Enter the Matrix
01/07/2003 . Source: Phil Jones 

Computer Game: System: Now Platform: PS2/Xbox/GameCube/PC. Developer: Shiny Publisher: Atari. Type: 3rd person shoot ‘em up. Price: RRP £39.99 Players 1 (2 when multiplayer is activated) ESPA age rating: 15).

Anything to do with ‘The Matrix’ has been eagerly awaited. The Wachowski brothers have kept a careful eye over all things Matrix-esque. Everything is tied to everything else, expanding the Matrix universe and the game is no exception.

From conception to direction, the brothers had control and this shows in the game. The biggest plus for Matrix fans is an extra hour of new FMV shot during the filming of ‘Matrix Reloaded’. You are rewarded with cut scenes and FMV that expand the story that is told in ‘Reloaded’ in a similar way to the ‘Animatrix’ shorts.

OK, so what's the game like and who do you play I hear you ask. Film/game tie-ins often suck. They are a relatively cheap way to cash in on the success of a major film. Not so with this one, it cost a lot of money to make. The game itself consists of you taking control of either Ghost or Niobe (two minor characters from the ‘Reloaded’ film).

Your first task is to pick up the data drop in a post office box left by the Osiris. This follows neatly from the ‘Animatix: Last Flight Of The Osiris’ by Square. You are guided through the Matrix by an arrow and messages from Sparks (your operator) that appear in a window at the bottom of the screen.

As the game progresses, you follow along a parallel path to that of the film ‘Reloaded’, with your path crossing those of Trinity, Morpheus and also Agent Smith or more precisely 100 Agent Smiths!! Depending on who you play, the levels vary in style from all out 'run like hell while kicking butt' to driving, more shooting and also flying. Some of the locations will seem familiar to those in the film. For example, you help Neo by destroying the nuclear power station and aid Morpheus on the freeway to name a few.

The bulk of the game is running and combat (with both characters). So games like these need good combat systems and a good camera to follow the action and generally this game has both. The fighting is easy to pick up with a choice of hand-to-hand combat (kung fu style) and a healthy assortment of guns.

It's very easy to look good with all the Matrix-style moves included. To get the 'bullet time' slo-mo effect going you have a focus button and meter. Once activated you can pull off impressive moves, dodge bullets and shoot more accurately. This also increases the more you fight using hand-to-hand combat.

Occasionally, the controls can seem a little clunky but the hyper active camera generally keeps up and works! The one area I felt was poor was the driving. It felt sluggish and the physics didn't seem 'right'. OK, so it's ‘The Matrix’ but I just feel it could be better.

If you play Ghost this isn't a problem as he mostly provides back up in the form of shooting while Niobe drives. The agents toward the end of the game are impossibly hard, if you get cornered you might as well forget it and restart the level.

For a game of this budget and scope, you would have thought the graphics would be spot on but this isn't the case. I've only played the PS2 version but I've been informed that the Xbox is the best of a bad bunch. The texture mapping of the backgrounds could be better. Although the character's moves have been motion captured the animation occasionally seems a bit ropy.

The focus mode is impressive to watch especially when bullets are flying or you are doing an impossible leap between buildings.

The general level design is fairly linear but mostly this isn't a problem because a huge amount of tension is created as you rush though buildings and jump over roofs to escape pursuit. In a way, it feels almost like an extended version of Trinity's initial escape in the first Matrix movie.

The levels diverge to some degree depending on whom you play. With Ghost, for example, in the airport, you keep providing sniper support whereas with Niobe it's a lot more hands on combat.

One good sideline is the hacking game. You need a game already saved to start playing this. Anyone who is familiar with old style Commandline interface of DOS or UNIX will feel right at home. You have to find the appropriate commands and hard drives to access deeper into the system. Further in, you get to 'talk' to Trinity and Sparks.

With a bit more exploration you can view the FMV, artwork, open up two player and secret levels as well as activate cheats. There are codes scattered on the Matrix websites that also activate some of these features. You can also make weapon drops and activate training programs (I managed to find a sword training file - I don't know whether there are anymore to find).

So, overall, is it any good. For a film Tie-In, it's one of the better games of this year and fans can get more of the Matrix story and universe in the shape of the game and FMV film footage. I would say it's a tad short but does have re-play value in the shape of two different characters to play and there are differences in both levels and FMV. So it is definitely worth playing both to see all the material.

The game certainly raises the adrenaline levels when an agent is chasing you across roofs leaping for your life. Taking down a SWAT team using focus is really good fun using all those juicy Matrix moves. Comparisons are going to be made with previous games that use 'Bullet Time' effects such as ‘Max Payne’ but altogether ‘Matrix Reloaded’ is better because focus can be applied to both hand-to-hand and shooting, although targeting is automatic.

Would I recommend it? Yes, if you loved the film(s) and want more but also this works as a game in isolation. It may not be the best game of the year but it's still very enjoyable.

Go get it and kick some slo-mo butt!

Phil Jones