Review: Metro 2033

Whilst once the corridors of first person shooters were prowled by grizzled space marines with a intolerant attitude towards those of extra terrestrial origin, these days, the emphasis has shifted to a slightly more realistic depiction of armed combat.

From the trenches of WW2 to the deserts of Afghanistan, the FPS has packed its bags and joined the army. It would seem that bar the obvious notable exception, the space marine is verging on extinction whilst the battle hardened war hero is pinning ever more badges to his chest. Whether it's Battlefield, the ill fated Medal Of Honor reboot, or yes, the tyrannical Call Of Duty, the trigger happy are lacing their boots up and heading to the frontline - and that’s where it would seem that the big bucks are being earned.

So in the wake of this thirst for ‘realism’, where does this leave the less conventional FPS? Are developers willing to introduce an original IP into the market simply wasting their time?

Developers 4A Games and publisher THQ’s Metro 2033 can certainly not be accused of adhering to conventions, at least not so in terms of location and atmosphere. Metro is grim, gritty and oppressive, yet strangely, these are the very factors that work in its favour. 2033, and Moscow has been ravaged by a nuclear apocalypse, forcing any survivors below ground into the metro systems of the game’s title. Society has managed to continue functioning in small pockets at the city’s various underground stations, though at a distinctly more primitive level to how they once did.

Taking control of sombre protagonist and narrator Artyom after the prologue, and you’re granted an initial stroll though his home station. Where Metro succeeds is that it constructs a believable living world beneath Moscow’s surface, and an even colder and more unforgiving one up above. Whilst you’re primarily tasked with delivering a message from A to B, simplicity is never at hand in a post-apocalyptic environment.

There is a resilient community feel to some of the stations Artyom encounters throughout his journey across the network; with people conversing at bars, playing the guitar, or studying old pictures of the pre-apocalypse world, and a genuine sense of resistance is portrayed. However, beyond these safe havens, a war of ideologies between communists and fascists rages even despite humanity’s obvious situational plight.

Metro 2033 is an atmospherically strong title, catching the balance between the homely safety of the few dwindling communal stations, with the oppression and darkness that infests the tunnel complex beyond them. Perhaps the most arresting of the surroundings you’ll encounter however, is the dilapidated shell of Moscow when Artyom ventures above ground. Heavily radiated and in the midst of a perpetual snowstorm, this is where Metro really captures the desolation and destruction of post-nuclear fallout.

The safe havens, dark tunnels, war zones and frozen wastes make for compelling, if often suffocating surroundings. In fact, being on the surface - in Artyom’s own words - has a “gloomy charm” to it, when the claustrophobic nature of the metro tunnels threatens to venture into overbearing territory. To say that Metro 2033 is bleak would be an understatement, yet there is a keen attention to detail here despite the constantly aphotic mood.

Of course, as we’re all aware of by now, where there’s radiation there’s an abundance of hideous mutations and Metro doesn‘t shy away from that notion. While many of the surviving human race are intent on wiping each other, and you out, mutated creatures also stalk both above and below ground, meaning there’s no shortage of enemies to introduce to your firepower.

Being atmospherically rich is certainly something Metro 2033 has going in its favour, yet it also needs to stand up as an FPS in its own right without relying too heavily on its well crafted tone to see it through. Whilst going a certain way to achieving this, it unfortunately falls slightly short of the mark.

Whilst the surrounding environments are inspired in their portrayal, the gunplay unfortunately feels mundane in its execution. It seems like rather a wasted opportunity, as the game has gone so far as to establish a credible and potentially exhilarating battlefield, only to let itself down with mediocre combat. It’s by no means terrible, it’s efficient without fulfilling promise. Though it may sound somewhat contradictory, Artyom’s arsenal is devilishly satisfying to wield, though the context in which you actually get employ it doesn’t quite deliver. The dark, foreboding tunnels and icy urban sprawls are the perfect setting for exhilarating firefights, which bar the occasional inspired set-piece ( keep an eye out for the ‘Librarian’ confrontation for an example of this) fails to truly materialize. As a result, fending off Nazi soldiers, winged demons and supernatural anomalies isn’t nearly as thrilling as it sounds on paper, despite being given the tools to make it so.

As mentioned above, the weapon roster is in fact impressive, and introduces an interesting mechanic. Firstly Metro 2033 knows how to pull off the shotgun with aplomb. Meaty to wield and with devastating stopping power, introducing both barrels to a Nosalis (scurrying, mutated dog-like creatures) at short range is initially smirk inducing in its pleasure, though repetition will inevitably rear its ugly head.

Interestingly, when using the double barrelled shotgun, a barrel is assigned to each trigger. This means that a double squeeze will unleash a devastating volley but will use up precious shells, or to conserve ammo, you can opt for a sparing but substantially less damaging single shot. Though you aren't able dual wield in Metro, most forms of weaponry employ this mechanic. Perhaps it’s emplaced most intuitively in regards to grenades. Holding down the right trigger will raise the grenade/pipe-bomb, whilst the left trigger lights the fuse, and releasing RT again will throw. It’s a slow process, and one that prevents wild spamming, but also a satisfying one, both aesthetically and in terms of effect when pulled off correctly.

Due to the primitive nature of life in the tunnels you’ll also get your hands on pneumatic weaponry. It’s highly powerful, but the drawback lies in having to pump each gun up from time to time as well as reload. When in a fire fight in the pitch black, unaware as to where you’re getting hit from, having to re-pump and reload can be a frustratingly fraught process, thus meaning that you may find yourself relying on a trusty old machine gun more often than not to simplify matters. An intriguing system is implemented whereby military grade ammo (you’ll most likely be predominantly firing old, less potent bullets) also doubles up as the game’s currency. A predicament arises where using this ammunition on your enemies is highly effective, but you are essentially simultaneously firing off your gathered money. It really brings up a risk/reward dilemma. Should you take down this horde of ‘lurkers’ with military grade ammo, or use the less effective alternative to save currency for more quality fire power? Another fine idea that would have benefited from more intense and exciting gunfights to truly integrate it into the game further.

Metro 2033, besides under developed combat has a few other noticeable niggles: Inevitable on rails sections are marred by ludicrously over sensitive aiming; whilst realistic, when using your gas mask in radiated areas, it can often to fog up and irritatingly obscure your vision; and at times, attempted humour in the dialogue can feel misplaced with such an otherwise grim tonality to proceedings. Also, you get the impression that Metro thinks it’s scarier than it actually is. The potential is undeniably there for it to be so - if anything the hard work has already been done - yet it never grabs the notion of fear by the scruff of the neck and makes it become a reality.