Feeling old yet? Imagine that Enter the Matrix just turned 20 today…
Enter the Matrix is a breakthrough video game that was launched on May 14, 2003. Atari published it, and Shiny Entertainment produced it, while the game was well connected to The Matrix film series, and also promoted as a companion piece to the eagerly anticipated The Matrix Reloaded. The way Enter the Matrix told its story set it apart from other films because, in addition to giving players control over movie characters, the game had cutscenes that were created especially for it and added to the Matrix universe.
To celebrate the game’s 20th birthday, we will explore the impact of Enter the Matrix on the gaming industry and how it helped shape the way developers approach tie-in games.
Enter the Matrix was really innovative
The release of the game was significant in the gaming industry for a number of reasons. First off, it invented a method for creating in-game cutscenes that are currently frequently used in games: employing real actors and movie material. The game also featured the groundbreaking “Bullet Time” feature, which let users halt time and engage in graphically beautiful gunplay and martial arts inspired by motion pictures. Since then, so many games have received this feature that we have lost count.
Enter the Matrix also added additional characters, plotlines and features to the Matrix universe that were not featured in the movie adaptations. Even though there are conflicting reviews for the game, it was a commercial success and it sold more than 5 million copies globally. A tie-in game can be more than simply a way to make money, as Enter the Matrix demonstrated. It can also be a useful tool for developing a franchise’s mythology and storytelling possibilities.
Enter the Matrix’s inclusion of two playable characters, Ghost and Niobe, who weren’t the major protagonists of the movies, is another significant feature. This choice gave the game’s narrative more depth and gave players an alternative perspective on the events that happened in the Matrix universe. On top of that, the fact that Enter the Matrix offered a parallel release on several platforms, including PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube, made it one of the first games to do so and contributed to its success and appeal to a wider audience.
Despite some criticisms of its gameplay mechanics and technical performance, Enter the Matrix remains a cult classic for fans of the Matrix franchise and gaming enthusiasts alike. Its distinct storytelling style and innovative use of in-game cutscenes shaped subsequent tie-in games and the gaming industry’s strategy for mixing films and other media into games. The game’s success also opened the door for subsequent movie tie-in games, like those for the Lord of the Rings and Star Wars series, to take a more cinematic and narrative-focused approach to game creation.
Enter the Matrix was an important game release that advanced both storytelling and tie-in games. Its revolutionary gameplay features and simultaneous release on numerous platforms helped it become a commercial success. Its use of in-game cutscenes and the addition of additional characters expanded the Matrix universe. Fans of the franchise still hold Enter the Matrix in high regard as a treasured cult classic that had an impact on the game industry.
If you enjoyed the title and it brought back some memories about the PlayStation2, you should check out our list of the best PS2 racing games to drive down the 2000s again!
