Metro 2033 Demo

The atmosphere is definitely one of the most important elements in a first-person shooter, especially if the game in question wants to relay a certain kind of story, whether it's a post-apocalyptic scenario, or a distant planet filled with unknown aliens. Whenever the first options comes up, however, developers have a hard time conveying the right blend of gameplay and story, not to mention the player interaction with the environment and the world itself. Hence, beside the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series, not a lot of other FPS games got the composition right.

Metro 2033 is a serious contender, on the other hand, since it manages to depict a fascinating universe and create a unique atmosphere, using a combination of horror, survival and first-person shooter mechanics. Just like S.T.A.L.K.E.R., the game is based on a book and it takes most of its ideas from there, which is not at all a bad thing, especially when you consider the fact that the end result is definitely worth the effort and it is always a good thing to see books come to life as something else.

Hence, the world of Metro revolves around a group of people who have survived the environmental apocalypse by taking shelter in Moscow's metro tunnels, where they managed to stay alive and even form primitive communities, amongst which it is possible to trade food, clothing and weapons. However, there are also those who venture outside from time to time, whether to look for supplies, or to see if anything else has survived the weather outside and if it is safe for the rest of the people to move back outside.

At one point, this camp is assaulted by a pack of vicious mutated animals, which cause a lot of victims and basically decimate the establishment. Luckily, some made it out alive and they choose one young soldier as the messenger, in order to send him to another community and warn them about the incoming attack before it is too late. Obviously, this young soldier is played by you and his name is Artem, a relatively inexperienced survivor that has a long journey ahead of him.

There are many things that just click right with the game's mechanics, including the actual shooting and the usage of your basic equipment. Beside rifles, pistols and the usual grenades, there are some other tools that come in handy in the heavily radiated outside world, such as the gas mask. Although it is possible to survive without it for a short while, you are more or less bound to die if you do not find shelter soon after it gets broken, or when you run out of oxygen in the tank.

The level design is truly magnificent, thanks to the extraordinary graphics engine that's quite capable of rendering impressive amounts of detail, sublime lighting effects and high-resolution textures for basically every object present in the game. The sound effects also contribute greatly to the atmosphere, whether it's the wind outside, or the creepy sounds you hear while exploring the abandoned and dark tunnels underneath the city.

Metro 2033 is truly a gem of the genre, especially when it comes to atmosphere, gameplay and graphics. However, the key element remains the fact that the developers managed to relay the central idea of the book, while also borrowing slightly more modern elements from triple-A shooters out on the market. Thus, it manages to both look great and feel functional, all without losing its charm and the meaning behind the story.