View source for Enter the Matrix

{{short description|2003 video game}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Enter the Matrix
| image = Enter the Matrix Coverart.png
| caption = North American cover art
| developer = [[Shiny Entertainment]]
| publisher = [[Atari, Inc. (1993–present)|Infogrames]]{{efn|Released under the [[Atari]] brand name}}
| director = [[The Wachowskis]]
| producer = {{plainlist|
* [[Joel Silver]]
* Rosanna Sun
}}
| writer = The Wachowskis
| composer = {{plainlist|
*[[Don Davis (composer)|Don Davis]]
*Erik Lundborg}}
| series = ''[[The Matrix (franchise)#Video games|The Matrix]]''
| platforms = [[GameCube]], [[PlayStation 2]], [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]], [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]]
| released = May 15, 2003<ref>{{Cite web |author=I. G. N. Staff |date=2003-05-22 |title=Enter the Matrix Head-to-Head |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/05/22/enter-the-matrix-head-to-head |access-date=2024-01-21 |website=IGN |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2003-04-22 |title=Enter The Matrix goes gold |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/article-47782 |access-date=2024-01-21 |work=Eurogamer.net |language=en}}</ref>
| genre = [[Action-adventure game|Action-adventure]]
| modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]], [[Multiplayer video game|multiplayer]]
}}

'''''Enter the Matrix''''' is a 2003 [[Action-adventure game|action-adventure]] [[video game]] developed by [[Shiny Entertainment]] and published by [[Atari, Inc. (1993–present)|Infogrames]] under the [[Atari]] brand name. The first game based on [[The Matrix (franchise)|''The Matrix'' film series]], its story is concurrent with that of the film ''[[The Matrix Reloaded]]'' and features over an hour of original footage, written and directed by [[the Wachowskis]] and starring the cast of the films, produced for the game.<ref>{{cite web |last=McGreevy |first=Neil |title=Top Developer's Code for Success |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/3041572.stm |website=[[BBC News]] |access-date=November 25, 2018 |date=July 4, 2003 |archive-date=April 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402141912/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/3041572.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

Released on May 15, 2003, around the same period as ''The Matrix Reloaded'', ''Enter the Matrix'' was simultaneously produced with ''The Matrix Reloaded'' and ''[[The Matrix Revolutions]]''. While it received mixed reviews from critics, the game sold 5 million copies as of May 2004.<ref name="gamesindustry">{{cite news |author=Rob Fahey |title=Atari full-year revenues fall despite ''Enter The Matrix'' success |url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/atari-full-year-revenues-fall-despite-enter-the-matrix-success |work=GamesIndustry.biz |access-date=May 19, 2012 |archive-date=May 2, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502003807/http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/atari-full-year-revenues-fall-despite-enter-the-matrix-success |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Gameplay==
''Enter the Matrix'' gives players control of two of the supporting characters from ''Reloaded'' and ''Revolutions'', [[Ghost (The Matrix)|Ghost]] ([[Anthony Brandon Wong|Anthony Wong]]) and [[Niobe (The Matrix)|Niobe]] ([[Jada Pinkett Smith]]), members of the same group of rebels as [[Morpheus (The Matrix)|Morpheus]], [[Trinity (The Matrix)|Trinity]], and [[Neo (The Matrix)|Neo]], the protagonists of the series. Niobe is the Captain of the ''Logos'', the fastest ship in the rebel fleet. Ghost is the ship's [[Chief mate|first mate]], weapons guru, and a deep-thinking, philosophical [[assassination|assassin]]. The game takes place at roughly the same time as the events in ''Reloaded''.

Players play as either Niobe or Ghost, each of whom have slight variations during their story. Most levels involve controlling players in a [[Third-person view|third-person perspective]], using guns and fighting skills to defeat opponents and complete level objectives. At any time, players can activate [[bullet time]] (called "Focus" in the game) which slows down time, giving players the ability to perform actions such as shooting in midair and dodging bullets. Some levels involve one-on-one [[martial arts]] fighting against single opponents. In levels involving vehicles, such as driving a car or piloting the ''Logos'', the style of game play depends on the selected player, commonly with Niobe maneuvering the vehicles to avoid obstacles, whilst Ghost takes control of a gun to fight off incoming enemies. A hacking system allows players to enter codes, which can unlock special skills, weapons and secrets, such as a 2-player versus mode.<ref>{{cite news |author=Matt C |title=Enter The Matrix Review |url=http://www.playstationpro2.com/reviews/2003/enter_the_matrix.html |work=playstationpro2.com |access-date=September 15, 2015 |archive-date=October 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017125029/http://www.playstationpro2.com/reviews/2003/enter_the_matrix.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Plot==
The story begins with Niobe, captain of the ''Logos'', and Ghost, her first mate, retrieving [[The Animatrix#Final Flight of the Osiris|a package left in the Matrix]] by the crew of the recently destroyed rebel ship ''Osiris''. After being pursued by [[Agent (The Matrix)|Agents]], Ghost and Niobe escape from the Matrix with the package, which turns out to be a message to the human city [[Zion (The Matrix)|Zion]], warning them that the machines are approaching with an army of at least 250,000 Sentinels. Niobe and Ghost are tasked with calling the rest of the ships back to Zion to coordinate a defense.

With this in mind, the captains of the various ships hold a meeting in the Matrix to decide on how best to defend themselves. During the meeting, Agents attack the building they are in, although Niobe and Ghost are able to help their allies escape. They then encounter the [[Keymaker]], a program capable of accessing any area in the Matrix, who leads them to safety through a door he created. The Keymaker gives the two a key that they are supposed to give to Neo. However, the key is stolen by henchmen of the [[Merovingian (The Matrix)|Merovingian]], a program created during the early days of the Matrix who now operates an illegal smuggling ring within the program. Ultimately, the Merovingian destroys the key, but Niobe and Ghost are able to escape, when the Keymaker realizes that it is too early for the key to be given to Neo.

Niobe later volunteers to go find the ''Nebuchadnezzar'', the ship captained by Morpheus, upon which Neo serves, and the only ship yet to return to Zion. Upon finding the ship and its crew, and helping them escape from the Matrix, Niobe and Ghost agree to help in Neo's mission against the machines, agreeing to destroy a power plant. After this mission is completed, the [[Oracle (The Matrix)|Oracle]], a program that often gives the humans advice, requests that the player character come and speak to her. After their conversation, the player is confronted by [[Agent Smith|Smith]], a rogue Agent that seeks to destroy both the human and machine worlds. The player character barely escapes from the hundreds of Smith copies and the Matrix. Once out, the ''Logos'' is attacked by the machines. They defeat the machines by setting off an [[Electromagnetic pulse|EMP]], which disables their own ship in the process. As the game ends, Niobe and Ghost wait in the ''Logos'', hoping that they will be rescued. The two wonder what's coming but believe that it will be "[[The Matrix Revolutions|a hell of a ride]]."

===Characters===
Aside from Ghost and Niobe, there are numerous secondary characters in ''Enter The Matrix''.
* '''[[Sparks (The Matrix)|Sparks]]''' ([[Lachy Hulme]]) — the operator on the ''Logos''; he gives players tips and information throughout the game.
* '''Vector''' (Don Anjaya Battee) —  The first mate of the ''Vigilant''. When Axel was kidnapped by agents, Vector helps Soren get him back. Niobe found herself surrounded by police but is saved by Vector.  Trapped in the fire on the ''Vigilant''.
* '''[[Agent Smith|Smith]]''' — a former program, now virus, that can absorb human bodies and humanoid programs to make copies of himself; he chases the player through an abandoned skyscraper, and later, [[Chinatown]].
* '''Agent Johnson''' — an agent who appears frequently during the game; Niobe defeats him by kicking him off a cargo plane, while Ghost defeats him by knocking him into a short-circuited computer server.
* '''Agent Jackson''' — another agent with frequent appearances in the game; Ghost defeats him by blowing up his helicopter. Jackson also tries to kill Niobe and Ghost after the crew of the Caduceus is saved, but the two were unexpectedly saved by the Keymaker.
* '''Agent Thompson''' — the least-featured Agent in the game, who only appears in cinematics; the only opportunity to fight him occurs at the end of Niobe's missions at the power plant.
* '''[[The Oracle (The Matrix)|The Oracle]]''' — a program within the Matrix who often helps the humans.
* '''[[Seraph (The Matrix)|Seraph]]''' — a martial arts master who protects the Oracle; he fights Niobe or Ghost once during the events of the game.
* '''[[Morpheus (The Matrix)|Morpheus]]''' — a member of the rebels, Niobe's ex-boyfriend, and captain of the ''Nebuchadnezzar''.
* '''[[Trinity (The Matrix)|Trinity]]''' — another rebel, a good friend of Ghost, to whom she refers as "dear brother"; he in turn refers to her as "dear sister"; first mate on the ''Nebuchadnezzar''.
* '''[[Neo (The Matrix)|Neo]]''' — the most important rebel; Morpheus believes he is "The One".
* '''[[Commander Jason Lock|Cmdr. Lock]]''' — leader of the Zion defence forces; Niobe's current boyfriend.
* '''Axel''', '''Soren''', '''[[List of minor characters in the Matrix series#Captain Ballard|Ballard]]''', '''[[Bane (The Matrix)|Bane]]''', '''Binary''', '''Ice''', '''Corrupt''' and '''Malachi''' — rebels encountered during the game.
* '''[[Keymaker|The Keymaker]]''' — an old program who guides players through certain portions of the game.
* '''The Trainman''' — carries multiple wristwatches on his arms; he controls the link between the Matrix and the machine city, and works for the Merovingian.
* '''The Merovingian''' — an old program that has gone rogue in the Matrix; he has a chateau in the mountains wherein he has the Keymaker imprisoned; his henchmen are from early Matrix programs, and are rumored to be "vampires" and "werewolves".
* '''[[Persephone (The Matrix)|Persephone]]''' — wife of the Merovingian; often betrays him out of spite.
* '''Cain''' and '''Abel''' — two henchmen of the Merovingian.
* '''Vlad''' — the black-clad, pale-skinned leader of the Merovingian's vampires; he is killed by Niobe, who stabs him through the heart with a wooden stake.
* '''Cujo''' — the leader of the Merovingian's werewolves; he is killed by being impaled on a wooden stake in the dungeons of the chateau.
* '''The [[Twins (The Matrix)|Twins]]''' — employees of the Merovingian, they are encountered as the player leaves the chateau; they chase the players down a long tunnel, before they are finally evaded.
* '''Sewing Woman''' — a character featured in the multiplayer mode of the game.

==Connections to the films==
''Enter the Matrix'' was designed, like the 2003 animated film ''[[The Animatrix]]'', to be an integral part of the ''Matrix'' ''milieu''. The game includes one hour of live action [[35mm movie film|35 mm film]] footage written and directed specifically for the game by [[The Wachowskis]]. The martial arts moves and [[game engine]] [[cutscene]]s feature actions [[motion capture]]d directly from the films' actors and [[stunt double]]s to recreate their unique fighting style, and were created under the supervision of the series' fight scene choreographer [[Yuen Woo-ping]].

The player learns that Neo is not the only target of Persephone's predilection for trading kisses for esoteric information; Niobe and Ghost are both put into positions where they must submit to her whims in order to gain critical information. Significant also to the continuity of the ''Matrix'' universe is the first appearance of actress [[Mary Alice]] in the role of the Oracle. [[Gloria Foster]], the original actress, had died of complications related to diabetes early in the production of ''The Matrix Reloaded'' and ''The Matrix Revolutions''. She had filmed her scenes for ''Reloaded'', but was yet to complete her work on ''Revolutions''. The game includes a sequence specifically explaining her change of appearance, as a result of an attack on her by the Merovingian. The Merovingian's attack was facilitated by a sacrificial trade with the compassionate program Rama-Kandra. The Merovingian acquired the deletion codes for the Oracle's external "shell", and in exchange, he gave Rama-Kandra's daughter, Sati, her freedom, despite her lack of purpose in the machine world. The Oracle foretells, however, that Sati will play an important role in both the Matrix and the real world.

==Development==
Plans for a ''Matrix'' video game began in November 1999, following the [[The Matrix (film)|film]]'s release. The Wachowskis had talks with [[Shiny Entertainment]] and [[Konami]] to develop the title around this time.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/11/13/the-matrix-is-coming | title=The Matrix is Coming | date=November 13, 1999 | access-date=October 4, 2022 | archive-date=October 8, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008074217/https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/11/13/the-matrix-is-coming | url-status=live }}</ref> At [[E3 2000]], the title was officially announced, with Shiny Entertainment as the developer and their then-owner [[Interplay Entertainment]] as the publisher. The game would be based on the then-untitled [[The Matrix Reloaded|second movie]] and would be released for the [[PlayStation 2]] in 2002, the same year the sequel was due to release.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/05/12/e3-2000-the-matrix-is-soooooo-real | title=E3 2000: The Matrix is Soooooo Real! | date=May 12, 2000 | access-date=October 4, 2022 | archive-date=October 8, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008070741/https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/05/12/e3-2000-the-matrix-is-soooooo-real | url-status=live }}</ref> 

On May 1, 2001, Interplay announced that the game would also be released for the [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]], with [[Microsoft]] paying $5 million to secure a six-month exclusivity deal to release the title on the Xbox before any other console, supply exclusive content for the version, and also securing exclusive online gaming rights to the franchise, however, Interplay would remain as publisher.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/05/01/has-microsoft-stolen-the-matrix | title=Has Microsoft Stolen the Matrix? | date=May 2001 | access-date=October 4, 2022 | archive-date=October 7, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007213116/https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/05/01/has-microsoft-stolen-the-matrix | url-status=live }}</ref>

Due to financial difficulties, Interplay sold Shiny to [[Atari, Inc. (1993–present)|Infogrames]] in April 2002 for $47 million, with the ''Matrix'' license transferring over. With the delay of the now-named ''The Matrix Reloaded'', the game was now scheduled for a May 2003 release.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/04/25/infogrames-sees-the-matrix | title=Infogrames Sees the Matrix | date=April 25, 2002 | access-date=October 4, 2022 | archive-date=October 7, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007175645/https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/04/25/infogrames-sees-the-matrix | url-status=live }}</ref> At E3 2002, the title for the game was officially announced as ''Enter the Matrix'', and would be released for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube and Microsoft Windows simultaneously. In March 2003, the game was announced to be released on May 15, the same day as ''The Matrix Reloaded''.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/03/28/the-new-matrix-trailer | title=The New Matrix Trailer | date=March 28, 2003 | access-date=October 4, 2022 | archive-date=October 7, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007163140/https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/03/28/the-new-matrix-trailer | url-status=live }}</ref> It was also shown off at E3 2003 at the now-named Atari's booth, within the release of the title.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/05/14/e3-2003-atari-shows-30-plus | title=E3 2003: Atari Shows 30 Plus | date=May 14, 2003 | access-date=October 4, 2022 | archive-date=October 4, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004154026/https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/05/14/e3-2003-atari-shows-30-plus | url-status=live }}</ref>

Overall, ''Enter the Matrix'' took two and a half years to produce on a budget of $20 million, not including marketing expenses or the cost of the extra hour of movie footage.<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200522012204/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2003-05-16-0305160271-story.html|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2003-05-16-0305160271-story.html|title='Enter the Matrix': An alignment of the digital planets|website=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=May 16, 2003|archive-date=May 22, 2020|access-date=November 10, 2021|last=Pham|first=Alex}}</ref> [[Keanu Reeves]] was said to have made $2.5 million for his voice work on the game.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-citizen/148872672/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20240608213405/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-citizen/148872672/|title= Video: Deals even include older films|newspaper=[[The Ottawa Citizen]]|page=112|archivedate=June 8, 2024|date=June 21, 2003|accessdate=June 20, 2024|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

In March 2004, with the success of the title, Atari announced that the game would be re-released in Europe under Sony's [[Essentials (PlayStation)|Platinum]], Nintendo's [[Player's Choice]] and Microsoft's [[Platinum Hits|Xbox Classics]] ranges at a new lower price, while the PC version would be re-released as well under Atari's own "Best of Atari" label. The budget PS2 and PC versions were newer versions, which include bonus minigames not found on the original releases.<ref name="Pay Less to Enter the Matrix">{{cite web | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/03/12/pay-less-to-enter-the-matrix | title=Pay Less to Enter the Matrix | date=March 12, 2004 | access-date=October 4, 2022 | archive-date=October 7, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007175910/https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/03/12/pay-less-to-enter-the-matrix | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/enter-the-matrix-on-a-budget/1100-6091329/ | title=Enter the Matrix on a budget | access-date=October 4, 2022 | archive-date=October 7, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007164615/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/enter-the-matrix-on-a-budget/1100-6091329/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

==Soundtrack==
{{Infobox album
| italic_title = force
| name         = Enter the Matrix: Original Soundtrack from the Videogame
| type         = soundtrack
| artist       = Erik Lundborg
| cover        = 
| alt          = 
| released     = 2003
| recorded     = 
| venue        = 
| studio       = 
| genre        = 
| length       = 46:46
| label        = 
| producer     = 
| chronology   = ''The Matrix'' soundtracks
| prev_title   = [[The Matrix Revolutions: Music from the Motion Picture]]
| prev_year    = 2003
| next_title   = [[The Matrix Reloaded (score)|The Matrix Reloaded: Limited 2-CD set Edition]]
| next_year    = 2013
}}

A promotional CD release of the soundtrack accompanied the video game, with compositions by Erik Lundborg in the style of [[Don Davis (composer)|Don Davis]], who composed the music for the films.

===Track listing===
# "Kick Jab Stab" (3:04)
# "Get Out Of My Face" (3:18)
# "In My Path... You're Dead" (2:22)
# "Eat This, Jerk" (3:27)
# "You Don't Scare Me Bucko" (2:35)
# "I Do Not Like You" (1:57)
# "Fist Fight" (2:29)
# "Smelly Sewer" (1:27)
# "Be Prepared" (1:41)
# "A Sickening Feeling" (4:22)
# "Somethin's Wrong" (3:10)
# "Uh, Oh... What's That?" (3:04)
# "Stuck In Much – Escape" (1:23)
# "What Fresh Hell Is This?" (2:11)
# "Not Agent Smith – Again!!!" (2:53)
# "Zen Garden" (1:21)
# "The Big Distraction" (0:50)
# "Elevator Is a Trap" (0:36)
# "Tear Gas" (0:42)
# "Piano Escape" (0:25)
# "Swat to Phone" (0:33)
# "No Rest for the Wicked" (0:47)
# "Merovingian's Office" (0:37)
# "Attic Opens" (0:27)
# "Going to Church" (0:52)

Other musical groups, such as [[Evanescence]], [[Fluke (band)|Fluke]], [[Clawfinger]], and [[Celldweller]], are featured in the game and are credited in the game's booklet.

{{clear}}

==Sales==
Within a week of release, Atari announced that the game had sold 1 million units for all four platforms in North America and Europe combined.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/05/24/the-matrix-sells-a-million | title=The Matrix Sells a Million | date=May 24, 2003 | access-date=October 4, 2022 | archive-date=October 4, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004154745/https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/05/24/the-matrix-sells-a-million | url-status=live }}</ref> By June, the game sold 2.5 million units and became the company's fastest-selling title in history.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/06/19/matrix-sells-25-million-3 | title=Matrix Sells 2.5 Million | date=June 19, 2003 | access-date=October 4, 2022 | archive-date=October 4, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004154745/https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/06/19/matrix-sells-25-million-3 | url-status=live }}</ref> Within March 2004, the title sold 5 million units, and was reissued under the console's budget labels around this time.<ref name="Pay Less to Enter the Matrix"/> By July 2006, the PlayStation 2 version of ''Enter the Matrix'' had sold 1.2 million copies and earned $58 million in the United States. ''[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]'' ranked it as the 39th highest-selling game launched for the [[PlayStation 2]], [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]] or [[GameCube]] between January 2000 and July 2006 in that country. Combined sales of ''Enter the Matrix'' console releases reached 1.9 million units in the United States by July 2006.<ref name=nextgensales2>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071028115051/http://www.next-gen.biz/index2.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3537&Itemid=2&pop=1&page=1 |url=http://www.next-gen.biz/index2.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3537&Itemid=2&pop=1&page=1 |title=The Top 100 Games of the 21st Century |author1=Campbell, Colin |author2=Keiser, Joe  |date=July 29, 2006 |work=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]] |archive-date=October 28, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Worldwide, the game sold 5{{nbsp}}million units.<ref name="gamesindustry"/>

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
| NGC = true
| PC = true
| PS2 = true
| XBOX = true
| na = true
| Allgame_PS2 = {{Rating|2.5|5}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=39487&tab=review |title=Enter the Matrix (PS2) – Review |last=Marriott |first=Scott Alan |publisher=[[AllGame]] |access-date=November 16, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141116155834/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=39487&tab=review |archive-date=November 16, 2014}}</ref>
| Edge_PS2 = 3/10<ref name="stevenpoole"/>
| EGM_NGC = 4.33/10<ref name=EGM>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.egmmag.com/article2/0,4364,1219236,00.asp |title=Enter the Matrix |author=EGM Staff |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] |issue=169 |date=August 2003 |page=114 |access-date=February 9, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040123053951/http://www.egmmag.com/article2/0%2C4364%2C1219236%2C00.asp |archive-date=January 23, 2004 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| EGM_PS2 = 4.33/10<ref name=EGM/>
| EGM_XBOX = 4.33/10<ref name=EGM/>
| EuroG_PS2 = 4/10<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_enterthematrix_ps2 |title=Enter the Matrix Review (PS2) |last=Bramwell |first=Tom |website=[[Eurogamer]] |date=May 23, 2003 |access-date=February 9, 2014 |archive-date=November 10, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110142250/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_enterthematrix_ps2 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| GI_NGC = 8.5/10<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=[[Game Informer]] |title=Enter the Matrix (GC) |url=http://gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200306/R03.0730.1239.40801.htm |last=Mason |first=Lisa |issue=122 |date=June 2003 |page=106 |access-date=February 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918205347/http://gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200306/R03.0730.1239.40801.htm |archive-date=September 18, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| GI_PS2 = 8.5/10<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=Game Informer |title=Enter the Matrix (PS2) |url=http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200306/R03.0808.1343.00146.htm |last=Reiner |first=Andrew |issue=122 |date=June 2003 |page=100 |access-date=February 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050208051205/http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200306/R03.0808.1343.00146.htm |archive-date=February 8, 2005 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| GI_XBOX = 8.5/10<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Enter the Matrix (Xbox) |url=http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200307/R03.0717.1042.34675.htm |last=Reiner |first=Andrew |magazine=Game Informer |issue=123 |date=July 2003 |access-date=February 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050228100133/http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200307/R03.0717.1042.34675.htm |archive-date=February 28, 2005 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| GamePro_NGC = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.gamepro.com/nintendo/gamecube/games/reviews/29455.shtml |title=Enter the Matrix Review for GameCube on GamePro.com |author=Four-Eyed Dragon |magazine=[[GamePro]] |date=May 23, 2003 |access-date=February 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050214040422/http://www.gamepro.com/nintendo/gamecube/games/reviews/29455.shtml |archive-date=February 14, 2005 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| GamePro_PC = {{Rating|2.5|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.gamepro.com/computer/pc/games/reviews/29447.shtml |title=Enter the Matrix Review for PC on GamePro.com |author=The D-Pad Destroyer |magazine=GamePro |date=May 22, 2003 |access-date=February 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050305051414/http://www.gamepro.com/computer/pc/games/reviews/29447.shtml |archive-date=March 5, 2005 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| GamePro_PS2 = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.gamepro.com/sony/ps2/games/reviews/29402.shtml |title=Enter the Matrix Review for PS2 on GamePro.com |author=Star Dingo |magazine=GamePro |date=May 20, 2003 |access-date=February 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050212141807/http://www.gamepro.com/sony/ps2/games/reviews/29402.shtml |archive-date=February 12, 2005 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| GamePro_XBOX = {{Rating|2.5|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.gamepro.com/microsoft/xbox/games/reviews/29487.shtml |title=Enter the Matrix Review for Xbox on GamePro.com |author=Air Hendrix |magazine=GamePro |date=May 27, 2003 |access-date=February 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050310000753/http://www.gamepro.com/microsoft/xbox/games/reviews/29487.shtml |archive-date=March 10, 2005 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| GameRev_NGC = C−<ref name="gamerev">{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/33368-jacked-by-the-matrix-review |title=Enter the Matrix Review |last=Liu |first=Johnny |publisher=[[Game Revolution]] |date=June 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110142258/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/enter-the-matrix |archive-date=November 10, 2012 |url-status=live |access-date=August 7, 2017}}</ref>
| GameRev_PS2 = C−<ref name="gamerev"/>
| GameRev_XBOX = C−<ref name="gamerev"/>
| GSpot_NGC = 6.4/10<ref name="gamespot">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/enter-the-matrix-review/1900-6028619/ |title=Enter the Matrix Review |last=Gerstmann |first=Jeff |website=[[GameSpot]] |date=May 20, 2003 |access-date=February 8, 2014 |archive-date=April 3, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140403042142/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/enter-the-matrix-review/1900-6028619/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| GSpot_PC = 6.3/10<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/enter-the-matrix-review/1900-6028627/ |title=Enter the Matrix Review (PC) |last=Gerstmann |first=Jeff |website=GameSpot |date=May 20, 2003 |access-date=February 8, 2014 |archive-date=June 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616114502/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/enter-the-matrix-review/1900-6028627/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| GSpot_PS2 = 6.4/10<ref name="gamespot"/>
| GSpot_XBOX = 6.4/10<ref name="gamespot"/>
| GSpy_NGC = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref>{{cite web |title=GameSpy: Enter the Matrix (NGC) |last=Turner |first=Benjamin |publisher=[[GameSpy]] |date=May 26, 2003 |url=http://cube.gamespy.com/gamecube/enter-the-matrix/5859p1.html |access-date=September 2, 2008 |archive-date=May 13, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513152612/http://cube.gamespy.com/gamecube/enter-the-matrix/5859p1.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
| GSpy_PC = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref>{{cite web |title=GameSpy: Enter the Matrix (PC) |last=Accardo |first=Sam |publisher=GameSpy |date=May 25, 2003 |url=http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/enter-the-matrix/5860p1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050908045108/http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/enter-the-matrix/5860p1.html |archive-date=September 8, 2005 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| GSpy_PS2 = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref name="gspyrev">{{cite web |title=GameSpy: Enter the Matrix (PS2, Xbox) |last=Turner |first=Benjamin |publisher=GameSpy |date=May 26, 2003 |url=http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/enter-the-matrix/5861p1.html |access-date=September 2, 2008 |archive-date=October 9, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081009021232/http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/enter-the-matrix/5861p1.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
| GSpy_XBOX = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref name="gspyrev"/>
| IGN_NGC = 7.2/10<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/05/20/enter-the-matrix-2 |title=Enter the Matrix (GCN) |last=Carle |first=Chris |website=IGN |date=May 20, 2003 |access-date=February 8, 2014 |archive-date=February 23, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223223301/http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/05/20/enter-the-matrix-2 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| IGN_PC = 6.6/10<ref>{{cite web |title=Enter the Matrix Review (PC) |last1=Sulic |first1=Ivan |last2=Carle |first2=Chris |website=IGN |date=May 20, 2003 |url=http://pc.ign.com/articles/403/403841p1.html |access-date=February 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060409233054/http://pc.ign.com/articles/403/403841p1.html |archive-date=April 9, 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| IGN_PS2 = 7.2/10<ref name="ignrev">{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/05/20/enter-the-matrix-review |title=Enter the Matrix Review |last=Carle |first=Chris |website=IGN |date=May 20, 2003 |access-date=February 8, 2014 |archive-date=February 23, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223223255/http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/05/20/enter-the-matrix-review |url-status=live }}</ref>
| IGN_XBOX = 7.2/10<ref name="ignrev"/>
| NP_NGC = 4.1/5<ref name="np">{{cite magazine |title=Enter the Matrix |magazine=[[Nintendo Power]] |volume=170 |date=July–August 2003 |page=142}}</ref>
| OPM_PS2 = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.playstationmagazine.com/article2/0,2053,1494442,00.asp |title=Enter the Matrix |last=Zuniga |first=Todd |magazine=[[Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine]] |date=August 2003 |page=96 |access-date=February 9, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040401055124/http://www.playstationmagazine.com/article2/0%2C2053%2C1494442%2C00.asp |archive-date=April 1, 2004 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| OXM_XBOX = 6.2/10<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Enter the Matrix |magazine=[[Official Xbox Magazine]] |date=August 2003 |page=79}}</ref>
| PCGUS_PC = 55%<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/archives/2005/07/enter_the_matri.html |title=Enter the Matrix |last=Poole |first=Stephen |magazine=[[PC Gamer]] |date=August 2003 |page=64 |access-date=April 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060315134412/http://www.pcgamer.com/archives/2005/07/enter_the_matri.html |archive-date=March 15, 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| rev1 = ''[[The Cincinnati Enquirer]]''
| rev1_NGC = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name=Cincinnati>{{cite news |url=http://www.cincinnati.com/freetime/games/reviews/060303_matrix.html |title=Enter the Matrix expands on 'Reloaded' |last=Saltzman |first=Mark |newspaper=[[The Cincinnati Enquirer]] |date=June 3, 2003 |access-date=February 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080515161542/http://www.cincinnati.com/freetime/games/reviews/060303_matrix.html |archive-date=May 15, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| rev1_PC = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name=Cincinnati/>
| rev1_PS2 = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name=Cincinnati/>
| rev1_XBOX = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name=Cincinnati/>
| rev2 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
| rev2_NGC = B<ref name=EW>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.ew.com/article/2003/06/13/enter-matrix |title='Loaded Answers (Enter the Matrix Review) |last=Robischon |first=Noah |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |issue=714 |date=June 13, 2003 |page=104 |access-date=April 16, 2016 |archive-date=January 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105075432/http://www.ew.com/article/2003/06/13/enter-matrix |url-status=live }}</ref>
| rev2_PC = B<ref name=EW/>
| rev2_PS2 = B<ref name=EW/>
| rev2_XBOX = B<ref name=EW/>
| MC_NGC = 63/100<ref name="MCGC">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/enter-the-matrix/critic-reviews/?platform=gamecube |title=Enter the Matrix for GameCube Reviews |website=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |access-date=December 18, 2012}}</ref>
| MC_PC = 58/100<ref name="MCPC">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/enter-the-matrix/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=Enter the Matrix for PC Reviews |website=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |access-date=December 18, 2012}}</ref>
| MC_PS2 = 62/100<ref name="MCPS2">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/enter-the-matrix/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2 |title=Enter the Matrix for PlayStation 2 Reviews |website=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |access-date=December 18, 2012}}</ref>
| MC_XBOX = 65/100<ref name="MCXBOX">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/enter-the-matrix/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox |title=Enter the Matrix for Xbox Reviews |website=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |access-date=December 18, 2012 |archive-date=December 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231218225847/https://www.metacritic.com/game/enter-the-matrix/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}
''Enter the Matrix'' received "mixed or average" reviews according to video game [[review aggregator]] [[Metacritic]].{{r|MCGC|MCPC|MCPS2|MCXBOX}}

Two critics from ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]'' gave it "bad" scores; another later admitted that his "average" score for the game was more positive than the game actually deserved. Mark MacDonald was especially scathing, writing "In more than 20 years of playing games, I have never seen a console game as obviously unfinished and rushed to market as ''Enter the Matrix''.{{nbsp}}... This game is a complete mess, and that's the only thing complete about it."

''[[GameSpot]]'' listed ''Enter the Matrix'' in several of their "Dubious Honors" lists at the end of 2003, including their five most disappointing titles of the year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/bestof2003/day3_11.html |title=GameSpot's Best and Worst of 2003 (Most Disappointing Game) |website=GameSpot |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040405132452/http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/bestof2003/day3_11.html |archive-date=April 5, 2004 |url-status=dead |access-date=August 7, 2017}}</ref> One common complaint was that players wanted to play as trilogy protagonist Neo rather than secondary characters Ghost and Niobe, an issue Shiny Entertainment addressed with their later Matrix game ''[[The Matrix: Path of Neo|Path of Neo]]''.

{{quote box|width=32%|align=left|quote="Did you know that the Matrix runs best on a [[Pentium 4|specific processor]] and [[GeForce|video card]]? And here all this time you thought it just needed human batteries...".|author=—Gamespot Editors in 2003<ref name=bestandworst>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040405134833/http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/bestof2003/day3_3.html | url=http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/bestof2003/day3_3.html | title=Most Despicable Product Placement in a Game | date=December 23, 2003 | work=[[GameSpot]] | archive-date=April 5, 2004 |url-status = dead| access-date=September 2, 2021}}</ref>}}

[[Steven Poole]], in his column in ''[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]]'', described the PS2 version of ''Enter the Matrix'' as "''[[Max Payne (video game)|Max Payne]]'' with celebrity scriptwriters", and said that the films' fluid fight choreography could not be matched by the game's control system, and that the game's centred view, while practical, was not as interesting as the "kinetic montage" of camera angles used in the movies' action scenes. He also expressed other concerns:

<blockquote>The most worrying new precedent that ''Enter the Matrix'' sets, though, with its massively hyped synergy and narrative overlap with ''Reloaded'', is that it seems the film itself has been deliberately made to suffer, to donate some of its lifeblood so that its vampiric brood can feed on it. In ''Reloaded'', Niobe and her crew go to blow up the nuclear power plant, a feat of security bypassing which would presumably require something like a lobby scene squared. Instead, we see nothing until they are already in the control room. Why? Because that's what you get to do in the game instead. The film's sense of rhythm and victory over threat is compromised just so we can bash buttons on our consoles at home. It's as though [[James Cameron]] had cut footage out of ''[[Aliens (film)|Aliens]]'' so that it could be rendered in blocky [[2D computer graphics|2D graphics]] in the 1987 [[ZX Spectrum|Spectrum]]/[[Commodore 64|C64]] [[List of Alien and Predator games|tie-in game]] released by [[Electric Dreams Software|Electric Dreams]] — which remains, actually, a superior film-to-game conversion.<ref name="stevenpoole">Poole, Steven (July 2003). "Films and videogames: not good bedfellows". ''[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]]'' (125): 24. [http://stevenpoole.net/trigger-happy/edge-125/ Online version available] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130222142843/http://stevenpoole.net/trigger-happy/edge-125/ |date=February 22, 2013 }}</ref></blockquote>

Positive comments came from ''[[IGN]]'', ''[[Game Informer]]'', and ''[[Nintendo Power]]'', with NP stating, "its game play suffers from repetition, but this two-disc technomelange has tons of great stuff for ''Matrix'' fans."<ref name="np"/> IGN's review, while mixed, praised its presentation and sound, stating that "you can't get much better than having the [[Wachowskis]] filming your cutscenes," and "Kudos to the sound team for bringing the movie audio to life in the game. Excellent sound design, and a great score." The ''IGN'' review also said, "Things could have been much better with a few more months in development. That said, the story elements and the way the [Wachowskis] tie together the ''Matrix'' movies, the ''Animatrix'' shorts, and the game is exceptional. Not being able to slip into the black robes of the movie's principal characters is a bummer, but there's no denying that playing through ''Enter the Matrix'' will actually increase your appreciation of the ''Matrix'' universe as a whole." They also praised the GameCube version, specifically: "A big 'thank you' to Atari and Shiny for making sure that Nintendo's little cube didn't get shafted. The GameCube version actually ships on two disks to accommodate all the video and audio content. [[Dolby Pro Logic|DPLII]], [[progressive scan]], [[DivX|DIVX]] compression — it's all used to full effect to make sure the GameCube version is as good as it can be."

Even non-video game publications gave the game some positive acclaim. ''[[Maxim (magazine)|Maxim]]'' gave it a score of eight out of ten and said it was "by no means a weak attempt to cash in on a franchise...Gamers not only get tons of extra movie action but also get to run, kick, and shoot in a fully realized ''Matrix'' universe."<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.maxim.com/gaming/enter-the-matrix |title=Enter the Matrix |last=Porter |first=Alex |magazine=[[Maxim (magazine)|Maxim]] |date=May 15, 2003 |access-date=November 16, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306095143/http://www.maxim.com/gaming/enter-the-matrix |archive-date=March 6, 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' gave it a B and said that it "wants to be so many different games that it doesn't excel at any one of them."<ref name=EW/> ''[[The Cincinnati Enquirer]]'' gave it three-and-a-half stars out of five and said that the game "isn't a perfect slice of interactive entertainment, but it does provide at least a dozen hours of action-packed fun and serves as a clever vehicle to expand on the events in ''The Matrix Reloaded''."<ref name=Cincinnati/> ''[[The Village Voice]]'', however, gave it six out of ten and stated: "Nerds may activate two-player mode using the DOS-throwback 'hacking gameplay element.' If any of you figure out how to boff Trinity during a rave, please e-mail me."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.villagevoice.com/2003/05/27/desert-of-the-unreal/ |title=Desert of the Unreal |last=Catucci |first=Nick |newspaper=[[The Village Voice]] |date=May 27, 2003 |access-date=April 16, 2016 |archive-date=August 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170807233734/https://www.villagevoice.com/2003/05/27/desert-of-the-unreal/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

By July 2005, the game sold nearly 6 million copies.<ref>{{cite web|first=Kristan|last=Reed|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/i-pathofneodaveperry|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20221030093343/https://www.eurogamer.net/i-pathofneodaveperry|title=Enter The Bank Balance|website=[[Eurogamer]]|archivedate=October 30, 2022|date=July 25, 2005|accessdate=December 17, 2024}}</ref>

==Awards==

At the [[Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences|AIAS]]' [[7th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards]], [[Jada Pinkett Smith]]'s performance as [[Niobe (The Matrix)|Niobe]] won the award for "[[D.I.C.E. Award for Outstanding Achievement in Character|Outstanding Achievement in Character Performance - Female]]", tying with [[Tara Strong]]'s vocal performance as [[Rikku]] in ''[[Final Fantasy X-2]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.writerswrite.com/7th-annual-interactive-achievement-award-3192004288 |title=7th Annual Interactive Achievement Award Winners Announced |publisher=Writers Write |website=writerswrite.com |access-date=3 August 2023 |archive-date=January 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109180126/https://www.writerswrite.com/7th-annual-interactive-achievement-award-3192004288 |url-status=live }}</ref>
It won for Best Game Based on a Movie or TV Show at the 2003 VGX Awards.

{{clear}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}
{{notelist}}

== External links ==
{{wikiquote}}
* {{IMDb title|id=0277828}}
* {{moby game|id=/enter-the-matrix}}

{{Matrix}}
{{The Wachowskis}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:2003 video games]]
[[Category:Action-adventure games]]
[[Category:Atari games]]
[[Category:GameCube games]]
[[Category:Hacking video games]]
[[Category:Infogrames games]]
[[Category:Martial arts video games]]
[[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]
[[Category:PlayStation 2 games]]
[[Category:Shiny Entertainment games]]
[[Category:Spike Video Game Award winners]]
[[Category:The Matrix (franchise) video games]]
[[Category:Transmedia storytelling]]
[[Category:Video games about virtual reality]]
[[Category:Video games designed by David Perry]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United States]]
[[Category:Video games directed by The Wachowskis]]
[[Category: Post-apocalyptic video games]]
[[Category:Video games featuring female protagonists]]
[[Category:Video games with time manipulation]]
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