So, what am I seeing here? A fairly good fighting game mixed with bizarre moments basically equals Path of Neo.... What?
First off, the graphics. Many would find the matrix to be the marvel of special effects technology (remember folks, they invented bullet time!). However, Path of Neo decided to take a completely different path from its trilogy parent. The graphics are at best, extremely outdated. Though some moments test the full power of the graphics, the average presentation of the game was weak.
Next, the gameplay. If anyone remembers the first matrix game, you would probably remember running around as two characters that no one really cared about (niobe who? ghost what?). As most believed, big disappointment. However, Path of Neo does some real good for the matrix world. In this game, you can take Neo on a completely different path than the movie took him. How would you like to see what would have happened if the agents didn't get to neo in the first movie, and what would have happened if he took the scaffold in the first place. Not too shabby. The weapons, martial arts, and bullet time engines are incredible! the makers were not exaggerating when they said you could do anything as the One. If they mean throwing a hundred punches at a cop, then shooting them up in the air, and hurling them at the ground so you (neo) can smash their face into the pavement with your feet, then they are not kidding. Controls are near perfect, excluding those random moments where you are throwing punches at an invisible person in the opposite direction your enemies are. Of course, you can't have innovation without an RPG-esque advancement. meaning every level you can unlock certain abilities (like the all powerful ability to punch someone six times! tremble! tremble!) which cannot be used in previous levels.
Sound, hmm. It was definitely an excellent idea to use all of the stars from the movies to play as the characters in the game. because the game would not be the matrix without Keanu reeves (uhhh right..). But seriously, the designers were smart in making this decision, despite that everyone was expecting it anyway.
Now for something completely different. The story, though attempting to remain true to the real story, can't help but stray away to the weirdest of places. I'm not exaggerating when I stress the word WEIRD. For example, when playing the Frenchman’s chateau level, you somehow find yourself in an Escher painting world, where giant kung fu master ants come at you from all sides! WHAT THE HELL?! The only reason that the game thinks they have reason to do this is the wachowski brothers interrupting the final battle to explain why they decided to pull this kind of weirdness off.
If you simply ignore the giant ants or the other weird (and sometimes humorous) moments where the story goes absolutely haywire, you will definitely enjoy the game to its full extent. Unless you are a die hard matrix fan (or just have a taste for weirdness), you should just rent this game.