The Matrix Online begins in the same way the original film The Matrix does by offering you a pill to choose life or oblivion.
After that, the next step is to create a character and assign them different attributes.
One interesting attribute is that of belief. Belief affects how well your character understands the Matrix and how much they accept it.
When the character is set-up there's a training program that your operator creates for you. This runs you through the basics of movement, combat and upgrades.
Upgrades include things such as an additional stat point to use on the attribute of your choice, or skills, and those can be anything from attack reversals to sprinting,
Training ends when you reach a phone booth where you "jack" into the rest of the Matrix. In the game it's called a "hardline" and they're dotted around the game.
Progressing through the game is shown on the map and phone booths are shown on the map, as well as mission targets.
Two very useful features of the phone booths are:
You can upload to save your new abilities. Matrix-speak for "save character status", and you can use them to transport yourself around the Matrix.
Nothing must ever be easy in The Matrix Online so phone booths cannot all be used from the beginning. They have to be synchronised first by walking up to a new hardline and clicking synchronize which adds it to your available hardlines list with its location and number. It's then accessible from any hardline on your list.
Speaking of transport, there is also a subway system which allows progress to more difficult areas as the game continues.
The game has a real atmosphere and evokes the film setting very well. As you play it almost makes you believe you are jacking into The Matrix. When you logon there is an array of ways to connect you to other players. You can join crews, form mission teams (which are a less permanent versions of a crew) to help you plow your way through the story missions.
Most of these missions are almost impossible without help so teammates or buddies are definitely needed. A buddy list is provided to help keep in touch with anyone you have become friends with. That means you can continue helping each other rather than just doing a mission and then never seeing them again.
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