Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Matrix starts simply enough: choose a side of the board, insert one of your coloured stones, and watch that line shift by a field. The first few turns invite the obvious plan of building a row of four. Then an opponent pushes into the same line and suddenly the board you were reading a moment ago has changed shape. That small disruption is the whole game, and it gives this otherwise basic puzzle setup a satisfying bite.

Making four stones in a row turns them into wall stones and earns ten points, so scoring is not merely about spotting an immediate line. You have to consider what that new wall will do to later pushes. A move can create your points while also narrowing the board, blocking a useful route, or handing over a better alignment. The fixed 64-move limit keeps the match moving and makes every point matter; there is no endless session where a bad opening can be ignored forever.

The human-versus-AI option makes Matrix workable when nobody is around, but this is naturally strongest as a head-to-head game. The tension comes from watching another person weigh the same shifting lines and trying to anticipate where they will enter next. Turn timers can make that exchange sharper, while holes, jokers, and predefined boards are worthwhile options when the standard board begins to feel too familiar. Start with the plain rules, though. They already ask for more foresight than the compact board suggests.

Graphics

Matrix uses a top-down board built from 64 fields, with each side represented by a different stone colour. When a four-stone row scores, those stones become generic wall stones, giving the board a clear visual record of where points have been made and where future pushes will be constrained.

Story

There is no character drama to carry Matrix from turn to turn. Its story is the argument that develops on the board: a promising line takes shape, an opponent shifts it out of position, and a wall left behind by a scoring move changes the next exchange.

That stripped-down approach suits a competitive puzzle game. You are not waiting for a plot beat to give a match meaning; you are making your own little reversals through placement and timing. A close score near the end supplies all the stakes it needs.

The preset boards can also give individual matches their own arc. A familiar opening plan may stop working once the board contains holes, jokers, or a different starting arrangement, forcing you to rethink how a line can be built and pushed.

Overall Experience

Matrix is a modest but clever contest built around one strong idea: entering a stone from the edge changes far more than the square where it appears. The rule is easy to grasp, yet it creates the kind of tactical second-guessing that makes you replay a move in your head after it is too late.

Its limitations are also clear. The action stays tightly focused on arranging stones, shifting lines, and outscoring the other side across 32 turns each. If you need a puzzle game to constantly introduce new goals, Matrix may feel slight. If you enjoy learning a board’s pressure points and punishing a careless move, the concentration is a strength.

Give it a chance with another person if you can. Matrix has enough options to refresh its clean central contest, but it does not need much decoration: a 64-field board, a well-timed shove, and the uneasy knowledge that your next scoring line might become your next obstacle.

Retro Replay Score

6.5/10