Yes, the graphics used to represent the virtual world Satsuki navigates resemble the space Homer arrives in that episode where he goes 3D, or the Matrix. This episode focuses solely on Satsuki (the girl who physically connects to a computer), and I truly appreciate that the anime takes such care to give more context to the characters who are part of these opposing sides in the great end-of-the-world conflict. In the story of X, it's said that it's unusual for Satsuki to be in love with a computer (or rather, the computer code entity), and it's interesting to see it from the perspective of 20 years in the future, where people already form emotional bonds with artificial intelligences and it's not considered unusual (I mean, it's wrong, but it's not weird). Although it may seem that the plot is not progressing, I recommend watching this episode precisely because of how peculiar it is to see this outdated view of the human/machine relationship, and because learning more about the dragons of the Earth gives us a more complete perspective on this war and takes them out of a simple villainous antagonistic role of wanting to destroy the world just for the sake of it.