Metro 2033: Redux Review

My computer groaned like a 90-year old weightlifter when I played Metro: Redux. Was it worth the trouble?

Definitely.

 Set in a world ravaged by nuclear war, Metro: Redux follows the adventures (or nightmares, for the more pessimistic) of a young man named Artyom. Nuclear bombs have made the surface uninhabitable, leaving the citizens of Russia no choice but to retreat to the country’s underground infrastructure. Even underground, the Russians are still in constant danger. Savage, mutated wildlife regularly attack the citizens, decimating camps and spreading fear throughout every colony. Artyom’s camp is the latest to be raided, finally motivating action to repel the mutant threat, as well as face the existence of a new, extremely powerful threat: the Dark Ones. Diving any deeper might lead to the spoiling of vital info, but just know this: you don’t want to [insert expletive here] with the Dark Ones.

Recently turned 20, Artyom is ready to leave the camp and blaze his own trails. Given an order from the higher ups in the defense force, Artyom is to deliver a plea for help to a man named Miller in Polis, the largest city in the Metro. With luck, Miller will send troops to reinforce the northern territory.

With luck, we’ll make it to Polis in one piece.

The first aspect of the game that jumped out at me was the insane visuals. Before I dive any further though, let me issue a warning: your computer will melt if it is not properly ventilated. I was able to run the game on max settings, but my room quickly turned into an oven. Out of fear of destroying my rig, I was forced to play the game in short, 1-2 hour bursts. Of course, I could’ve turned the graphics down, but come on. This is Metro: Redux, the definitive graphical version of the game. Playing on anything less than max settings would be a disservice.

Besides, now I know I won’t have to spend money on a heater during the winter.

The game is, simply put, beautiful. I was pleasantly surprised by the detailed environments, even in such a drab world. Artyom’s camp, accented with warm browns and lazy yellows, gave off a lovable, homey atmosphere. The ominous, creeping darkness of the tunnels added a special layer of suspense to the game. I even felt a sort of sadness as I trekked along the surface, knowing that the snowy landscape was as beautiful as it was toxic.

Combat in Metro: Redux can be quite terrifying, in a twistedly amazing way. Ammo in the game is very scarce, leaving the player in dire straits if he/she cannot learn to ration. It is extremely hard, however, to ration when you’re being swarmed by a pack of mutants. Not many games put an emphasis on this, and Metro: Redux did a great job with creating frenetic, brutal, calculated gunplay.

A very unique concept is the game’s currency: the aforementioned precious, scarce ammo. Bullets are as vital in combat as they are in grungy camp armories. I loved the decision making, adding another level of immersion in Metro. When the world has gone to hell, what is a more precious commodity than a few bullets?

Stealth, although not a very central part of the game, is still quite the intriguing aspect. For a few brief periods throughout the game, Artyom has to make his way through dens of unsuspecting enemies (mainly other humans). Running in guns blazing is always an option, but rarely a smart one.

I quite enjoyed the stealth sequences, as they added a nice break from the usual gunplay. Enemy AI reacted surprisingly realistically to my presence. For example, in one room full of enemies, I fired a silenced weapon to dispatch a foe. In a completely silent room, even a silenced weapon will make be quite audible. His comrade across the hall came to scope out the scene, and consequently faced a similar demise.

The AI, however, seemed almost too smart at times. If I was fighting a guy in one room (even with a nearly silenced pneumatic rifle, in close quarters combat), his buddies two rooms away almost instantly came charging through the door, knowing my exact location. I had a good laugh at this, but those playing on high difficulties might not find the AI’s supersonic hearing very comical.

Another gripe I had with Metro: Redux was the unoriginality of most of the characters. The characters in the game left much to be desired, and I did not feel connected to any of Artyom’s allies, save the unpredictable drunk, Borboun. The game, however, seems to encourage a growing a sense of isolation, so I can partially forgive the developers in this field.

The game includes the super hard Spartan and Hardcore modes, plus a much milder survival mode. This will do a great job in attracting the daring masochists, but also accommodating  the casual gamer.

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed Metro: Redux. The game’s atmosphere, brutal combat, and amazing graphics all aided in making a great experience. I love how Artyom does not speak (except during the loading screens), allowing players to draw their own conclusions about the game’s events. I normally don’t indulge in the survival horror genre, but I had immense fun playing through Metro: Redux.