Leave it to the Russians to create another great atmospheric, post-apocalyptic first person shooter.
Metro 2033 is no exception. Following in the footsteps of STALKER, it presents a dreary distopian world at the edge of its existance. Unlike STALKER, this one is much more linear - but in this case that's not a bad thing. If a game's story is done well, linearity can fit it like a glove, and Metro tells a really good story.
You play as Artyem, a dweller in the underground metro of Moscow along with the rest of the remnants of the human race. Much like Hellgate London, humanity is confined to the underground rail tunnels and stations and cannot venture above ground for extended periods of time due to poisonous atmosphere, radiation, and all manner of mutants. Unlike Hellgate London, the destruction above is all man made.
The game launches with a particular Metro dweller named Hunter entrusting you with a quest to get to a far station with a warning and a request for help against the encroaching "Dark Ones". The bulk of the game is about your journey getting to that station. Since you are confined to the metro tunnels due to conditions above ground, the linearity of the game makes a great deal of sense, and you don't really feel like you're being artificially confined to a specific path. Like any great game, resources are limited. Bullets are limited, supplies are limited, even oxygen is limited (for those rare times when you are forced onto the surface to make it to your next destination). But if you scrounge and explore every nook and cranny, you will be rewarded by finding enough supplies to barter and haggle your way to better guns, more bullets, healthpacks, and oxygen cannisters.
The atmosphere throughout the game is top notch. Sutiably bleak, suitably creepy, and fairly compelling. There are some parts of the game where you are reduced to frustrating trial and error but there is always a stealthy path through - you just need to figure it out. And if you really don't feel like doing that, you can ultimately try bulldozing through and will most likely make it, albeit somewhat the worse for wear.
Metro2033 is a real gem of a game that I'll not soon forget. If you like atmospheric FPS's you will probably really enjoy it. If you don't like linearity, you may not, but again, it fits with the story so may be worth checking out anyway. All in all, score another winner for the Russians.