The Matrix: Path of Neo (PC)

Whatever you might think of the last two Matrix films, The Animatrix, Enter the Matrix, or anything else with the word Matrix in it from the last couple of years, it doesn't make The Matrix: Path of Neo any less good. Path of Neo is the second Matrix game from developer Shiny, and after the disappointing Enter the Matrix, you might be wondering why you should even bother this time around. You should, simply because Path of Neo isn't too much like its predecessor. It clearly uses some similar stylistic touches, but it's mechanically a much better game--a game that's made even better because you play as Neo, "the One," from the beginning of his adventures right down to the conclusion of the last film...sort of. Path of Neo also takes liberties with the story in order to get it into game shape, and serious Matrix fans might be put off by how the storyline is treated so whimsically at times. You also might find yourself frustrated by how flagrantly chaotic the action can be, and we're not talking about the measure of controlled chaos the game purposely creates, either. However, if you're thinking about playing this game on the PC, you might want to think again, as this version suffers from even more problematic controls and nastier graphics than its console brethren.

It's another Matrix game. Whoa.

If you're a fan of the Matrix series, or even just someone who has seen the movies, you probably don't need us to reiterate the entire plot for you since the title of the game pretty much says it all. If you haven't seen the films, you probably should before you check out this game, as the narrative isn't coherent enough for those who are unfamiliar with the source material. Big chunks of storyline are told through cutscenes ripped right from the film. But they're edited in a decidedly music-video-style fashion, jumping and skipping around quickly and providing only the bare essentials that you need to get by. The in-game sections aren't really all that similar to the films, either. You'll find yourself in plenty of familiar situations, like the massive battle in the park against hundreds of Agent Smiths from The Matrix: Reloaded and the wicked martial arts training battle between Neo and Morpheus from the first film. But many of these sequences have been extended, and they branch off in wildly different directions from those of the films. Not to mention that the third film is almost entirely glossed over, as the game skips almost straight to the final battle (though perhaps that's not such a bad thing). So this isn't just a step-by-step retelling of the Matrix saga, in case you were wondering. Rather, this is a full-fledged, 10-to-12-hour adventure that strictly follows Neo's trials and tribulations, both borrowed and original.

The one thing that's a bit disconcerting about how Path of Neo weaves its tale is its wild tonal shifts. There are times when the game feels like it's going out of its way to try to retain the same serious, existential themes of the movies. For instance, in between the end of the first movie and the beginning of the second, you'll take on several missions where you'll be rescuing potentials from agents. Here you'll meet a wise old herbalist who treats Neo like a demon who has come to take him away from his life; a librarian who panics when the book she's trying to move keeps reappearing on the shelf thanks to a glitch in the Matrix; and a martial artist whose sequence is bookended by poetic backstory narration by Larry Fishburne. And then there are times when things will get all jovial, with plenty of goofy inside jokes and gags with nudge-and-wink references to video games in general, the Matrix films, patently obscure martial arts cinema, and plenty of other weird stuff. The ending in particular is absolutely ludicrous, though almost hysterically so. We won't give it away, but let's just say it's a far cry from the downer ending of the third film.

Enough about the plot. The whole point is that Path of Neo can be a pretty fun experience--provided you can deal with its controls. Unlike in Enter the Matrix, where you were relegated to playing as supporting characters Niobe and Ghost, here you are Neo in all his glory, and as such, you'll get to do almost all the badass things that he was able to do in the movies. For the most part, Path of Neo is a pure brawler with a decent amount of weapon combat thrown in for good measure. You might think that there's a lot more to it initially, since the game starts with a stealth sequence and then transfers into an hour-long series of tutorial missions. But in the end, what you learn is that Neo can punch dudes real hard, and he can shoot them too. The highly choreographed fight sequences of the films are emulated in the game with a fairly simplistic control scheme. All you need to deal with is a basic attack button and a stun attack button, which are mapped to the two mouse buttons by default. Alternating between these sets up plenty of different combos that are both effective and cool looking. The shooting works similarly, with an autotarget feature that locks in on your closest opponent, though it's a lot harder to use than the one in the console games. Still, it's a lot of fun to watch these moves happen. There are few things more satisfying than sending a cop flying into the air and then pelting him with bullets, or grabbing an agent out of midair and slamming him to the street.

Yes, you can actually take the blue pill at the beginning of the game, but unless you want a "game over" screen, you probably shouldn't.

Neo gets other cool powers as well, many of which are unlocked over time via upgrades you can purchase in between missions. There's a code vision mode that lets you see the Matrix in its pure, coded form, often revealing hidden enemies, doorways, and things of that nature. Neo can also use telekinesis to move objects around and to stop and redirect projectiles and bullets. Of course, all of these things can be done in bullet time. If you press and hold a button, everything will slow down around Neo, and he'll be able to land attacks more easily. It's not a guaranteed hit by any means, and you can still be blocked by an enemy. But it definitely ups the effectiveness of your attacks, as well as your dodge moves, which go from neat to damn near spectacular in bullet time.

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