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  • Subject: Metro 2033 [My Review]
Subject: Metro 2033 [My Review]

OMGZZ!!!!!!

"It's Afghanistanimation!"

Since THQ is giving out this game for free and there are so many new players to this game. I thought that I would completely rewrite my old review on the game, and go more in depth. Don't worry, I keep it spoiler free as always...

CODE:
VTMXX-ZKDB5-DQQLW

I believe that you can redeem that on Steam.
__________________________

It has been several years since this game was released. Many "OFFICIAL" reviewers did not really know what to make of this game. Some did not understand it, so they gave it a lower score than it deserved. Others loved it and praised its effort at being different.

Many people like myself believe that this game is a highly unique gem among a crowded market. It is a slow paced, post apocalyptic survival horror FPS that teeters on the brink of glorious magnificence!

You are a young man named Artyom. A survivor of the nuclear fires that destroyed Moscow and forced its inhabitants to seek refuge in the underground Metro stations. Things go from terrible, to nightmare when these mysterious creatures called "The Dark Ones," threaten your home station of Exhibition. These creatures are supernatural in nature, they do not kill with brute force like many other beings. Instead, they can damage a victims mind and turn them insane. Why does this happen? I will not tell you! But it is very interesting when you find out... If you find out.

The story that is presented in Metro 2033 is very bleak and resembles humanities struggle to survive in a place where they are no longer on top of the food chain. It is based upon a novel of the same name (great book) and the writer worked closely with the development team to really nail this game!

The story presents the player with some incite into how bad life is underground. The claustrophobic, filthy halls are filled to the point of overflow with people. Its small, intrusive and can really make you feel sympathy for these people. Throughout the story you meet and partner up with some interesting characters. You find a man named Bourbon which is ironic because he is a drunk... Later you meet a mysterious man named Khan. In the novel, he is presented as a "hippie" type man, but here he is like the watchful eye and all knowing elder of the Metro. Walking with him gives you great knowledge of what happened and explains the lore is great detail.

Characters are not all that make this games story work. It is also filled to the brim with tense, heart pounding moments that strangely make you want to relive it. One part you will be dodging these flying beasts called Demons, the next you will come face to face with the most terrifying creature ever! The Librarians! These beats stand tall over you and can deal out, and take massive amounts of damage. DO NOT TURN YOUR BACK TO THEM! Keep them in site at all times and move slowly...

As you trek from one point to the next, subtle choices will make themselves available. They do not come out with an obvious tone or alert, so you need to pay attention. Making these choices can unlock an alternate ending for the game that feels more rewarding and satisfying than the original. It is really hard to get, so be attentive.

Overall the story for Metro 2033 is very good. It is not going to present obvious emotions to you like most games. It leaves that up to you and your imagination. It has its moments where it can be loose focus, but the overall bleak tone stays with you the entire time.

There is also loads of story within the beautiful world the game takes place in. The decimated city of Moscow is frozen over with ice and snow, and the air is contaminated so badly that it is poison to even try and breathe it in. Every detail in this game feels as if it where hand crafted and that objects were all placed with meaning. Not with the philosophy "lets have a bush for the sake of having a bush!"

It just did not go that way, and it was a great choice to do take this much care. You see bodies of dead STALKERS, Rangers, etc among the wastes. All of them died in horrifying ways that are terrible to describe. They tend to mean supplies are around, so you are forced to gaze at their Rat eaten corpses while taking their ammo. Sometimes it can even be an alert that danger is coming.

Everything is just so well detailed and constructed that it is simply the most beautiful game that I have ever seen. Too bad that it is HORRIBLY optimized for the PC. You will need a 460 GTX to even run this on High with DX10 and still get a 50+ FPS. Anything below, and you have to downgrade. I can turn this game up all the way, but the frame rate commits suicide when everything loads.

This game is a performance hog to the bitter end. If your PC can run this on Max settings at 60FPS, then my hats off to you. Others will be glad to know that this game is NOT a PC exclusive. You can pick it up on the Xbox 360 for cheep now if you can find it. The visuals are noticeably turned down for the console, however, it still manages to be breathtaking on the old goat. Whenever the sequel Last Light releases early next year, I hope that it runs far better than this one.

"That is great news Brute, but, how does it play?" Well friend, it is NOT for run and gun people with zero capacity for patience. You have to be cautious at all times because you are vulnerable and are not an unstoppable killer. Metro 2033 is a challenging game that will test your mental abilities for stealth and when to fight. Running up to the nearest Human enemy will more than likely result in your immediate plowing. Enemies are deadly, accurate, and are a force to be reckoned with in numbers. The AI can be very dodgy for Humans; they may stay in cover and never ever move, or they may see you when you are clearly hidden.

That being said, Hit detection is also a problem. You can clearly aim and fire at them, but sometimes the hit will not register. This happens to Mutants and Humans alike. They can turn into bullet sponges that can frustrate you when you just want to move on... But, there is also a good side to it. All of this can build tension and create a desperate fight for your life.

You can pick up weapons off dead humans but a majority of them will either have what you already do, or yours is better. You can purchase them at shops when ever your are in a safe Metro station. They range from one pistol type, four assault rifles, and several special Pneumatic weapons. These weapons are very deadly and useful for stealth and quick take downs. If you want them however, you are going to need Bullets! Bullets are the games currency. Not just any one will do by the way, you need that shiny military grade ammo that you find laying around the game. You can use them as money for supplies and weapons, but, you can load them in your rifle for extra damage at the cost of loosing money.

It is very unique to have your ammo in the same category as money. This may force you to think wise about attacking when on harder difficulties.

Metro 2033 is a fantastic game despite its many problems. You will love its 12+ hour story that dives deep into survival messages and the cost of living in world as an endangered species. The visuals are downright breathtaking on PC and sometimes on the 360, but, it is a high performance diva. If you are wanting a slower paced game that is challenging. Then give this a try.

FINAL VERDICT: Metro 2033 gets an A-.

Like what you see? Check our Brute Reviews for more.

  • 12.12.2012 12:35 PM PDT

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Great review!

I played it when if first came out and I've gotta say it was an amazing game.

  • 12.12.2012 12:38 PM PDT

tl;dr the game is a 10/10

  • 12.12.2012 12:38 PM PDT
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"The hero is the one who kindles a great light in the world, who sets up blazing torches in the dark streets of life for men to see by.
The saint is the man who walks through the dark paths of the world, himself a light."
-Felix Adler

AI were pretty dumb, but it was a great game.

  • 12.12.2012 12:39 PM PDT
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"It's not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me"

- Batman

I kind of liked the game, but




[SPOILERS!]





I didn't like how the dark ones turned out to be good, and that saving them was the good ending. I felt so great as I shot down the one who was charging me, and thus nuking their city only to find out that was the evil ending.



[END SPOILERS!]




In any case, I liked the game, but it was a bit strange, and I wish the stealth option was more developed. When the new game comes out I hope you can complete it without killing any humans.

Edit: I'm also a big fan of your reviews, and your website is looking great at the moment. Keep this up and you will probably be spotted by a reviewing site (especially if you start doing well produced video reviews, see http://Blisteredthumbs.net for examples).

[Edited on 12.12.2012 12:49 PM PST]

  • 12.12.2012 12:46 PM PDT

OMGZZ!!!!!!

"It's Afghanistanimation!"


Posted by: JFKES


Edit: I'm also a big fan of your reviews, and your website is looking great at the moment. Keep this up and you will probably be spotted by a reviewing site (especially if you start doing well produced video reviews, see http://Blisteredthumbs.net for examples).
I would LOVE to do Video Reviews. But I lack to editing knowledge and equipment to do it.

  • 12.12.2012 12:50 PM PDT

Posted by: JFKES
I kind of liked the game, but




[SPOILERS!]





I didn't like how the dark ones turned out to be good, and that saving them was the good ending. I felt so great as I shot down the one who was charging me, and thus nuking their city only to find out that was the evil ending.



[END SPOILERS!]




In any case, I liked the game, but it was a bit strange, and I wish the stealth option was more developed. When the new game comes out I hope you can complete it without killing any humans.


They did confirm you can know knock out humans non-lethally. As for the good ending, my interpretation was that they weren't 'good' but they weren't 'evil' like Khan suggests about fire or anomalies. The only reason they fried the brains of humans was because they were trying to communicate with them telepathically and Artyom was the only known person that could somewhat understand them.

[Edited on 12.12.2012 1:01 PM PST]

  • 12.12.2012 12:50 PM PDT

OMGZZ!!!!!!

"It's Afghanistanimation!"


Posted by: Hunterwoot
Posted by: JFKES
I kind of liked the game, but




[SPOILERS!]





I didn't like how the dark ones turned out to be good, and that saving them was the good ending. I felt so great as I shot down the one who was charging me, and thus nuking their city only to find out that was the evil ending.



[END SPOILERS!]




In any case, I liked the game, but it was a bit strange, and I wish the stealth option was more developed. When the new game comes out I hope you can complete it without killing any humans.


They did confirm you can know knock out humans non-lethally. As for the good ending, my interpretation was that they weren't 'good' but they weren't 'evil' like Khan suggests about fire or anomalies. The only reason they fried the brains of humans was because they were trying to communicate with the telepathically and Artyom was the only known person that could somewhat understand them.
Exactly my thoughts. Like when you try to do something with good intentions, but end up hurting more than helping.

  • 12.12.2012 12:52 PM PDT

Posted by: AngryBrute1
Exactly my thoughts. Like when you try to do something with good intentions, but end up hurting more than helping.


Somewhat my point. It is odd, you'd think the Dark Ones would notice they literally scrambled human's brains and were always attacked on sight and stop trying to interact or maybe they knew one day they would find someone capable of understanding them and that made it worth it to them in the end. But who knows, that's all speculation on my part.

[Edited on 12.12.2012 12:59 PM PST]

  • 12.12.2012 12:59 PM PDT
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Don't do anything you wouldn't want to have to explain to paramedics. Trust me, I'm a pilot.

Great review. I read the book before I played the game, and I found the game to be fairly consistent with the novel.

  • 12.12.2012 1:02 PM PDT

OMGZZ!!!!!!

"It's Afghanistanimation!"


Posted by: Hunterwoot
Posted by: AngryBrute1
Exactly my thoughts. Like when you try to do something with good intentions, but end up hurting more than helping.


Somewhat my point. It is odd, you'd think the Dark Ones would notice they literally scrambled human's brains and were always attacked on sight and stop trying to interact or maybe they knew one day they would find someone capable of understanding them and that made it worth it to them in the end. But who knows, that's all speculation on my part.
Self interpretative is great. I wonder why they will be back in the new game...

  • 12.12.2012 1:05 PM PDT

Don't know if anyone has read this but its a great read about all the little details and 'choice' they're continuing to add to the series.

http://www.polygon.com/2012/12/11/3754794/metro?utm_source=So cial&utm_medium=General&utm_campaign=Metro

  • 12.12.2012 1:08 PM PDT
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the will to win is the will to destroy

Don't know if you have read the book or not but i advise that you do it is great makes you wish the game could have been more though.

  • 12.12.2012 1:13 PM PDT

OMGZZ!!!!!!

"It's Afghanistanimation!"


Posted by: LocknLoader2K8
Don't know if you have read the book or not but i advise that you do it is great makes you wish the game could have been more though.
I bet so. Especially when you learn why happened to Artyoms mother.

  • 12.12.2012 1:33 PM PDT

OMGZZ!!!!!!

"It's Afghanistanimation!"


Posted by: Hunterwoot
Don't know if anyone has read this but its a great read about all the little details and 'choice' they're continuing to add to the series.

http://www.polygon.com/2012/12/11/3754794/metro?utm_source=So cial&utm_medium=General&utm_campaign=Metro
Thanks for sharing that mate. Very interesting!

  • 12.12.2012 2:01 PM PDT