Metro 2033

METRO 2033

Metro 2033 is a 2010 survival horror game based on the 2002 online (then in 2007 printed) novel of the same name by Russian writer Dmitry Glukhovsy. The game follows the setting of the novel by putting you in the boots of young “Artyom” in the post-apocalyptic subway tunnels of Moscow simply called the Metro.   How people ended up in the Metro is never explained though through conversation and observation we are to assume nuclear war. Because of the war the whole city is unlivable not only because there the air up there is toxic but all the usual stuff likes radiation but monsters as well, but that doesn’t stop some people. So people have gone done into the tunnels of the Metro. But all is not safe in the tunnels as mutants frequently find their way down there; bandits frequent the tunnels killing anyone who crosses into their territory. Young Artyom’s guest begins with him trying to find a way to protect his home station from a new threat simply called the “Dark Ones”. You must then find a path through the Metro encountering many people, though don’t worry about learning their names the ether die or leave you soon enough. As well as you go outside and experience the nuclear wasteland that once was Moscow.

You begin with quite simple weapons, a makeshift submachine gun, a revolver, and a knife, but you can pick up more weapons along the way including a double barrel shotgun, a AK-47 clone,   and a pressurized gas gun the fires arrows. You can only carry two main weapons as well as a sidearm, throwing knives, a knife, med kits, and pipe bombs.  But you’ll really only need the AK clone, Automatic shotgun, and the revolver as the other weapons are too ineffective or ammo is too far and few between. You can also find Military Grade ammunition which is used as a currency in the Metro or as a more effective kick to your weapon. You can also use the Military Grade ammunition in stores at the stations along your path to buy new upgraded weapons with things like scopes, better stocks, etc, but you’ll find you’ll never have enough to get what you want, so just use it in combat when you’re in a pinch.   You can only carry two main weapons as well as a sidearm, throwing knives, a knife, med kits, and pipe bombs. Due to the harsh climate that much of the Metro is in, you have to carry around a gas mask with you at all times. But you must also collect filters for the mask as each filter gives you about 15 minutes of clean air symbol by your watch with has a timer. Complicating things is the fact that your mask can be damaged as well as destroyed in combat making things very hard if you’re nowhere near a spare mask. If you find yourself in such a position you have about 10 seconds till you suffocate and die.

You come across a variety of enemies thought the game both mutant and human. First the mutants come in about a few varieties, the Nosalis is the most common variety which often attack in packs, Lurkers which are fast and agile creatures which burrow through the Metro, on the surface you’ll encounter two special kinds of mutants, the Demon which is a winged monster that takes a lot of ammo to kill, and the Librarian which is a ape like creature that is quite durable as well as strong. You’ll also encounter human enemies in the Metro, like bandits who kill, rape, and pillage throughout the tunnels. Two factions whom you’ll meet are the Communists and the Nazis, two forces fighting for control of the Metro in the same vein as World War II. You’ll have to cross there frontlines to continue your journey and have to fight them both to survive. Also you’ll come across too types of “creatures” that are neither nether good nor evil. One is simply called the anomaly, a ball of pure energy that fry’s anything close to it regardless of its intentions, and other supernatural entity called ghost, the physics remains of people who have died in the tunnels which kill upon touch.

This game is neither nether good nor bad but stuck in some sort of limbo. The game offers a decent story which they pad out with good effect. The game at first tries to go for creepy with dark foreboding tunnels and corridors complete with creepy monsters, but it quickly goes for a Half-Life 2 feel with its weird monsters and science fiction. The game is one of the games that you really can only play at night and/or in a dark room, as light tends to glare out the TV and making combat and basic navigation a real bitch.   All in all it’s a decent game and worth a rental.