun. Even the PC version doesn't improve upon the game. Thumbs down. Way down.

Camera:
A living nightmare. You have NO way to adjust the camera. You're stuck with it. I can't tell you how annoying it is to run into an area and find out you just fell off a ledge to your death because you couldn't see what was in front of you. Use that right stick for something, for crying out loud! Toggling first person view is not enough!

Gameplay:
Run around, shoot people. Run around, protect people. Oh, let's snipe an airplane tire now. Ok, let's drive down a long stretch of road doing absolutely nothing but shooting cars. Ah, let's snipe and protect now. There's no innovation here. Nothing new at all. Not even any exploration since there are no secrets to find (not even extra piles of ammo) and every level is completely linear. Oh, the ''Matrix Effect'' is kinda cool for the first few minutes. Fond memories of Max Payne except I can run up walls. Hmm. Max, where are we when we need you?

Controls:
Could have been a lot better. That Lock/Strafe key didn't quite work too well. In fact, I wasted more ammo than necessary. You can work past this with some practice. Sniper Mode's control was WAY too touchy. Of course, Focusing negates this. I don't really have that much to gripe about the controls (excluding the camera issues).

Cut Scenes:
Well, 10 out of 10 here. A lot of cool stuff is here, for sure. In fact, any Matrix fan should rent this game and endure the torture that it is for the sole purpose of seeing all the movie bits. Ghost really isn't much of the film at all, and I was quite upset, because he really rocks in the game. Of course, we could all just wait for the DVD because all the extras here will eventually be revealed for the non-gaming public. And if games like this continue to be produced, I am going to join that segment of the population really fast.

Misc. Gripes:
Motion capture? What jerky movements. Running? The characters look ridiculous while doing so. When that airplane is getting ready for take off, exactly what the heck is that car doing? I laughed really hard when I saw that. Sound glitches are plentiful in the driving levels. Man, that engine sound is way too loud. Voices drop out entirely. Why exactly does that Italian babe like to kiss everyone? Can she come over to my place?

Summary:
Man, what happened to this game? I was expecting SO much and got SO little. I could have lighted my $50 on fire in the store and had a lot more fun. Matrix fans will love it, and probably post a lot of VERY inflated reviews on here. It's worth a rental, but like I said, ONLY for the movie clips. This is the last movie game I will EVER buy again.

Reviewer's Score: 3/10, Originally Posted: 05/20/03, Updated 05/20/03