In Post-Apocalyptic Russia, Rat Eat You...
Metro 2033 throws you into the world of post-apocalyptic Russia, the dregs of humanity are living in the underground Metro train tunnels, it is a brutal place. The Communists and the Nazi's are still battling beneath the earth, mutant rats and bandits lurk around every corner and something even stranger has appeared in the tunnels. The Dark Ones. The Dark Ones, a new evolution of humanity are seemingly attacking the humans of your home metro station. Throwing caution to the winds, you take control of a young Russian named Artyom who must battle his way to save his home station from this threat. The plot isn't the most original ever, but through cryptic cutscenes and brief narratives we realize the game has a plot far more intelligent and deep than first perceived to be, one you will want to see both endings of.
Artyom's journey will take you through many environments and against many foes. While a great deal of the game takes place in the stations and tunnels of the metro you do go out into the frozen ruins of Moscow above where greater threats like huge demons and giant ape like creatures lurk. The environments are very well done and ooze style and atmosphere from the haunted tunnels where many have died to the frozen great library of Moscow. Everything is disturbingly believable and the world immerses you, part by style, part by great visuals.
The game plays mostly like a first person shooter with a few twists, stealth sections are mandatory at times but where the game shines is it's set pieces. Whether your on a mine-cart fleeing hordes of ratmen, being chased by soldiers while your handcuffed, bullets whizzing through the air, or clinging to the top of a huge radio tower above the clouds these are where the game excels. These set scenes take place in real time and suck you into the action and are pleasingly light on quicktime events. Other gameplay mechanics involve using bullets as currency too buy items in town like hubs, making sure you have gas mask filters to breath in toxic areas and above ground, and having enemies that only attack if you break eye contact. Quite often you are accompanied by allies who help you and guide you through certain levels and encounters, some of the games srongest moments involve set pieces using the other cast members especially when the more supernatural elements of the game such as ghosts, anomalies and the very disturbing graveyard section come into play. The cast are voiced superbly and you really do feel like you are surrounded by your fellow Russians, battling for survival. Control wise everything feels fine and standard, aiming is the usual accuracy we are used to on modern consoles and it plays very well.
Sadly the games adrenaline pumping conclusion only took me 5 hours to see and while it was a great ride and the second ending is worth an attempt at seeing, there is little incentive to delve into the Metro tunnels again, until Last Light comes out that is.