by Ryan Lodata - May 8, 2006

Welcome to the Matrix. Will you choose the red pill or blue pill? Sony Online Entertainment, which is famous for its MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role playing game), Everquest, brings one of the most popular movies of all time to the PC in the form of an MMORPG. As a player you get to assume the role of one of the few who have been enlightened to the existence of the Matrix. Most of us have seen the movie and loved it, but how well has it been translated into a MMORPG?

Hit, Wait, Hit

In The Matrix movie, you got to see Keanu Reeves jump off walls and twist overtop of enemies while he shot at them with dual pistols. The Matrix Online offers the same opportunity, but at a much slower pace. The combat is definitely not face paced, nor is it even that exciting. There still exists a back and forth style of combat that many MMORPGs suffer from. This disappointed me greatly, since one would expect that you would be constantly involved in the fast action you saw in the theatres. Although the combat is slow, it still has lots of firearms for you to choose from.

One thing The Matrix movie had a lot of was weapons. Thanks to The Matrix Online you no longer have to wonder what it would be like to tear through virtual enemies with dual pistols or dual Uzis, because in here you can. There are very few MMORPGs on the market that allow players to have actual firearms. By having access to these weapons, Sony has added another layer to the game that helps to align it with the movie.

On a positive note, The Matrix Online features an incredibly diverse ability system. It allows for full customization and variation of characters, and is a godsend for many people are turned off by the downfalls of the traditional systems. The system that Sony has implemented allows for players to change and edit any of their skills whenever they choose. No longer are you locked into having just an archer, fighter, mage, etc. Instead, you can change any of your abilities at any time by simply purchasing them from the many vendors throughout the game and then loading them onto your character. However, you are limited in how many abilities are loaded at one time, which helps balance out the gameplay and also protects you if you find yourself struggling at high levels because you chose the wrong class/skill combination. This open ended ability system is definitely a good way to introduce anyone to an MMORPG.

Nitty Gritty

The graphics in The Matrix Online are not the best, but they are sufficient. Sony has done a great job bringing the look of the gritty, dark Megacity to the PC. The city is beautifully detailed and even has traffic and pedestrians. Not only that, but there are many roving gangs that are out to get you, as well as many characters from the movie that have been well rendered into the game world as well. The detail put into making the various areas of the game seem like they are straight out of the movie is simply amazing. Even the various apartments in the game look just as they did in the movie. The dark feel of the city is ever present throughout the game and, at times, you may find yourself thinking that you are watching the movie.

All Quiet on the Western Front

The sound in The Matrix Online is good, but could be better. The sound affects are very limited and at times you may find yourself in complete silence. The fighting sequences also are limited in the number of sounds that are produced. The lack of sufficient ambient noise helps to further the uncomfortable silence that you may encounter throughout the game.

Mix and Match

Despite all of the downfalls, The Matrix Online still provides some entertainment. The combat can be somewhat interesting at times, but you may find yourself being bored after awhile. Also, the skill system is pretty fun to mix and match different abilities and to see how well they work within the game world. All in all the game is worth the money, but don’t expect to lose hours of sleep on it.

Jack into the Matrix

The one major thing this game pulls off is making you feel like you are playing the movie. The Matrix Online’s various environments may give you flashbacks to different areas of the movie. The in-game movies that Sony releases every so often helped to further the storyline of not just the game, but of The Matrix series in general. Just recently, in fact, Morpheus was killed within the game. This helps to envelope you within the world of the Matrix and makes you feel like a member of Zion.

Good, but Not Great

The Matrix Online is not the best MMORPG out there, but it does have great potential. Some things that it lacks that would help to better it would be to have more sounds and faster fighting sequences. Although this may be the case, it is an ever changing world and would provide fans of the movie with an enjoyable experience that helps them get a little bit closer to entering the Matrix.