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Metro 2033: Let's go outside
We venture out into the mean streets of Moscow and report back on what we find. Mutants anyone?
Written by Andy Griffiths, 10 December 2009
If the claustrophobic stations and underground safety are getting you down in Metro 2033, there's always the option to go outside and find out what people are really afraid of. Moscow is no longer the great metropolis it once was and is now completely destroyed- riddled with decrepit buildings, cracked roads, irradiated water, and a hazardous atmosphere which means you'll have to wear a gas mask at all times.
How amazing is that sunset?It's a hostile world, no doubt about it, and a finite number of air filters forces you to be urgent in the inhospitable outdoors. The mask itself frosts up to indicate prolonged use and you'll need to check the air supply by physically checking your watch. It's one of the many ways 4A Games have ensured that Metro 2033 retains its immersive experience outside.
Don't mess with outsiders.Combat resembles the usual first person staples of strafe and shoot. All of the enemies we encountered during our preview time used melee based tactics and resembled mutated giant hairless dogs, who literally bounded up to your face and attempted to slice it off. If you didn't deal with them quickly enough, they'd howl to their fellow mutants for support and we soon found ourselves overwhelmed. Due to their speed you'll go through ammo extremely fast in an effort to kill them, and even good shots will complain about a the lack of ammo.
Judging by the watch this guy has 15 minutes worth of air left.As you would expect from a worldwide apocalypse guns and bullets are at an absolute premium and even though you'll occasionally find some equipment on long dormant corpses, you need to be ready to use your knife when the going gets tough.
The dynamic shadows take full advantage of DirectX10.The weapons we found were rather basic and even though we overheard one survivor talking about his love of the Kalashnikov, we failed to find anything that technologically advanced during the early stages. However we did find an ancient six-shooter pistol, a double barrelled shotgun and an automatic sub-machine gun which ate through bullets at a sickening rate. The shotgun was particularly effective, as you had the option to offload both barrels at once or shoot them individually via a click of the left or right mouse button.
PCGZine Issue 39
For our latest Metro 2033 coverage, click here to download PCGZine Issue 39 for free.Our time in Moscow was strictly linear and there was often only one way to progress. We had to find our way to another station and couldn't follow the usual route via underground tunnels, thanks to mysterious, psychically enhanced enemies, known only as the "Dark Ones". Throughout our time with the game we only had one encounter with these mystical beasties who fellow survivors referred to as Homo Novus, or the next stage of evolution. They glowed with a bright godly aura which obscured any real physical detail, apart from their gigantic size and elongated arms.
It was hard not get an eerie vibe walking around Moscow, seeing empty banks, overturned cars and derelict playgrounds all covered in flawless white snow. Occasionally the game would show you a flashback depicting life before the cataclysmic event, which only added to the feeling of underlying terror. There's a deep world of fiction which explains everything that you see, but we aren't ones to spoil the surprise.
However what we can tell you is that one survivor on our travels referred to a war before the widespread ruin, which unleashed a new biological weapon onto the world. We can't confirm whether the old man was right in his historical preachings, but it would explain the strange enemies we ran into. There was no mention of who shot first and why, but we wouldn't be surprised - especially judging from 4A Game's previous games - if Moscow was ground zero.
Our time outside the station posed more questions than it did answers, but we immediately understood why THQ are putting so much faith into this title. The claustrophobic underground is complemented by the overground sections which are just as atmospheric and even more frightening. The visuals looked absolutely outstanding as well and emulate a level of detail which immediately immerses you into the world. Not only this, but the spectacular lighting effects helped to create one of the most realistic and powerful sunsets we've ever seen in a game.
Our first few hours with Metro 2033 left us clamouring for more. The impressive fiction, oppressive atmosphere and fun gameplay resulted in an experience where we were constantly guessing what could happen next.
We can't wait to sit down with it again in the near future.
Metro 2033 coverage available in PCGZine Issue 39 - click here to download it for free!
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