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Soon gamers everywhere will be able to see just how deep the rabbit hole goes. Read our in-depth preview, Mr Anderson!

In 1999 a movie came along that revolutionized the Sci-Fi genre. This movie was The Matrix, an action packed yet intelligent story of machines farming humans for power, and a rebel organization trying to save the last of humanity.

With the exception of a few rare occasions, licensed videogames based on movies have been fairly lacking in quality. Enter The Matrix looks to change the paradigm. It is not just a licensed movie-based game. It is “an integral part of the Matrix story” –thematrix.com. Not only is it a separate chapter written by the Wachowski Brothers, the same two that wrote The Matrix movie and its sequels, but it weaves in and out of the movie itself.

Things that occur in the game will affect the story in the movie, and vice-versa. Add to this foundation martial arts choreographed by Yuen Wo Ping, the mastermind behind the fighting in The Matrix, Charlie’s Angels and Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, and voice talent by the actual movie cast, and the picture becomes all the sweeter.

Even the cut scenes will set a standard by pulling directly from the film. Over an hour of footage from the movie as well as game-exclusive scenes will help to drive the story along.

The mechanics of the gameplay will consist of an amalgamation of several genres. The majority of the game will consist of third person shooting and fighting. Over 1000 martial arts moves were motion captured for these segments with much more advanced technology than is typical for video games.

A “bullet-time” type feature will allow the player to switch to a slow motion mode in which they can bend reality and kick ass Max Payne style. As well as fighting, there will be both Hovercraft piloting and automobile driving segments. The game will also feature a “hacking” type of feature, in the form of a mini-game.

The story centers around two characters from the Reloaded movie, both playable in their own storylines. Niobe is the captain of the hovercraft Logos. Holding the same rank as Morpheus (from The Matrix movie), Niobe is a tough leader, an expert in hand to hand combat, and an outstanding hovercraft pilot.

Ghost is a more spiritual warrior, a focused fighting machine who thinks weapons are works of art, and handles them as such. A third, non-playable character named Sparks acts as a guide throughout the game relaying key information and strategic advice via cell phone.

The game will be released for XBOX, PS2, GameCube, and PC concurrently with the launch of the Reloaded movie on May 15, 2003 (hopefully). It will be roughly 25-30 hours long depending on how one plays it. It is being developed by Shiny Entertainment, the minds behind Earthworm Jim, MDK and Sacrifice, and is being published by Infogrames of Civilization and Unreal fame.

Soon gamers everywhere will be able to see just how deep the rabbit hole goes.

Preview by Zack Stromberg, PC Gameworld.