The Matrix: Path of Neo Preview

Atari and Shiny's upcoming The Matrix: Path of Neo game for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and the PC is arguably the Matrix game fans of the movie trilogy have been hankering for. While 2003's multiplatform Enter the Matrix was a fair romp through the unique cinematic world crafted by the Wachowski brothers, it left many wanting more. The game's biggest omission was not letting you play as the big three, or even the big one, from the cast. Thankfully, as evidenced by its title, The Matrix: Path of Neo drops you into the boots and stylish black clothing of one Thomas "Neo" Anderson. The game will span the course of the three Matrix movies and let you guide Neo as he sets off to save humanity from machines (obviously copious amounts of melee fighting and shooting will ensue). We had the chance to get our hands on a near-final version of the PC version to see just how it's coming together and, more importantly, to see whether or not it's an improvement over its predecessor.

You'll finally get to take control of Neo himself in the latest Matrix game from Shiny and the Wachowski brothers.

As we mentioned, Path of Neo will follow Neo's journey through the trilogy of films from simple computer nerd sticking it to the man to fashionably dressed, superpowered messianic dude sticking it to the machines. Though it may seem like an ambitious challenge to cram the three films into one game, Shiny had some superpowered dudes of its own to help make things go smoothly. Both Larry and Andy Wachowski served as writers and directors on the project, ensuring that the game's tale stuck to the film trilogy's standards. Better still, the pair took the opportunity to do a bit of fine-tuning on the overall story, which yields a new spin on things, as well as an all-new ending that's understandably being kept under close wraps. As a result, the game will contain surprises even for diehard Matrix fans who can recite dialogue by heart, which is more than a little cool.

The new tale will play out over the course of a collection of uniquely structured levels that will obviously borrow heavily from the films, but will also take some smart detours in the name of dramatic license and gameplay. At first blush, the game will likely seem like a fairly straightforward, and not altogether consistent, mirror of the events in the films. However, like the computer-generated world that holds mankind in thrall, there's more to Path of Neo than meets the eye. Everything starts out in fairly straightforward fashion. You'll get an eyeful of green code lines, cryptic scenes from the first movie, and a faithful approximation of the beginning of the film.

The game kicks off with Morpheus offering you the now-familiar choice of red or blue pills. If you choose correctly the action will proceed apace; if you choose incorrectly, then we hope you enjoy being kicked out of the game. Savvy pill poppers will start out in a tutorial area that's set in a familiar lobby, which is just asking to be shot up. While the level is your run-of-the-mill tutorial, there's more going on under the hood. The level is also gauging you as a player. You'll confront a selection of foes that will start with low- level security guards, and you'll work your way up to the deadly agents. Your progress against them will determine the difficulty choices presented to you when it's time to move on.

The next time you get control of Neo is when his world is about to blow up in his face. Agents swarm the sea of cubicles he works in and you'll have to "Solid Snake" your way through them, thanks to helpful hints via cell phone from the mysterious Morpheus, who seems to know your building incredibly well for someone not in it. The game departs from what we all know when Neo hits the outside of the building and attempts to make his way to safety. From here on out you'll be offered choices on how you want to progress. If you choose to, you can tough it out through the challenge of making it out of the building.

There will be some stealth elements involved--but don't worry, you'll be doing plenty of fighting too.

If you get nabbed, you can also choose to accept capture, which will drop you into a lengthy virtual reality training session that's a far cry from what was seen in the flicks. This sequence finds Neo making his way through a series of tests that reflect a winning mix of influences. Whether it's Neo's goofy training outfit, a Metal Gear-style stealth segment, an old-fashioned brawl, or even a tribute to one of the set-piece battles in Drunken Master 2 and a few other classic kung fu flicks, the series of sequences is extremely fun. You'll eventually wind up back on Neo's proper path, as seen in the movies, and you'll participate in all the choice action sequences from the trilogy. This includes the mighty "burly brawl" seen in the final entry in the trilogy, The Matrix Revolutions, where Neo faces off against a gaggle of multiplying Agent Smiths. Progressing through the game so you can get to the next cool action sequence is a strong incentive to tear through the levels, but Path of Neo now offers you an extra perk in the form of light RPG elements. This perk will let you power up Neo by selecting a set number of abilities from different tiered rings, essentially a skill tree that you'll move through. This will end up leaving you with a customized Neo that will be unique to you and your play style, as you'll only be able to choose from a limited amount of abilities on each ring.