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REVIEW: Metro 2033 (360)
13 years ago
METRO 2033 (360)
Genre: FPS/Survival
Developer: 4A Games
Publisher: THQ
Players: 1
Played for: around 10 hours
Today I'm reviewing a quite peculiar FPS that, rather than focusing on shooting, takes a lot of stealth and survival elements into play, going for the philosophy of "the less you shoot, the better".
But let's start explaining the game itself. Instead of the usual american-centric FPS, this one is set in Russia, Moscow and, more specificly, mostly in the maze-like galleries that form the metroline of the city that, after a worldwide nuclear disaster, became the refuge of the survivors, who set towns in different stations, defending themselves from the mutations spawned from the nukes.
The player takes the control of a boy in his 20s who never saw the outside light and who'll be forced into a mission that will have him go against both mutants and other humans as well as finding out the truth behind a new kind of mutant infesting the galleries.
from the graphical standpoint we have quite the impressive game, making use of very good atmospheric lightning and well-crafted 3d models. What really struck me though is how, despite the nature of the setting, the developers never fall in the danger of giving a repetitive layout or look to the locations of the game.
Usually games like this have the problem of feeling very linear as well as not giving a great variety in level design, yet Metro 2033, despite being mostly located in the galleries and stations of the metroline, gets to have, not only impressive sights and various settings and layouts, but also feels very realistic and natural in its own setting, presenting levels that can feel claustrophobic and cramped for the tight and dark atmosphere, but at the same time giving quite a lot to explore...the levels aren't an open world, but it isn't difficult getting lost if one doesn't check the diary a lot (wich has a way to tell the player where to go in case of getting lost) and also rewards exploration as bullets and other useful items can be found to increase the players' supplies.
The outside locations look very impressive too as well as giving an open feeling. Thankfully there's that way to know where to go or it'd be easy for the player to get lost or go the wrong way and, in outside locations, it can prove deadly, given how most of the time the player will be wearing a gas mask with limited time of use.
Now, moving onto the gameplay, like I said, this FPS heavily focuses on stealth and survival elements. I'd compare this game to Bioshock, but it'd be a very loose comparison, as this game has its own identity and the only one thing that they share is the ability to actually buy weapons and bullets. Bullets actually play an important role in this game as they are not only used for weapons, but are also the currency to buy stuff from the merchants in the game.
Military bullets in particular are very valuable, but at the same time are also more effective in weapons, giving the player the dilemma of choosing if to keep the bullets to buy stuff or use them to have more effective weapons. the strategic/survival elements don't end here as the bullets are already quite scarce around the game and the only way to get them beside buying them in the few stations, is scavenging for them from dead bodies and exploring the levels...this without counting the sections in wich the player will have to wear a gas mask to survive, giving a very thrilling sense of time limit as well as being very vulnerable since, if unlucky, theenemies will be able to damage your mask, making it hard to see or even break it!
Many times the player will also be able to choose if be sneaky or shoot his way out of the situation, or simply run for it if the situation is that desperate...shooting isn't always the best option and it's also a choice that can affect the game ending (though this isn't said in the game, wich is a bit of a thing that irked me), so the atmosphere of the locations as well as the multiple dangers and factors heaving on the player, makes the game feel a lot more like a survival, being almost totally helpless, always on the verge of being with few bullets or close to die or finish the air supply. Developers made an amazing work at being sure the player always feels pressured or in anxiety, while also avoiding making the game too frustrating.
The story of the game, being based on a popular sci-fi book is better than the average FPS and, while everything is seen through the eyes of the player, the game doesn't fall in the same pit of Oblivion that made the events feel clunky and anti-climatic. on the contrary, many times the events are made so that the player feels part of them, going as far as giving moments of panic and scare more than once, thinking you're gonna die before realizing you're going through a story event. the game world also feels well-crafted, so much that it made me want to read the book now :D
The soundtrack of the game is mostly absent and mostly atmospheric, even if the main theme of the game will probably stick with many players, kinda bringing the spirit of the game world with itself.
The game can be cleared in around 10 hours or so, being of average lenght as shooter, but also not feeling like a rushed experience...it's a great example of the survival genre, wich had seen very few games this generation, where everything is based on the "shoot on sight" philosophy and certainly a different experience...I look forward to the sequel, Metro: Last Light on Wii U, hoping it improves what has been shown in this game :D so I give this game a...
8.8/10
missing the 9.0 landmark just for a few personal quirks, I look forward to see what the sequel will do ^^ every shooter/survival fan should play this! see ya with the next review!
Genre: FPS/Survival
Developer: 4A Games
Publisher: THQ
Players: 1
Played for: around 10 hours
Today I'm reviewing a quite peculiar FPS that, rather than focusing on shooting, takes a lot of stealth and survival elements into play, going for the philosophy of "the less you shoot, the better".
But let's start explaining the game itself. Instead of the usual american-centric FPS, this one is set in Russia, Moscow and, more specificly, mostly in the maze-like galleries that form the metroline of the city that, after a worldwide nuclear disaster, became the refuge of the survivors, who set towns in different stations, defending themselves from the mutations spawned from the nukes.
The player takes the control of a boy in his 20s who never saw the outside light and who'll be forced into a mission that will have him go against both mutants and other humans as well as finding out the truth behind a new kind of mutant infesting the galleries.
from the graphical standpoint we have quite the impressive game, making use of very good atmospheric lightning and well-crafted 3d models. What really struck me though is how, despite the nature of the setting, the developers never fall in the danger of giving a repetitive layout or look to the locations of the game.
Usually games like this have the problem of feeling very linear as well as not giving a great variety in level design, yet Metro 2033, despite being mostly located in the galleries and stations of the metroline, gets to have, not only impressive sights and various settings and layouts, but also feels very realistic and natural in its own setting, presenting levels that can feel claustrophobic and cramped for the tight and dark atmosphere, but at the same time giving quite a lot to explore...the levels aren't an open world, but it isn't difficult getting lost if one doesn't check the diary a lot (wich has a way to tell the player where to go in case of getting lost) and also rewards exploration as bullets and other useful items can be found to increase the players' supplies.
The outside locations look very impressive too as well as giving an open feeling. Thankfully there's that way to know where to go or it'd be easy for the player to get lost or go the wrong way and, in outside locations, it can prove deadly, given how most of the time the player will be wearing a gas mask with limited time of use.
Now, moving onto the gameplay, like I said, this FPS heavily focuses on stealth and survival elements. I'd compare this game to Bioshock, but it'd be a very loose comparison, as this game has its own identity and the only one thing that they share is the ability to actually buy weapons and bullets. Bullets actually play an important role in this game as they are not only used for weapons, but are also the currency to buy stuff from the merchants in the game.
Military bullets in particular are very valuable, but at the same time are also more effective in weapons, giving the player the dilemma of choosing if to keep the bullets to buy stuff or use them to have more effective weapons. the strategic/survival elements don't end here as the bullets are already quite scarce around the game and the only way to get them beside buying them in the few stations, is scavenging for them from dead bodies and exploring the levels...this without counting the sections in wich the player will have to wear a gas mask to survive, giving a very thrilling sense of time limit as well as being very vulnerable since, if unlucky, theenemies will be able to damage your mask, making it hard to see or even break it!
Many times the player will also be able to choose if be sneaky or shoot his way out of the situation, or simply run for it if the situation is that desperate...shooting isn't always the best option and it's also a choice that can affect the game ending (though this isn't said in the game, wich is a bit of a thing that irked me), so the atmosphere of the locations as well as the multiple dangers and factors heaving on the player, makes the game feel a lot more like a survival, being almost totally helpless, always on the verge of being with few bullets or close to die or finish the air supply. Developers made an amazing work at being sure the player always feels pressured or in anxiety, while also avoiding making the game too frustrating.
The story of the game, being based on a popular sci-fi book is better than the average FPS and, while everything is seen through the eyes of the player, the game doesn't fall in the same pit of Oblivion that made the events feel clunky and anti-climatic. on the contrary, many times the events are made so that the player feels part of them, going as far as giving moments of panic and scare more than once, thinking you're gonna die before realizing you're going through a story event. the game world also feels well-crafted, so much that it made me want to read the book now :D
The soundtrack of the game is mostly absent and mostly atmospheric, even if the main theme of the game will probably stick with many players, kinda bringing the spirit of the game world with itself.
The game can be cleared in around 10 hours or so, being of average lenght as shooter, but also not feeling like a rushed experience...it's a great example of the survival genre, wich had seen very few games this generation, where everything is based on the "shoot on sight" philosophy and certainly a different experience...I look forward to the sequel, Metro: Last Light on Wii U, hoping it improves what has been shown in this game :D so I give this game a...
8.8/10
missing the 9.0 landmark just for a few personal quirks, I look forward to see what the sequel will do ^^ every shooter/survival fan should play this! see ya with the next review!
So if you're a Nintendo chu, can you help me out here? My 360 just pooped the bed and now all I've got is a Wii, but as far as I know the only games that are really worth buying for it are the Super Mario Galaxies, Super Smash Brothers, the Mario Karts, and the Zeldas.