PlayStation Hardware & Games

Video: 3
Sound: 2
Gameplay: 3

Ever since 1999, gamers have been awaiting their chance to play within The Matrix as the multisyllabically challenged Neo. Most thought that, with the release of Enter the Matrix in 2003, our prayers were answered, but instead the game was oozing disappointment. (You play as minor characters from The Matrix Reloaded.) Now Shiny Entertainment and Atari have teamed up to bring us the game we've been waiting for—The Matrix: Path of Neo.

You play as Neo (Thomas Anderson before your awakening) in a story line that will carry you from The Matrix to The Matrix Revolutions. It is even possible to complete things differently than they happen in the movies (such as running through the office building as Mr. Anderson, evading the agents and getting out alive, sans bug). After taking the red pill and descending into the rabbit hole, there is a series of "training programs" (surprisingly similar to game tutorials) that will teach you how to fight within the Matrix. The play control is a little clumsy at first, and the combo attacks can get very confusing. I found that reverting to my Tekken play style (mashing the buttons) worked just fine. When you pull off the combo attacks, they can be devastating for your enemy, as well as pretty cool to watch.

The THX-certified sound design does a good job capturing the feel of The Matrix films and the soundtrack, which kicks in for combat, helps to pump the adrenaline. The disconcerting aspect of the audio occurs when switching from cut scenes to gameplay and vice versa. As a game based on a movie, we expect there to be cut scenes from the movie interspersed throughout to help move the story along. The problem is, not all the actors from the movie are voicing their in-game counterparts. There are a few times when a cut scene will end with Trinity talking, and the gameplay will begin with Trinity talking, but it's not the same Trinity. This would take my concentration out of the game each time it happened. Luckily some of the actors returned to voice their digital counterparts, including the definition of cool, Laurence Fishburne.

The biggest problem with the cut scenes is the video quality. The picture is dark and grainy. Most tend to be rather long, as well, leaving you sitting, waiting to play again. When you do finally get back to the playing, the game's graphics aren't too bad. There is a lack of definition around the characters when they are standing around, but, once the action starts happening, things flow rather well. Oh, and they do include a 16:9 option that helps enhance the feeling of playing within the movie.

The Matrix: Path of Neo is a game for dedicated followers of the movie trilogy. Gamers that want to play as Neo have been waiting for years, and now they can fulfill that need. For the rest of us who might or might not have enjoyed the films, it's not as satisfying of a game experience. Either way, always remember—if you see an Agent, run.