Enter the Matrix

All is not perfect in Enter the Matrix, but for its few flaws, the game delivers what it is meant to: a very convincing experience inside The Matrix that looks, smells, and feels like... The Matrix. [July 2003, p.76]

Gamers not only get tons of extra movie action but also get to run, kick, and shoot in a fully realized Matrix universe.

If they hadn’t rushed this game to match the release of the movie, if they had ditched the driving, if they had cleaned up the camera a little, if they had given me the targeting ability of every other first person shooter in existence, and if they had let me play as one or more of the major characters rather than just a couple of second bananas, then they would have really had something.

Wants to be so many different games that it doesn't excel at any one of them. [13 June 2003]

An average game, but I really like the film footage.

Enter the Matrix isn't a perfect slice of interactive entertainment, but it does provide at least a dozen hours of action-packed fun and serves as a clever vehicle to expand on the events in "The Matrix Reloaded."

The action, from top to bottom, may be built on a foundation made of stylish maneuvers, cool martial arts, and slick gunplay. But when you try and jam all of that into a poorly performing beast of a game with some atrocious mechanics and an utterly agonizing camera, it just loses most of that appeal.

The game's story isn't strong enough to stand on its own, and the gameplay simply doesn't save it, making the game worth a look for hard-core fans of The Matrix films, but a buggy disappointment for just about anyone else.

It works, and it’s playable, but its remarkable fighting isn’t enough to pull it out of the mire labelled average.

ETM has a solid combat system that's addictive at times, but the game doesn't offer any gripping features that might increase its replayability. Also, it's mostly linear throughout the entire course of the plot.

Take away the Matrix setting, and you're left with an action game that really does nothing new - and looks pretty average doing it. [Aug 2003, p.64]

You barely exchange two sentences to Trinity, and she ignores almost everything you say in favor offering pre-scripted responses before quickly dumping you back to the hacking interface.

The more you play this half-baked sack of pixels, the more you become convinced that there is no The Matrix game, and the only thing being played here is you.

For the inability to save at any point, for obtuse camera and fighting controls, for subpar level design, for irritating crash and sound bugs, and for the failure to make any effort to improve the technology behind this console port, “Matrix” enjoys the dubious distinction of a Rotten Egg award.

Play it for the movies, don't play it for the play. [Aug 2003, p.84]

Less of the ‘groundbreaking title’ Infogrames claimed it would be and more… well, crap. We’d suggest renting it at best – and that’s only if you’re absolutely desperate to see what you’re not missing.

The fighting sequences had little snap in the punches, the storyline had few surprises, and the world of the Matrix didn’t leave enough to the imagination.

It makes the mistake of being repetitive and, worse of all, boring. [Aug 2003, p.86]

While everything does slow down in Focus mode, you appear to be in multiple places at the same time, and the camera can’t handle this. It jerks all over the place, inducing first frustration, then nausea, and finally “Who the hell cares?” as you give up and click the punch and kick buttons as fast as possible while pushing the mouse all over the place.