The Matrix Doesn't Have Me.

Unfortunately, no one can be told what the Matrix is...

Let me start by saying that, aesthetically, the game is a faithful adaptation of the Matrix universe, right down to the dark, green-tinted buildings, and the agents appearing out of nowhere. Fanboys (and girls) will feel like they are a part of the action, executing wickedly cool martial arts moves, performing gravity-defying stunts (like running on the sides of walls), and of course dodging bullets, all with a definite sense of danger and urgency. You can even go into "bullet-time" by holding down the Focus key, allowing you to perform these amazing stunts. Every action you do has purpose behind it, and a sense of life-or-death importance, made all the more prominent by the game's excellent score. The music definitely fits with that of the movies, and changes depending on what's happening; quiet cellos accompany you as you creep stealthily through a hall, while staccato brass blares as you kick policemen in the face. Most of the time, you really feel like you're a part of the movie while playing this game, and there's almost an hour of cutscenes featuring Jada Pinkett-Smith and many of the other cast members of The Matrix Reloaded. There are, however, many places where ETM takes a turn for the worse.

Do you hear that, Mr. Anderson? That is the sound of inevitability.

For starters, ETM is clearly a console game at heart, evidenced by the game's controls, save system, and often-misleading "tips" that pop up as you play. These "tips" are annoying for several reasons. First, as you play, a message shows up on the screen reading, for example, "New Tip - Ladders," with no other information on the screen. In order to read the tip, you have to hit Escape, scroll down to the Tips selection, and scroll down to the Tip you want to view. Often it is something so moronically simple as, in this case, "to climb a ladder press up, to descend press down." Why interrupt my playing for something so mundane? But it gets worse. Many of the tips are just plain wrong. For example, the tip on firearms informs you that when you have a firearm selected, you simply press the Fire button to shoot it. Not so; pressing the Fire button only throws a punch, unless you have pressed the "Toggle weapon" button first, something that the game's makers forgot to mention. Another tip references an "Enter/Exit First Person Mode" button that simply does not exist. I've scoured the game's "Controls" options menu and pressed every single button on my keyboard, with no luck. I don't know how I'm going to get past the 2nd mission, as it requires you to use this non-existent button.

What good is a phone call, if you're unable to speak?

Apart from being mis-labeled or non-existant, the controls can be a bit cumbersome at times. For example, if you execute a flying kick, you must wait to land before you can do anything else. This is different than in the movies, where often multiple kicks are thrown midair; also, it becomes annoying when you do a flying kick on accident and 4 SWAT guys are shooting you in the back while you wait to land. Another major beef I have with this game is the fact that you cannot stand still. Period. Your character is always walking forward, and you cannot turn this off. The only time you can stand still is when you have your nose up against a wall. I understand that freedom fighters in the Matrix need to keep moving as a matter of safety, but come on, give me a little control over my character please! Gunplay leaves quite a bit to be desired as well, as your aim is good in Focus mode, but pathetically bad without it.

Never send a human to do a machine's job.

For a game based on a movie in which super-smart Artificially Intelligent machines have taken over the world and enslaved mankind, the AI in ETM is pretty lame. The civilians in the game (postal workers, control room jockeys, etc) always cower in your presence, and always with the same animation. They never run away or take cover, even when kicked or shot at. The cops and SWAT guys are somewhat more intelligent (they actually hide behind walls and other available cover during firefights), but they're still pretty predictable. If you're within arm's reach, even if they are holding a submachinegun, rather than shoot you, they'll try to bash you over the head with it. I guess they failed police academy?

We need guns. Lots of guns.

What they lack in sense, the cops make up for in sheer numbers. Many areas include the "challenge" of an endless stream of cops who spawn seemingly out of nowhere. In the rotating restaurant, for example, they seem to keep popping out from behind the bar as if it were some kind of clown car. Where do they find room for them all??

Why oh why didn't I take the BLUE pill?

The straw that broke my back, though, was the fact that you don't get to play Neo in this game. He isn't even anywhere to be found. I could have endured all the problems this game has if I could be The One; sadly, however, we'll probably have to wait for Enter The Matrix 2. If they don't fix the controls for it, though, I won't be running down that rabbit hole.