Enter the Matrix

"Enter a Matrix filled with broken mechanics."

Enter the Matrix is a renown trilogy in Hollywood. Enter the Matrix movies have always been big budget movies. It is very popular and has drawn in the masses to go watch the movies when they are released. Who can blame them I personally thought the movies were well scripted and had a very good plot. Now comes along a game based on the movies, as anyone would guess the game is called Enter the Matrix. In order to meet the movie release, Shiny Entertainment releases a game that is rushed. One positive note that I can begin with is the fact that they use movie cut scenes which will please any long time Matrix fans. Also the story is quite good, but one should really watch the movie first in order to get the full hands on experience. However that is where it ends, it goes down hill from here folks. Get yourself prepared to Enter a Matrix filled with broken mechanics.

On its own merits Enter the Matrix is actually a solid looking game. The cut scenes that feature movies look quite good. However the in game cut scenes are not up to par. For one the characters are quite blurry and look shoddy. Character animation for the most part is a joke. When the characters are running, they run in a way that makes them look awkward. Through the course of the game characters will make awkward movements. For example the way they move their heads at certain directions are rather clunky. One thing is the game does run rather smooth, but the load times can be a pain.

Where Enter the Matrix ultimately fails at is its gameplay mechanics. To put it bluntly it is an absolute broken mess. The combat engine is a wreck, the camera is out of place, the controls are clunky, the enemy A.I is a joke, and one can simply run past the game mashing the same buttons over and over again. Enter the Matrix is basically a game where one has to complete a set of objectives. These objectives are very easy and quite repetitive to do. Not to mention that the game is very linear and offers no exploration at all.

The combat is very simple, one can punch, kick, and use weapons. While it may sound like your standard third person action title, Enter the Matrix takes all the negatives that you can think of in a third person action title and incorporates it in a game. Shiny Entertainment definitely deserves an applaud for this great effort. Okay enough with the sarcasm. The combat is quite tedious. It is tedious because the game lacks any functional and effective lock on system. When facing a mass amount of enemies instead of locking on to the closest one, it seems your character will lock onto enemies that aren't the closest. Have no fear though, since it is very easy to just punch your way out of it. Seriously one can just start mashing buttons together and find it very effective. This is partly because the camera is all out of place. So not only is the lock on system ineffective, the camera does not help one bit. The combat is tedious and a pain to play because one the A.I is shoddy and two I just don't find the ease of things to be any fun.

Another horrible feature is the clunky controls. Most of the times your character will go where you want to, but when you start climbing and moving at a quick speed the problems arise. For instance when your running a lot of times your character will simply get stopped by a desk or something. While your trying to turn in another direction the character miraculously runs into a desk. Another instance is when you climb and find your character jump instead of climbing. When one is running one can sometimes end up with their back against a wall ala Sam Fisher, but take away the coolness and the effectiveness.

The voice acting for the most part is quite good. It really gives out that Matrix feel. Shiny Entertainment didn't ruin everything. The voice actors do a good job at conveying the story for the most part. However the music soundtrack is rather bland. I was hoping for a bit more variety, but hey the game is already horrid so it is not like this can make it any worse.

Enter the Matrix is a game that is best described as a rental. I bought it cheap and still regret it. Enter the Matrix simply doesn't have any redeeming values. It is short and it is repetitive to play. After a while one can find that they are forcing themselves to play. The combat is very repetitive and the shoddy A.I does not help one bit.

The overall presentation is decent. It will certainly appeal to fans of the movies. It does a great job at conveying the feeling of the movies, but this is all moot considering how bad the game is. Everything from the camera to the gameplay, Enter the Matrix simply fails on many accounts. The only redeeming factor is its movie cut scenes, which will appeal to fans. However if your looking for a good game or even a decent game look somewhere else. Enter the Matrix is a broken mess.

Well my compliments to Shiny Entertainment for making yet another horrible movie based game. Perhaps the game was simply rushed to meet the movie date, but even then it is no excuse to leave a game this unfinished. The ineffective lock on system, horrific camera, the linear objectives, and the ease of blowing through the game simply does not help its cause. So if you really want to try this game then go rent it. Do not make the mistake of purchasing this game like I did.

Pros
+ The Enter the Matrix theme
+ Cut Scenes
+ The whole movie feel

Cons
- Horrific camera
- Shoddy A.I
- Broken combat
- Weird looking animations
- Clunky controls
- Button mashing galore
- Repetitive
- Rather short and no fun to play

Graphics - 6/10
Gameplay - 1/10
Sound - 6/10
Value - 1/10
Presentation 3/10
Overall - 3.4/10

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