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Relive Neo's most important and memorable scenarios from the
Matrix trilogy. Throughout the game, the path the player
takes to resolve each scenario and the resulting consequences
are scripted and directed by the Wachowski Brothers. The likenesses
of all of the films' key actors - including Keanu Reeves (Neo),
Laurence Fishburne (Morpheus), Carrie-Ann Moss (Trinity),
and Hugo Weaving (Agent Smith) - are featured in the game,
which also includes footage from all three feature films,
as well as The Animatrix...
Path
of Neo is
the game that Matrix fans have been waiting for...
well, almost. There are a few sticking points, but on the
whole this is about as authentic a movie to video game conversion
as you are likely to get.
You
start the game as plain old Neo Anderson. When Morpheus tracks
you down, believing that you will one day become "The
One", you have to creep around your office block without
being discovered by any of the security staff or agents. This
helps to fill you in on the basic controls.
In fact, the first third of this game is one huge tutorial,
as you upgrade all you moves to perform those cool bullet
dodges, wall runs and somersaults that you know and love from
the film.
The
first third of the game follows, fairly faithfully, the plot
of the first movie. Here you slowly develop your abilities.
At the end of each level you are a taken to an area which
shows you what powers and moves you currently possess. Here
you can learn how to perform the moves - in case you weren't
paying attention when you unlocked them in the main game.
First
impressions are very misleading. It's not until almost a third
of the way through the game that you start to settle into
the moves and learn how best to move the camera to ensure
you can see what is going on. Once you reach this point, Path
of Neo becomes about the most fun you can have with your
clothes on... In fact I'd try playing it totally naked for
even more excitement [Not in this office you won't - ED].
There
really is something jaw droppingly amazing about being able
to cartwheel across the floor shooting at the enemy; running
up walls and then flying through the air in slow motion, shooting
at anything that moves; shooting, cross-armed, at two enemies
at the same time; or dodging bullets before power shoving
your enemy off a rooftop.
On
the negative side... This will never win any awards for the
best looking game - in fact it is pig ugly on occasion. The
controls are not the easiest to master - so thank goodness
that the game slowly builds your moves up over time. And you'll
find it preferable to fight hand to hand rather than with
your weapons - mainly due to the fact that it's quite common
for you to not be able to lock onto your desired target. Actually,
this last problem can also be levelled at hand to hand combat.
On several occasions, when fighting multiple bad guys, the
computer will select an enemy for your to attack when you
don't want to attack that character. It's not easy to break
away from them and fight someone behind you.
The
game developers have really gone to town trying to keep this
fresh. Every now and then you'll enter a new mini-game style
of play. These include manning a helicopter gun and running
through a train in a messed up part of the Matrix. These help
to add that little extra something to keep you interested.
But, it's the new moves that really keep this game fresh.
If you were given all your abilities early on in the game,
then you'd probably get bored before you reached the end.
As it stands, there's real excitement as you unlock each new
ability.
At
the end of the day, despite it's faults, Path of Neo
is the most authentic Matrix game to be released so
far. Fans of the movie franchise will be in their element.
This is the closest thing to actually being in the movie itself.
Nick
Smithson
Buy
this item online
We
compare prices online so you get the cheapest
deal!
Click on the logo of the desired store below.
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£29.99
(Amazon.co.uk)
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£29.99
(Blahdvd.com) |
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£27.60
(Foxy.co.uk) |
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£32.99
(Thehut.com) |
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£32.99
(Gameseek.co.uk) |
All prices correct at time of going to press.
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