I was running this game on a PC, and I think that might be where a lot of my problems originated. My PC is no slouch, yet with all the graphics settings turned up high it still looked pixellated and jagged. Similarly, the controls were so simplistic I could hardly do anything I wanted to with my character.
Both these problems stem from the fact that Enter The Matrix was rushed to the PC format with virtually no consideration for the new platform - I have well over 50 buttons on my keyboard, and can only do about 3 things in the game. Fighting, for instance, consists of tapping the left or right mouse buttons, which can produce a context - sensitive punch or kick. All well and good, you might say, were it not for the fact that fights always boil down to hammering the mouse buttons again and again and again.Even bosses are always defeated in the same way: run around, bullet time on, whack buttons, bullet time off, repeat ad nausium. Also the makers seem to forget the stupendous resolution of the PC monitor compared to that of the PC. Televisions always "smooth out" lines and edges because they are naturally a little blurry - the colours of each pixel bleed into one another a little.
It's not just the incredibly poor console port that makes this game terrible though; the AI deserves a mention for being both unbelievably stupid and incredibly predictable and dull. There are so few reactions to seeing you (shoot, take cover, shoot) that one can waltz around them with ease, always secure in the knowledge that they will stand there like lemmings till you punch them in the face. Then they'll still stand there, but not shoot you. It's not just enemy AI either. During the driving mission escaping the Twins, playing as Ghost, the car is almost on rails, not reacting at all to upturned cars/pillars/traffic in general ahead. Naiobi (?), the best driver in the rebellion, ploughs straight into every obstacle in her way without even trying to avoid them. And when playing as Naiobi on the same bit, Ghost, the best marksman in the rebellion, has apparently forgotten to open his eyes. "Only Imperial stormtroopers are so precise", if you will.
In ETM's favour, though, is a reasonable plot, connecting The Last Flight Of The Osiris neatly to Reloaded, with barely any plot holes and inconsistencies.It's FMV sequences are well acted and shot, and do a good job of involving the player in the game. And there are one3 or two parts worth playing for - the sniping the plane wheel and the fight with the agent on the plane were cool. Oh, and the soundtrack is very Matrix-y, which is good.
Overall, though, it does nothing to save the game from it's own failures, of which I have only scratched the surface. There is more than enough to keep gamers using any platform away from Enter The Matrix. It feels rushed, poorly executed and is, frankly, an insult to Matrix fans.
This is one game to avoid like the plague. Go play Max Payne instead to see how Bulle Time games SHOULD be done.
Both these problems stem from the fact that Enter The Matrix was rushed to the PC format with virtually no consideration for the new platform - I have well over 50 buttons on my keyboard, and can only do about 3 things in the game. Fighting, for instance, consists of tapping the left or right mouse buttons, which can produce a context - sensitive punch or kick. All well and good, you might say, were it not for the fact that fights always boil down to hammering the mouse buttons again and again and again.Even bosses are always defeated in the same way: run around, bullet time on, whack buttons, bullet time off, repeat ad nausium. Also the makers seem to forget the stupendous resolution of the PC monitor compared to that of the PC. Televisions always "smooth out" lines and edges because they are naturally a little blurry - the colours of each pixel bleed into one another a little.
It's not just the incredibly poor console port that makes this game terrible though; the AI deserves a mention for being both unbelievably stupid and incredibly predictable and dull. There are so few reactions to seeing you (shoot, take cover, shoot) that one can waltz around them with ease, always secure in the knowledge that they will stand there like lemmings till you punch them in the face. Then they'll still stand there, but not shoot you. It's not just enemy AI either. During the driving mission escaping the Twins, playing as Ghost, the car is almost on rails, not reacting at all to upturned cars/pillars/traffic in general ahead. Naiobi (?), the best driver in the rebellion, ploughs straight into every obstacle in her way without even trying to avoid them. And when playing as Naiobi on the same bit, Ghost, the best marksman in the rebellion, has apparently forgotten to open his eyes. "Only Imperial stormtroopers are so precise", if you will.
In ETM's favour, though, is a reasonable plot, connecting The Last Flight Of The Osiris neatly to Reloaded, with barely any plot holes and inconsistencies.It's FMV sequences are well acted and shot, and do a good job of involving the player in the game. And there are one3 or two parts worth playing for - the sniping the plane wheel and the fight with the agent on the plane were cool. Oh, and the soundtrack is very Matrix-y, which is good.
Overall, though, it does nothing to save the game from it's own failures, of which I have only scratched the surface. There is more than enough to keep gamers using any platform away from Enter The Matrix. It feels rushed, poorly executed and is, frankly, an insult to Matrix fans.
This is one game to avoid like the plague. Go play Max Payne instead to see how Bulle Time games SHOULD be done.