The sword-and-sorcery genre is oversaturated with endless EverQuest clones, and until recently, the only other option was space-flight sims, which didn't appeal to me. So when the time came to try my first online game, I dipped a timid toe in the waters of The Sims Online. But I bore easily and more than anything else, I enjoy a game with a good story in it. And TSO offered nothing worth sticking around for in that department.

Then I managed to get picked as a beta tester (folks who get an early preview of an upcoming game, to help find bugs and work out the kinks before it's opened to the general public) on Uru Live. As an avid Myst fan, I was delighted by what I found there -- endless new realms to explore, puzzles to solve, and best of all, an ongoing storyline that continued the Myst mythology on a weekly basis. But Uru never garnered the minimum number of players needed to sustain it, and was shut down before it ever got started in earnest.

Maybe the third time's the charm. Once again a new online world piqued my interest, and this time it was one based on the world of The Matrix. Better yet, the designers of The Matrix Online didn't simply want to put you in the world of the movies, they set out with the intention to build nothing less than the entire Matrix itself. And once again, there's an ongoing storyline that not only continues the story of the film saga, its chief conceit is that the movie trilogy was merely backstory for what's to come. And as a "redpill" -- unplugged from the Matrix and aware of its true nature, yet still operating inside it -- you have the opportunity to help shape its future.

The sword-and-sorcery genre is oversaturated with endless EverQuest clones, and until recently, the only other option was space-flight sims, which didn't appeal to me. So when the time came to try my first online game, I dipped a timid toe in the waters of The Sims Online. But I bore easily and more than anything else, I enjoy a game with a good story in it. And TSO offered nothing worth sticking around for in that department.

Then I managed to get picked as a beta tester (folks who get an early preview of an upcoming game, to help find bugs and work out the kinks before it's opened to the general public) on Uru Live. As an avid Myst fan, I was delighted by what I found there -- endless new realms to explore, puzzles to solve, and best of all, an ongoing storyline that continued the Myst mythology on a weekly basis. But Uru never garnered the minimum number of players needed to sustain it, and was shut down before it ever got started in earnest.

Maybe the third time's the charm. Once again a new online world piqued my interest, and this time it was one based on the world of The Matrix. Better yet, the designers of The Matrix Online didn't simply want to put you in the world of the movies, they set out with the intention to build nothing less than the entire Matrix itself. And once again, there's an ongoing storyline that not only continues the story of the film saga, its chief conceit is that the movie trilogy was merely backstory for what's to come. And as a "redpill" -- unplugged from the Matrix and aware of its true nature, yet still operating inside it -- you have the opportunity to help shape its future.

Comics writer Paul Chadwick was hand-picked by the Wachowski Brothers to write the storylines for the first year of the game (at least five years are planned), which will be told through everything from cinematics that are available to all players, to in-game events, and even appearances inside the Matrix by characters from the films (featuring the original actors' voices). And everything that takes place within the game is considered official canon for the ongoing Matrix saga.

The story begins roughly one week after The Matrix Revolutions, and at the beginning, it appears to be about the fragile truce that was created by Neo's sacrifice, and how many forces out there are already attempting to tear it apart. A preview in the beta test also showed that trouble is afoot with Morpheus, who's pleased that Neo fulfilled his destiny, but outraged and confused that the Machines refuse to return Neo's body.

The Matrix itself -- which is one enormous metropolis called the "Mega-City" and surrounded by a range of mountains -- is in a state of flux. Humans, Machines, and Exile programs are the three major powers, all with their own agenda for the future of the Matrix, and you get to decide who you want to side with.

When you first enter the game, you'll hear the voice of operator Link (Harold Perrineau Jr.) guiding you through the character creation process, and then a brief tutorial, which includes martial arts training in the memorable dojo construct from the first film. Then you're immediately jacked into the Matrix, and from here on, everything you do is entirely up to you.

You can take on a mission from one of the three factions (but be warned that working towards the interests of one faction will eventually make you an enemy of the other two). You can go pick a fight with the neighborhood gangs (rebel exiles, many of which serve under the thumb of the Merovingian), of which there are many. As you fight or complete missions, your power level will increase, and you'll be able to take on increasingly difficult opponents and missions. You'll also gain incredible new abilities as you go, which allow you to "bend or break" the rules of the Matrix.

The game is built upon the latest iteration of Monolith's Lithtech engine, and it looks amazing. Even the screenshots included with this article don't do it justice. It oozes atmosphere as a living, breathing world, very real world all its own. Lag can be a problem, especially as you enter highly populated areas, which are typically located around "hardlines," which take the form of phone booths scattered everywhere.

The multi-leveled city with its businesses, residences, community areas like churches and clubs, and those never-ending roads and freeways is vast with a capital "V." Only one of four major planned areas of the Mega-City is open to players so far, and it would take weeks to fully explore this one area (the Slums). In a nice touch, the graphics engine is highly scalable and customizable, so you can turn certain details up or down, if your game has slow response times. Most incredible of all: every square inch of the game is playable. Any location you can see, you can interact with. Spot an interesting-looking building? Feel free to go inside. Ride the elevator. Wander around. Or hyper-jump to the rooftop. Just be prepared for anything when you get there...

An advanced fighting system allows players to engage in the same "Wire-Fu" moves seen in the films. But its implementation is sure to bring mixed reviews. It's a sort of turn-based system where both fighters select their moves at once, and the higher-powered player wins. On the one hand, it saves casual players from having to memorize complex keystrokes in order to perform those amazing moves -- just select from a list of abilities like "power," "speed," and "grab." On the other hand, FPS players who enjoy coordinating and timing those amazing moves themselves, will find themselves with somewhat less to do.

But getting bored inside The Matrix Online isn't a possibility. As you accumulate power, you'll accumulate wealth too; vendors are scattered about all over, ready to sell you new clothes, weapons, and codes. Newspaper stands carry the latest headlines, which you can read anytime; The Sentinel is the local paper, written from the blissfully ignorant perspective of "bluepills," and is used by the gamemakers to further the storyline. Major events will be planned from time to time. You can even spar against other real players. If you'd rather be a passive player and not engage in missions, the world is setup to accomodate you, as well.

There's so much to The Matrix Online that it would be impossible to cover it all here. Intricate details, characterizations, customization options, interactions, and pedestrian NPCs (bluepills) all combine with astounding production values and Don Davis' familiar musical themes to make the Matrix unbelievably real. For every fan who's dreamed of entering the Matrix themselves... only time will tell if the story plays out to be as compelling as it's been hinted to be thus far, but at least right now, The Matrix Online puts you in this incredible world. And it's a highly addictive experienace that does not disappoint.