Welcome to our chronological order and guide about Metro video games. This game franchise is based on the novel by Dmitry Glukhovsky, which was published in 2005. A sequel was published in 2009 entitled Metro 2034, while the final book of the trilogy came in 2015 (Metro 2035).
It tells a very dark story of a post-apocalyptic world, and the main setting unfolds in Moscow, Russia, although there are are several other regions that form part of the story. And the story takes the reader underground, seeing there is not much left on the surface.
A company in Ukraine, 4A Games, took the popular novel and turned it into the video game series so many players have enjoyed over the years.
In total, four titles have been released in the video game department of the Metro 2033 franchise. And this post is going to cover these titles, starting with the first in the series and gradually reaching the latest release.
Expect to learn about the plot, the gameplay, and even how the majority of players reacted to the series as it kept evolving.
1. Metro 2033 (2010)
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Out of all the magical places a game can transport players, there is a dark need to get thrown into hopeless and depressing situations.
This is exactly what Metro 2033 aims to do. Instead of exploring breathtaking scenery, the player is mostly confined to a tunnel system underneath the streets of Moscow.
You are launched into a future where war has forced survivors into these tunnels, while creatures (Dark Ones) haunt the surface. But there is more to fear than the creatures on the surface. Different factions, including cannibals, are inevitably going to cross paths with the player.
You take on the character of Artyom, a young man that lost his mother to a horde of flesh-eating rats when he was a baby.
After being rescued by a military officer named Sukhoi, he grows up as part of the VDNKh group while accepting Sukhoi as his father.
But Artyom’s predictable life of patrolling tunnels and working in mushroom factories quickly change when the Dark Ones start undertaking more aggressive attacks – inside the metro system.
– Gameplay And Graphics:
You see the world through the eyes of Artyom in a first-person position. And do not expect a lot of action during the initial phases of the game.
In fact, this is not the type of shooter game where busting down doors or emptying your gun gets you very far.
In order to progress, players have to be smart. And sometimes, playing it smart means hiding in the shadows.
Why? Because your enemies are tough, dangerous, and you have very limited supplies to defeat them.
You really have to choose your battles well if you want to reach the end. Traditional weapons can be used and not-so-traditional weapons are available too.
The overall story and pace are done well enough to keep you intrigued. And it is clear that a great amount of effort went into building the characters you meet along the way.
You can even say the game tries very hard to establish the depressing and dark atmosphere associated with the novel.
And when Metro 2033 was released back in 2010, it definitely exploited weaker graphic cards. This is because the look and feel of the game are vital elements in how much players ultimately enjoyed it.
– Player Reception
For the most part, players and critics loved the initial release. The plot, the sense of horror, and the finer details within the surroundings are just some of the things mentioned in the positive reviews.
But no game is perfect and certain aspects were criticized. For example, some players felt the artificial intelligence could have been better, while other players experienced buggy graphics.
2. Metro: Last Light (2013)
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The story of Artyom continues in the direct sequel, entitled Metro: Last Light. The author of the novels stepped in to create the story as well as the dialogue, and he did not disappoint.
After Artyom destroys the Dark Ones in Metro 2033, the focus shifts to seizing the D6 district within the metro system.
The year is 2034 and Artyom is part of the neutral Rangers group, which inhabits a section of D6. He is struggling to find peace after killing the Dark Ones while the word is spreading about the riches within D6 – which has not been fully explored yet.
In other words, other dangerous factions are hell-bent on taking D6 for themselves.
– Gameplay And Graphics:
The creators of the first game did not try to reinvent the winning recipe they had. Instead, they stuck to their guns and kept everything eerie and atmospheric.
Although several improvements were made. A good example of these improvements includes more powerful weapons, as well as smoother shooting mechanics. The design team also refined the AI section of the game to better adapt to player choices.
Of course, you still need a gas mask to walk the surface, and this presents a challenge all by itself. Like in the first game, air canisters are very important and the mask can take damage during fights. Also, expect the same hardships of scavaging for ammo/supplies while using a stealth approach most of the time.
– Player Reception:
Metro: Last Light did not disappoint fans or critics. In fact, the game gained more followers because of the important tweaks, such as enhancing the overall combat while setting a realistic world to move in. The AI, on the other hand, received some critique and graphic bugs were still relevant.
3. Metro Redux (2014)
Metro Redux is not a new addition to the series. Instead, it is a remastered package deal featuring Metro 2033 and Last Light.
The developers took both titles and made some enhancements, hoping to fix some errors as they made the games more graphically appealing.
Given that Metro 2033 gained a reputation for being a flawed masterpiece, it only made sense that an overall eventually followed.
And it appears that the mission for the developers was to bring the first title up to the same level as the sequel.
4. Metro Exodus (2019)
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Metro Exodus continues where Last Light ended. And as you can expect, more interesting gameplay elements have been added.
The protagonist of the game, Artyom, is struggling to come to terms with all the fighting. And he becomes obsessed with finding life outside the metros, which sees him breaking away from his faction as he explores more and more of the surface.
Naturally, this leads to trouble, gunfights, and coming into close contact with dangerous cult groups.
– Gameplay And Graphics
The developers of the game stayed true to the atmospheric settings used for the previous titles. But they also tried to make Exodus competitive with other games in the same genre.
For example, crafting weapons with items found during scavenges adds to the appeal of the game. Then you get the seasonal changes as time passes in the game.
Players can also expect day/night cycles, as well as sandbox settings for completing linear storylines.
Two expansion packs were released for Exodus, namely Two Colonels and Sam’s Story. More importantly, the central elements that made the first title so popular are still relevant in the latest release.
– Player Reception
It is not surprising that both critics and players found Exodus to be a great game overall. And just like the previous titles, Exodus was a commercial success, especially on PS4. So, it is safe to assume that players who enjoy Metro 2033 are very likely to love Exodus.
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