XB The Matrix- Path of Neo Description:

XB The Matrix: Path of Neo review:
4 stars (Better than Enter The Matrix) - Okay, I have seen quite a few reviews on this game and people either love it or hate it. There is no middle ground. I have to say that while I haven't finished the game, I can report on what I have seen so far.



In regards to the graphics, I think this game pulls it off fairly well. I haven't noticed much of any lagging in the frame rate department. Yes, the graphics could have been better, but as they are I have no significant complaints. They are better than Enter the Matrix (ETM). They are definitely of a newer generation quality on the Xbox. While the graphics of the characters look good, there is a lot of background that also factors in. When you fight someone and knock them into a wall or other structure, that structure will break and reflect the hit.



The fighting system is fairly good. They have made it fairly simple and I never considered it a button mashing style. You basically have a few buttons that you use in addition to using the left joystick. You will accumulate moves as you progress through the game and also increase your "focus" which allows you to do all the famous moves from the Matrix universe such as dodging bullets and such. The training missions were a little long but they do help you to get a grip on the combat system. I have had several moments where I fought multiple opponents and had two attack me at once. I was able to grab them both as they swung at me and grabbed one hand and then the hand of the other and was able to defeat them while holding them together at the same time. It was one of the coolest moves I have ever seen in a game and it was silky smooth while it happened. You can move the camera angle during the fights and when you perform a special move the time will slow down and you can swing the camera to view it at any angle. Nice touch.



The shooting portion of the game is the one letdown here. You have to click the right joystick to draw the weapons and then you have to use the right joystick to switch from target to target by moving it left or right. The bad thing here is that you will continue to shoot a person even after they are dead. This makes you waste too much ammo. I had to switch back and forth from having my weapons drawn to switch to another target. Another annoying thing was that the camera lock would lock in a position even after the body of the person was gone. Again I had to click the right joystick and reclick it again to move on. The jump moves are nice when you engage the focus and you can pick people off from in the air.



There was a new ending rewritten for this game that is different from the movie. I haven't seen it yet but if I had I wouldn't post it to spoil it for any others playing the game. All in all it is a entertaining game that is worlds better than ETM. One thing when I popped it in the Xbox last night while playing it I definitely wanted to pop in my Matrix DVD to watch it again. This is definitely a renter for everyone. If you are a Matrix fan, you will most likely enjoy this game quite a bit. I could see a bit of influence from the Mortal Kombat games in the training sequence. When you play it you will probably see it as well. My local EB was able to hold a copy for me but they completely sold out of all the copies they had. They told me they were following the sales performance of this game but they suspected that it would be a sleeper hit. If sales of ETM are any signal, then this game will probably sell well into the millions. Give it a try. Chances are you will enjoy it enough to say "that wasn't a bad game at all". Enjoy.


2 stars (Matrix: Path of Meh) - This game wants to combine three really fun gaming aspects: the gun play of Max Payne (great game), the kung fu of Ninja Gaiden (another great game), and the bullet time of Max Payne and Enter the Matrix. It has all three elements, and does them all poorly.



First, the combat is sloppy. Button mashing is the name of the game and only seldomly are you rewarded for actually playing the game well. The gun battles are among the most frustrating experiences I've ever had playing a game. A horrible targeting system matched with more sloppy controls makes trying to shoot anyone intentionally a joke. Last, bullet time is given in such small doses, you can't get a hold on how to use it judiciously.



On top of all the sloppy controls and poor gameplay, the graphics look like a bad PS2 game. This is the Xbox, folks. Games should look better than this.



I really wanted to enjoy this game. I love Max Payne, Ninja Gaiden, and the Matrix universe, but this is yet another failed attempt by Shiny to let us have a good time in the Matrix. Maybe next time...
5 stars (Whoa...) - This is the game "Enter the Matrix" had wet dreams about. Fluid control, a deceptively deep combat system, and more jaw dropping fight scenes than you can shake a 9mm at. The gun combat could be a little more finely tuned, but it works. Though who would want to use a gun when you can run across a wall, jump off and spear someone to the floor, pick them up by their legs, swing them around in circles, and launch them at a group of their homies? Because you can do that.