Jack into The Matrix this March

Franchise expands into the online arena.

All is not well in the Matrix. After the sterling performance of the first movie, things have taken a distinct downturn. Neither The Matrix Reloaded nor The Matrix Revolutions garnered particular acclaim and the less said about the first tie-in game Enter The Matrix the better.

But that doesn't mean that the concept isn't still enticing, which is why Sega is on the verge of launching The Matrix Online, a massively multiplayer online game set in the Matrix universe.

The title is, of course, aimed directly at the sunglass-wearing noggins of Matrix fans, but US developer Monolith has beefed up that skeleton with promises of living, vibrant worlds that will be filled with interesting people - or at least that's the idea.

The Matrix Online will take place in a seemingly normal world floating above a smouldering war raging down below. Players will be able to download skills and duke it out in authentic bullet time slow-mo.

But perhaps the biggest draw is that the in-game story is being written by Larry and Andy Wachowski, the creators of The Matrix universe.

"The Wachowski Brothers' vision for The Matrix is one that extends far beyond the theatrical trilogy, and the world they have created is so rich that we've chosen to tell inter-connected Matrix-related stories in multiple mediums," said Joel Silver, producer of the Matrix films, at the announcement of game in 2003.

The storyline in The Matrix Online will directly follow on from the end of The Matrix Revolutions - perfect for those who just couldn't bear to see it all come to an end.

The Matrix Online will be released for PC on 25 March.

Alex Wollenschlaeger
Editor, Kikizo Games