The look of The Matrix -- everything from the manic dynamics of its "wire-fu" combat, to the patented shiny leather outfits of its characters -- is something that is embedded deep in most of our minds, at this point. Recreating that look in a single-player game would be difficult enough. Compound that with the challenge of realizing a living world in this image, with thousands of unique inhabitants, and, well ... you could see how The Matrix Online's art team would have their work cut out for them.

We had a sit-down with the heads responsible for all this, and from what we can tell, their heads are in the right place. We won't know how well it all turned out till the masses flood into the servers, but if the product in any way matches their efforts, then things should be cool. Read on.