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Upon first look at this game I became worried. After all, it was being sold as "an integral part of the entire Matrix experience". Call me skeptical, but I was getting concerned that this was just a marketing ploy to cash in on people’s obsession with the Matrix. The plot weaves in and out of Matrix Reloaded, however in my opinion it does a lot more weaving out than in.
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Anyway, down to the actual game: from your first mission you're put straight into the action as either Ghost or Niobe. No tutorial, which could be considered a good or a bad thing depending on how experienced you are in these types of games. Tips are given throughout the game when you need them or if you trigger them by trying out your own moves. The graphics are clean and very smooth and professional.
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However, many problems arise during combat. One big problem is the collision detection: combat can be jerky if you don’t consider your moves carefully, and people that were crouching on the floor can magically stand up instantaneously just in time for your attacks to work. The guns are impressive and using focus to dodge bullets looks very nice. Accuracy is realistic as is recoil, but when using focus your aim becomes godly, quite rightly so!
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Next on my list of problems is the focus - if I were as experienced as Ghost or Niobe I’d be pretty certain I could focus for more time than a six year old trying to study ancient Greek algebra. Not so in the game, as focus (the ability to slow your perception of time among other things) is a limited resource that fortunately regenerates over time. Combat itself is superb on the whole, with the characters being modeled on the original actors and the combat moves being carefully animated. By using focus all the standard matrix moves are available like running up walls and generally looking cool and doing more damage whilst completely owning the opposition.
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Another problem with the game is the driving missions. Without them the game would be much better off. The handling of the cars is unrealistic as they flip and spin if you just run up the curb. The poor attention to smooth combat is compensated by the overall feel to the game, aided by its impressive array of music and sound effects.
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One final complaint is the cutscenes. I don’t know how other people have received them but I don’t know anyone that likes them. The game, despite all of its problems, is still worth every penny in my opinion and makes for a very addictive way to pass the time.
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