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Matrix: Path of Neo, The xbx Game Reviews
Matrix: Path of Neo, The
Critic Score
Metascore: 73 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
7.6 out of 10
based on 39 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 23 votes
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Set in the Matrix universe, The Matrix: Path of Neo enables players to play as Neo, the central character, and relive his most important and memorable scenarios from the complete film trilogy, including the original film, "The Matrix." 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." [Atari]

PUBLISHER: Atari
DEVELOPER: Shiny Entertainment
GENRE(S): Third-Person Action
PLAYERS: 1
ESRB RATING: T (Teen)
RELEASE DATE: November 7, 2005

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

95
Stuff
Shockingly enough, is actually pretty damn good. Sure, it looks uglier than Ernest Borgnine in a tutu, and trying to use the controls is like operating the Space Shuttle while wearing oven mitts, but once you get the hang of it, beating the Stove Top stuffing out of agents is terrific fun.
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90
Gamezilla!
This game is downright awesome. It is fun to play, lasts you a good ten hours or so, and with the addition of various unlockables and other options, it is worth playing again.
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90
Computer and Video Games
Fans of the first game won't believe the treat Atari's dished up, and anyone looking for a hugely impressive brawler fused with a great story and lots of guns will find everything they want. If nothing else, this is a vast improvement - it undoubtedly is The One. [Official UK Xbox Magazine]
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87
netjak
With full involvement by the Wachowski Brothers to produce new scenes, re-cut footage from the films and an all new ending to the trilogy to better suit a videogame (The directors actually pop up on the screen and tell you why they changed it!), any fan of the trilogy or games can appreciate a title like this.
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83
Pelit (Finland)
A pleasant surprise as it wisely lets the player be Neo, not some under-powered secondary character. [Jan 2006]
83
Into Liquid Sky
The game just needed a little more time for polish I believe. If you can just look past these faults then your bound to enjoy the best Matrix game out there today and of course you get to be Neo and come on now, everyone wants to be "The One".
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81
Cincinnati Enquirer
An interesting re-imagining of the Matrix story in the form of an action game with OK controls and annoying camera.
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80
AceGamez
The levels add further dimension to the film, depicting Neo's journey in detail that the movies never could have gone into and also help you to understand the films and the overall plot of The Matrix much, much better.
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80
GamePro
At first, combat seems too twitchy and simplistic, while the training sequences last too long, but as you grow in power, and unlock your substantial latent wealth of special moves and combination plays, the rich combat possibilities reveal themselves.
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80
Cheat Code Central
A Matrix game that FINALLY got it right. You're able to pull off all the cool moves and abilities that Neo possesses, including fighting off hundreds of Smiths at once, pole and all. With great graphics and great controls, this title will definitely impress with the first and second play through.
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80
Team Xbox
The game is slow going at first, and there are an abundance of technical issues that throw a wrench into the mix, but the core gameplay fundamentals are still worth checking out.
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80
GameZone
The bullet-time, wall-hopping, Agent Smith-butt-kicking gameplay comes closer to matching the film’s battles than any game before it.
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80
Extreme Gamer
Path of Neo is not perfect and the main problem is the camera and the auto targeting system, along with some not so perfect graphics. I know these issues will generate a few haters, but if you can get over these facts, there is a game here to enjoy.
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80
IC-Games
Fans of the three movies will probably love everything that the Path of Neo throws at them. Essentially it’s just a basic brawler with some pretty linear missions thrown in; but every now and then you cant fail to be impressed with some of the fighting sections you get to play out.
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80
Xequted
It is truly epic so don't expect to play this for a couple of hours and be finished, and on this basis alone I'm not going to speak for everyone, but when offered the choice by Morpheus, I'll be taking the Red Pill and see how far the rabbit hole really goes!
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78
IGN
I can't help but feel like the production team bit off more than it could chew by trying to cram in as many gameplay types, graphical effects, and scenes from the movie as possible as opposed to refining and focusing the things the really worked: namely kicking Agent's smith's smirking digital ass.
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76
The New York Times
After spawning two mediocre sequels, a collection of dull cartoon shorts and a couple of forgettable video games, there is some life left in the Matrix franchise after all, as this game proves.
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75
Game Over Online
A large number of technical issues and some combat flaws, along with a number of less than stellar puzzle mechanics make this a game for hardcore Matrix fans or some martial arts action buffs instead of for everyone.
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75
MS Xbox World
Not the longest of games by any means but still offers plenty of replay value.
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74
Kombo
It’s a fun beat-em up and a heck of a game. It has more hits than misses and is a definite rental for anyone looking to kill a weekend.
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73
GameSpot
Path of Neo is a chaotic but pretty good brawler worth the time for those who still think fondly of the Matrix series.
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73
Game Informer
A mixed bag from beginning to end. [Dec 2005, p.161]
70
Total Video Games
Expanding upon Neo’s story could have been a compelling opportunity for any Matrix fan out there; unfortunately the haphazard approach to the design and storyline are likely to offend the fans the most, leaving a mildly enjoyable beat-em-up at exactly that.
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70
GamerFeed
The whole thing, however, ends up pretty much over within a matter of hours. And then will The Matrix have you? Probably not.
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70
Play Magazine
In theory, it's great, in execution, it falls short mostly from the lack of impact imparted by the fighting. [Dec 2005, p.64]
70
Official Xbox Magazine
It's worth putting up with the game's frustrating failures for the chance to defeat 100 Agent Smiths. [Jan 2006, p.68]
69
Xbox World Australia
The story is told badly and some of the additions and changes are almost criminal. The graphics generally look awful with splashes of beauty, like the sight of a supermodel purging.
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68
Gamers' Temple
It’s the best Matrix game to date, but Matrix games still have a way to go.
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67
Gaming Age
The controls are a bit hit and miss. For the most part they seem responsive, but there are a few platform style levels that will have you trying to snap your controller in two with frustration.
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67
Gaming Target
Like the movies, the game is more style than substance, something that needs to be corrected for any future sequels.
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66
GameBrink
A craptastic game. But if you’re a fan of the movies you’ll still enjoy it to some degree even though the idiots over at Shiny decided not to put the freeway scene from Reloaded in the game.
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65
Electronic Gaming Monthly
While the moves dazzle (slick-looking weapon strips, lightning-fast kicks to the face, dodging--and even stopping--bullets), the game does a poor job of showing you how to link these superhuman abilities together.
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63
Game Chronicles
Sure it wasn’t perfect but at least it was fun and playable and easy on the eyes. I have to admit I did miss playing as Neo, which only makes it that much more painful to be the bearer of bad news.
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62
Talk Xbox
One last thing I have to touch upon is the ending of the game, which happens right after you play the final battle in the movie, it’s just so completely ludicrous, I’m at a loss for words trying to describe it.
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60
Gamer's Hell
To cap the experience off, the brothers Wachowski have rewritten the ending of the last film to better fit the game medium—or, as most gamers will say, they completely lost their minds. All that the new ending accomplishes, complete with its annoying final boss, is the complete and utter end to any relevancy that the Matrix saga once had in popular culture.
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58
Worth Playing
It's worth mentioning that the ending of the game is different from the ending of the movie, but arguably not for the better.
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50
Thunderbolt
Although Path of Neo is an improvement from Enter the Matrix, it should have been much better than it turned out. I have a feeling this is going to be one of the final nails in the once lucrative and respectable Matrix franchise.
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50
Edge Magazine
As chaotic and unrefined as it is, however, it motors on with a definite sense of purpose and provides a solid sense of fulfilment, if not necessarily one of accomplishment. [Christmas 2005, p.110]
50
GameSpy
A turbulent ride between decent action, half-baked graphics and camera, and occasionally clunky, but undeniably authentic presentation.
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What Our Users Said

Vote Now! The average user rating for this game is 7.6 (out of 10) based on 23 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Michael B. gave it a2:
Graphics are sub-par, controls are sloppy, there are framerate problems with more than 4 npc's on the screen, and the game isn't half as fun as it should (or could) be. Not worth your 50 bucks and barely worth a rental. It's sad to see a franchise that had so much promise after the first movie totally dug into the ground like this. They have yet to make a halfway decent Matrix game (the three they have made are all pretty horrible).

Matt L. gave it a5:
To much that was in the movies was skipped. Not enough movie action. But its pretty awsome with the bullet time and wal running. Better than Enter The Matrix but not by much. It's a good game to rent but not to pay $50 for. Overall, an average game.

Tom L. gave it a5:
I was expecting one of the greatest games of the year. The matrix films should make fantastic computer games and a "Best of" collection would of been great. But instead, all it is is a thinly disguised average game with fancy moves.

Puck W. gave it an8:
This is a solid game. A lot of fun to play. The moves are great and the graphics are very good but have problems with frame rates at times. The script is lacking but it is pretty fun to be Neo and run on walls, dodge bullets, and jump around the matrix kicking butt. Hopefully Atari can refine on this for the next iteration. Good to see the Matrix franchise going in the right direction.

Iliyas H. gave it a4:
this game isn't all that great. infact it's just average or maybe even below average. the graphics are stale and bland which bothered me alot. also, frame rate isn't good either . sound however was top notch. all in all, rent the game. it's not worth 50 bucks.

Apocalypse Brown gave it a5:
One sweet and simple word........... average! Average graphics, gameplay and apalling script which is worthy of the last two movies. Rental please sir.

Cyn gave it an8:
Game is a great game in the 3rd Person world. Campagin is great. The upgrade RPG sytem is decent, and the fighting is amazing. And if you say the graphics suck, then just bare with them until you get Code Vision and use that the rest of the game. And if you truly consider everything the game is dealing with at one time (bullets, Neo's coat, the "bullet time", the slowed down bullets, and even watching agents turn back into whatever they were) the graphics are pretty dam impressive.

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