The Matrix Resurrections’ weirdest video game reference

The Matrix ResurrectionsIt is open about the video games it has influenced. Thomas Anderson has to begin work on the sequel to his game. The Matrix, a straightforward and meta parallel to Lana Wachowski’s involvement in the movie. But amidst all the corporate speak and the Christina Ricci cameo, there’s a more subtle reference to games.

It’s snuck into a montage of Neo’s monotonous, time-loop-esque waking life; it’s the treadmill. It’s even referenced in the dialogue a few times, a symbol representing the illusion of progress. It’s about the futility of nostalgia, and the crushing cycle of capitalism, and learning to see when you’re not actually going anywhere.

The walking cycle is the simplest animation, and it’s also what many games use. Most video game characters start their life strolling endlessly on a game developer’s screen. It’s the most common animation you’re going to see in a game, so it’s got to look good.

Humans have an intuitive sense of how a human walks, so animations can fall prey to over- or underanimating. Foot sliding is another example. Although walking animations are not perfect, at their highest, they can be a guide to who the characters should be.