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Preview: The Matrix Online
Vincent Malley, Managing Editor - Matrix Online Stratics
In 1999, the Wachowski Brothers gave us the red pill, allowing us to explore the realities of The Matrix. In 2003, they took us further into the rabbit hole with The Matrix: Reloaded and Revolutions, and showed us how one human could bend, break, and change all the rules. Now, in 2004, our perceptions of reality are going to change once more.
Imagine a world in which all the rules may be bent or broken. Imagine this world, where a woman fleeing law-enforcement officers crosses a fifty-foot gap between buildings in a single leap. Where a rebel can disguise himself, not just by putting on a fake moustache, but a new face and body as well. Where one can look like a mere blur while dodging bullets sent in her direction.
WB Studios and Monolith Productions have teamed up to give us this world. Set after The Matrix: Revolutions, The Matrix Online (Also known as MxO) continues where the story left off. With the Wachowski Brothers returning to continue the storyline, MxO will offer many things few MMOGs have seen. A monthly-updated storyline is only one of them.
Feature: Interlock
One of the main features that will draw players to MxO is the combat system. It would be a stretch to say that the Matrix movie trilogy did not constitute some of the best and most visually stunning fight scenes in recent movie history. Because of this, it would be a crime to deliver anything but the best in combat systems. WB and Monolith would not be able to get away with an EverQuest-style combat system (Point, click, wait until one party dies, repeat).
In that sense, fans of the Matrix and non-fans alike will be pleasantly surprised to see the combat system in MxO. Termed “Interlock,” this system is the combination of choreographed animations, working in pairs (One player’s action to another’s reaction) to provide a cinematic combat experience. Under this system, even bullet-time maneuvers are possible, without having to slow down the entire game world to compensate. One of the best parts of this system is that it is incredibly bandwidth-friendly.
With Interlock, the player provides key inputs every few seconds, such as selection of targets and tactical setting. The tactical setting is, as thoroughly explained on the MxO website, “a three-button interface that enables a player to choose one of three settings: power, speed or defense.” This setting chooses from a list of a player’s available moves, and animates the characters accordingly. And though it may seem like a paper-scissors-rock approach to combat, it is much more complex; “scissors” won’t always be able to cut “paper.”
After these inputs, the game instantaneously computes and compares a few values, including “respective ability levels and tactical settings selected.” These computations so not interrupt the flow of the gameplay; all players see is a smooth, active battle, attacks and counterattacks exchanged quickly and fluidly.
Feature: Ability Codes and Skill Trees
Another feature unique MxO is the concept of swappable and exchangeable “Ability Codes,” the format of skills and abilities within the game. No longer will a player be forced to remain in a set position as long as s/he plays a certain character, stuck in a class chosen before actual gameplay. Instead, the player may equip certain codes that fill the roles of certain classes, and mix and match other codes to compensate for special requirements or conditions in a given situation. Players may also swap codes between each other as well, giving them to each other like material objects.
The classes mentioned are three certain “trees” of skills and abilities: Hacker, Soldier, and Spy. Though most of the ability codes for each tree are seen in visual form (See the wallpapers on the MxO official website, link below), a few major skills are explained.
Soldier abilities seem to consist mostly of straightforward martial arts styles and weapon proficiencies. The “tree” seems to start with basic skills, such as Aikido or using Rifles, and as a player grows more powerful and accumulates more Ability Codes, they branch out into more advanced versions of these basic styles or proficiencies, allowing special maneuvers and stronger attacks. Here is an example of a more advanced skill branching off the Handgun proficiency, borrowed directly from the MxO website:
- Pistol Evasive - Character performs a one-handed cartwheel while firing. A bonus to defense is enjoyed for a number of combat rounds in addition to the damage inflicted on the opponent during the special maneuver.
Hackers are the technical experts of the game, infecting opponents with viruses and upgrading friendly players. These effects, collectively called “Programs,” are abilities that directly affect the Matrix code. As well, Hackers are able to hack into computers, thus finding Code and Information, both very valuable inside the game, and they can also Write Code for creation of new items and upgrades to old ones, as well as other likely uses. Hackers are the main class for non-combat play, but they’ll still likely be stuck in dangerous situations.
Spies are masters of disguise and stealth, either completely bypassing combat in a very dangerous area, or executing powerful sneak attacks, taking out opponents while barely breaking a sweat. They can also tap into Data Nodes, extracting high volumes of Information directly from the Matrix. But don’t expect to be able to steal information for very long; information is valuable, and certain people and programs won’t be very happy to find someone stealing it.
Here is an example of a sneak attack, borrowed directly from the Matrix Online website:
- Freedom to Joints - In this sneak attack, the attacker comes up behind the opponent and places them in an arm bar. Once the shoulder is snapped, the attacker proceeds to place the opponent into the chicken wing position, snapping the rest of the shoulder joint. Finally, the attacker gets his opponent into the last hold, the shoulder lock, where he extends the arm outward, which not only destroys the rest of the shoulder joint, but also breaks the joints in the elbows. The opponent falls to the ground with one arm in good condition, while the other flails lifelessly.
The best part about all these abilities and classes is that they are interchangeable; a character can go through a mission as a pure-combat Soldier, then, in a different mission that requires stealth and speed, equip any Spy Ability Codes in possession and proceed. Trading is also possible; if a player is sick of a certain class, he can give up his Ability Codes for different Codes or Information.
The Story
If Interlock Combat and Ability Codes aren’t enough to warrant playing, the existence of a storyline (greater than a passage in an instruction manual) may be all the reason to play The Matrix Online. Larry and Andy Wachowski, the creators of The Matrix movie trilogy, will be writing for the game, picking up the story where it left off at the end of Revolutions. In addition to a monthly-updated storyline, special events and missions will be available, possibly to directly affect the progress of the story itself. Combined with factions and a reputation within the game, MxO may have a very flexible, pliable, and authentic storyline, complete with some of the characters seen in the movies.
The Matrix Online promises to be a very innovative game, especially in a time when the Massively Multiplayer Online Game (MMOG) genre is becoming somewhat stale. Still, other MMOGs will be released at roughly the same time, also promising new innovation and fresh gameplay. Whether features such as Interlock Combat, with its fluid Martial Arts animations and fresh assortment of weaponry; Ability Codes, with their interchangeability rivaling that of PlanetSide, and improving the flexibility; and the fresh, dynamic storyline, written by the creators of The Matrix itself; will be enough to hold its own in the sales department… That will be up to the players themselves.
Will you take the red pill?
Sources and Links
The Matrix Online Official Website
Monolith Productions
What is the Matrix?
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Stratics Central
