Now's your chance to take the red pill for real and
Enter The Matrix--not simply a video game adaptation of the films but a whole new chapter in the
Matrix saga. Indeed, the best thing about
Enter The Matrix is the way it seamlessly connects with the three films, for although it's based on none of them directly, it allows you to play the role of either Niobe or Ghost (minor characters from
The Matrix Reloaded) while running into the likes of Neo, Morpheus and Agent Smith as the game's story unfolds. Not only that but the story, as well as all the exclusive video footage, is written and directed by the films' creators, the Wachowski brothers.
The game itself is, somewhat predictably, a third-person shoot-'em-up not at all dissimilar to a more balletic version of Max Payne. It's somewhat surprising though, for such a high-profile game, to find the graphics are actually a little below par and the controls somewhat clunky, but generally it all looks and plays pretty well with all the classic Matrix-style slow-motion acrobatics relatively easy to pull off.
Easily the best bits of the game are the on-foot chase sequences, usually involving agents, which are actually rather tense and a great way to show off all the running and leaping powers you've mastered in the rest of the game. The worst bits are the car chases, especially if you play as Niobe and have to put up with the terrible car handling, instead of just hanging out the window and shooting as Ghost. Still, this is a decent game overall which, although unlikely to win any awards in itself, is sure to please most Matrix fans. --David Jenkins