Is it the red pill or the blue pill? With Matrix hype found at just about every corner of the street, it would not seem that the makers could outdo themselves any more than they already have with the release of Enter The Matrix, The Matrix: Reloaded, and The Matrix: Revolution. Just when you thought it was safe, The Matrix is making its way into an ultimate reality experience. Ubisoft brings you The Matrix: Online, a massively multiplayer environment that takes place in the story and reality that exists after the movies have concluded. When you choose to 'take the red pill' you'll be entered into a world larger than any other.
A large 'Matrix City', dozens of times larger than that of Sydney, Australia, will bring players straight into the action of The Matrix. The city will be an entirely fluid environment existing in both external city streets and internal buildings. Wandering to and from the two will have no effect on load times and players should experience no delays. In fact, the environment outside still goes on, and players can even see other players through windows and open doors.
Perhaps the two most notable things in The Matrix are its delicate detail and attention to fashion and the art of Kung Fu. The Matrix: Online gratefully builds upon both. In the movies, Morpheus puts a lot of effort into focusing on choices and options. The Matrix: Online builds on those ideas and lets players choose their own unique 'residual selves' to project inside of The Matrix. Players will have opportunities to present themselves through attire, body, and emotion.
Fighting, specifically hand to hand martial arts, also plays a big part in The Matrix: Online. AI characters who have yet to been awakened from within The Matrix, the evil robot armies of Agent Smiths' and other agents, and real-life human participants will all interact in an exquisite and intricate story that evolves through fights, interaction, and performance.
The Matrix: Online is currently in a very early alpha stage, but the current product is much cleaner and engaging than some online multiplayer games currently available in the market. It should be more solid and ready for prime time by its summer 2004 release. If it doesn't have you already, you can bet that by next summer The Matrix will.
