Metro 2033
Metro 2033: The Last Refuge
Release Date: March 16, 2010
Action, FPP, post-apocalypse, books, FPS, shooters, singleplayer
Steam
A post-apocalyptic first-person shooter featuring RPG and survival horror elements, based on the bestselling book written by Dmitry Glukhovsky. It was the first game developed by 4A Games, a studio that consists of developers working previously on the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series. The plot of the game takes place after a nuclear catastrophe that wiped out almost all life on Earth and made the natural environment irradiated and uninhabitable.
Metro 2033 for PC and X360 is a shooter set in a relatively near future. The story tells about a nuclear apocalypse, as a result of which the populations of all cities on Earth were annihilated, and the entire environment was dangerously radiated and turned into a post-nuclear wasteland. Only a couple thousand people survived – the ones who at the time of the bombing were in safe and secure in the Moscow metro, the largest fallout shelter in history.
The community living in the Russian underground, certainly has no easy life. Yes, there is no shortage of clean water and air (thanks to purification systems), electricity (generators) and even food, produced in underground farms, but all this does not change the fact that the era of human dominance over the Earth is long past. Animals who lived on the surface went through strange mutations and transformed into deadly monsters. At one point these creatures began to harass the inhabitants of a northern part of the shelter, the one called VDNH. Over time, the attacks became even more dangerous, and the defenders of the compound were decimated. You play as a young inhabitant of VDNH, who has to get through to Polis, the central part of the metro, and inform the local residents of the impending danger and ask for their support. Of course, the road to the heart of the shelter is not paved with violets, let alone roses – there is danger around every corner, which brings much fast-paced action into the tunnels of the Moscow underground. On your way, you find a variety of equipment, including weapons and gadgets that make the survival in this hazardous environment a bit easier.
In some moments the player can also try his hand at stealth approach – lurk in the darkness and silently eliminate opponents one by one, instead of charging at enemy stations. Using the right tactics often brings purely economic consequences – ammunition serves as the currency, so if your play style requires carrying tons of ammunition, you have to get the right amount of funds.
The underground enclaves are really impressive – they are full of people who go around their own business. However, the vast majority of them cannot be interacted with.
The story told in the Metro 2033 for PC and X360 is completely linear and heavily scripted. Anomalies are another noteworthy thing – for example, the hero experiences strange visions from time to time.
The game uses an in-house developed game engine, called 4A-Engine. It is also worth mentioning the wide range of graphics technologies used in Metro 2033 – these include: fully dynamic lighting, soft shadows, HDR, ocular adaptation, DOF, or motion-blur.
Last updated on August 21, 2015
Last Update: March 25, 2010
Metro 2033 Guide
This guide to Metro 2033 contains a detailed description of the prologue and of all seven chapters of the singleplayer campaign of the game, providing help in defeating enemies, completing mission objectives, collecting secret and unlocking all endings.
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Videos and Screens
[2:20] Metro 2033 launch movie
[1:48] Metro 2033 Ghosts of the Metro
The main pros of the game
- Compelling Storyline: Users praise the deep and engaging narrative, which is based on Dmitry Glukhovsky's novel. The story is noted for its depth and ability to reflect societal behaviors.
- Atmosphere and Immersion: The game is lauded for its unique and immersive atmosphere, effectively capturing the tension and despair of a post-apocalyptic world.
- Graphics and Design: Despite being released in 2010, the graphics are still considered impressive by many players. The level design is detailed and contributes to the overall aesthetic and immersive experience.
- Sound Design: The sound effects and background music enhance the atmosphere, with realistic audio for weapons and environmental sounds.
- Gameplay Mechanics: The game encourages strategic thinking regarding resource management, such as ammunition scarcity and stealth tactics, which adds to the survival experience.
- Replay Value: Some users mention the existence of multiple endings, which provides a reason to replay the game.
The main cons of the game
- Linear Gameplay: Many reviews highlight the game's linearity, which reduces replayability and limits exploration compared to more open-world titles like STALKER.
- Short Length: Some users feel that the game is relatively short, wishing for additional content or longer playtime.
- Bugs and Technical Issues: A few players reported game-breaking bugs that can hinder the experience, such as the "Depot Bug."
- AI and Difficulty: There are mentions of enemy AI being inconsistent, with some enemies being overly resilient to damage, and the overall difficulty being perceived as low for seasoned players.
The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users
- More Freedom of Movement: Users express a desire for more open-world elements and the ability to revisit previous areas or explore beyond the main path.
- RPG Elements: Some players noted the absence of RPG mechanics, such as character progression or deeper customization options.
- Improved AI: There are suggestions for better AI behavior for both enemies and NPCs to enhance the challenge and realism.
- Manual Save Options: The game features only automatic saving at specific points, which some players found limiting.
Summary
- Overall, Metro 2033 is highly regarded for its storytelling and atmosphere, but it does have some limitations in gameplay structure and technical issues that players feel could be improved.
Summary generated on:
GAMERS Score
Average score from 4965 votes. 627 players anticipated the game.
7
GAMES
in Metro Game Series
Game Series
Metro Series
Inspired by Dmitry Glukhovsky's series of post-apocalyptic novels, this is a series of first-person shooters (FPS). The brand was created by Ukrainian studio 4A Games, and the rights are currently held by Deep Silver.
7 video games
Metro 2033 Summary
Platforms:
PC / Windows March 16, 2010
PlayStation 3 cancelled
Xbox 360 March 16, 2010
Metro 2033 System Requirements
PC / Windows
Recommended: Core 2 Quad 3 GHz, 2 GB RAM, graphic card GeForce 260 GTX or better, Windows XP/Vista/7
Xbox 360
Supports: Xbox Live
Metro 2033 for Free on Steam, Discounts on Rest of the Series
A special weekend deal launched on Steam, enabling us to get the full version of Metro 2033 for free and buy the rest of the games in the series at discounted prices.
special offers
Adrian Werner
March 12, 2021