Enter The Matrix

Publisher: (Atari)

As film licences go, it's hard to think of a more suitable candidate for a video game than The Matrix. Relentless action allied to a motif of virtual existence would appear to be a recipe for a smooth transition from the silver screen to the darkened room. However, the history of movie tie-ins has seen more turkeys than Bernard Matthews, with games often thrown together with scarcely more regard than that given to the commemorative lunch box and flask. To this end, respected developers Shiny Entertainment were drafted in and Atari liked them so much they bought the company. It's an investment that seems to have paid off, with an initial shipping of four million copies making this arguably the biggest video game of all time.
But is it the best? Of course it's not. Nevertheless, it provides an enjoyable romp through a series of locations lifted directly from the new film, replete with a passable recreation of the pioneering 'bullet-time' effect, enabling you to dodge hot lead and run up walls in slow motion. Alas, you won't be able to do this as Keanu Reeves, the game offering a choice between Matrix Reloaded characters Ghost (Anthony Wong) and Niobe (Jada Pinkett-Smith).
Essentially a case of shooting and fighting with some token driving sections thrown in, seasoned gamers won't find this as hard as following the plot of the film, and will be able to get through it in a weekend. However, with over an hour of exclusive video footage, it's a must for all Matrix fans.