Matrix: Path of Neo, The

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.

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.

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]

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.

Pelit (Finland)

A pleasant surprise as it wisely lets the player be Neo, not some under-powered secondary character. [Jan 2006]

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".

Cincinnati Enquirer

An interesting re-imagining of the Matrix story in the form of an action game with OK controls and annoying camera.

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.

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.

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.

TeamXbox

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.

GameZone

The bullet-time, wall-hopping, Agent Smith-butt-kicking gameplay comes closer to matching the film’s battles than any game before it.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

MS Xbox World

Not the longest of games by any means but still offers plenty of replay value.

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.

GameSpot

Path of Neo is a chaotic but pretty good brawler worth the time for those who still think fondly of the Matrix series.

Game Informer

A mixed bag from beginning to end. [Dec 2005, p.161]

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.

GamerFeed

The whole thing, however, ends up pretty much over within a matter of hours. And then will The Matrix have you? Probably not.

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]

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]

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.

Gamers' Temple

It’s the best Matrix game to date, but Matrix games still have a way to go.

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.

Gaming Target

Like the movies, the game is more style than substance, something that needs to be corrected for any future sequels.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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]

GameSpy

A turbulent ride between decent action, half-baked graphics and camera, and occasionally clunky, but undeniably authentic presentation.