Spread over two Gamecube discs this is your chance to enter the war and save Zoin either as Niobe and Ghost, both of whom did appear in minor roles in the actual films themselves. However its here that they take centre stage and you can see what they had to endure and overcome when fighting the machines. The hype was certainly effective as the title racked up a million units during its first week on sale.
At the heart of its attraction is the chance to enter another world, where kung fu and bullets are routine events. Exclusively filmed sequences from the films do help the illusion that you are an important part of the story. Part of the fun today is actually seeing where everything slots into the Matrix world and how clever the storyline is.
There was no real doubt as to whether the Wachowski brothers could deliver another twist of the Matrix universe. The problem with Enter the Matrix is the multi-format approach and the realisation that Shiny underestimated the task. This did not stop some wildly ambitious quotes from the team who really missed the boat. Playing the game it almost feels like a beta version, with levels and scenery lacking any detail or life. The colour scheme is drab, consistently murky and seems have been utilised to hide the visual limitations. Enter the Matrix really does feel unfinished and the game becomes one huge chase sequence, with you running to a phone booth or away from agents.
These are common themes but there are some memorable moments including fighting an agent on a cargo plane or driving wildly across a city with a banging DJ tune. The game does manage to capture the feel and over the top nature of Matrix combat. Your character is able to slow down time and express their kung fu moves to devastating effect, with wall running also possible. The animation is excellent and the musical accompaniment a superb extension of the trilogy.
Remove the storyline and you’re left with a disappointing take on the Matrix world. If the game was executed in the cel-style of Killer7 then we could forgive the finalised version. Visually, it’s a poor effort, especially as the levels are divided into small chunks requiring loading screens. It is probably conceivable that of all the major format version of the time, the Gamecube edition was at the bottom of the ‘to do’ list.
Assisting that feeling is the control scheme that isn’t suited to the Gamecube controller. The use of the yellow stick only to enter and exit the first person mode is a bizarre and unsettling inclusion. The system never feels comfortable and the in-game camera doesn’t help matters, especially on the tiresome jumping sections.
The hacking mini-game is also included here and it’s possible to worm your way into the game with various bonuses. It still stands as an interesting idea but one that never is fully realised and now feels like a convoluted cheat mode above the call of duty.
Ultimately Enter the Matrix is a great idea with direct involvement from the filmmakers resulting in an authentic experience. The problems are on the gaming side, with a series of poor design decisions and overall execution scuppering what could have been. It still remains a fun title to drop in and out of now and again, but for such a huge release a sour taste is guaranteed.
Gamestyle Score 5
