Metro 2033: Another Outstanding Post-Apocalyptic Game

     This time, I will be talking about another post-apocalyptic game called Metro 2033, which was developed by 4A Games. Metro 2033 was originally a Russian novel written by Dmitry Glukhovsky. The book talks about the adventure of a man named Artyom, who lives in the post-apocalyptic world where the surface of the earth is now inhabitable and people in Moscow are now living in the underground metro. Only after a few months of living underground, people in Moscow have begun to realize that the city they have left is no longer abandoned. Mysterious creatures with unknown origin started appearing on the surface of Moscow and attacked any human on sight. After they have taken almost full control of the surface, they have begun to, slowly, move down underground. After many years of fighting and protecting their last territory, mankind under Moscow are beginning to lose.

     The story starts with a man named Artyom, who is living in the station VDNKh. He wakes up one day and finds his friend, Hunter, returning from the surface to spread news. Hunter says that he learn that the creatures have leaders which he called them, the Dark Ones, and that he have a plan to destroy these Dark Ones and force away all the creatures. However, the leaders of VDNKh Station refuse to give any aid to this plan, due to that they cannot risk losing anymore men than they already have. Hunter, then, before leaving VDNKh, asks Artyom a promise that should he not return to VDNKh, then Artyom must go to Polis Station and inform the council about the Dark Ones. As expected, Hunter does not return, thus begins Artyom's adventure to Polis Station.

     4A Games did an impressive job on a very oppressive atmosphere and, in my opinion, a very stressful game experience. Not all enemies are the creatures, bandits and the Reds will open fire at the player on sight. Most of the time, the player will be travelling alone in the dark railway stations, therefore flash light is not an option. The player will need to be very careful on how he or she decide to venture through the railway; he or she must choose when to use night vision goggles, when to use lighters, when to use flash light, when to use gas masks, and many other considerations including avoiding traps and breakables, because one mistake and the player will be swarmed with enemies. Night vision goggles, flash light, and other equipment have limited batteries, therefore, the player will have to keep charging these tools using the universal charger, which requires time and effort. Currency used in this place is bullets, therefore, the player will have to be specially careful with conserving ammunition. Looting dead bodies is also not an option, even with your dead companion, for supplies are very scarce outside of each stations and every single bullet or oxygen canister counts.

     Equipment, such as gas mask, can be damaged through gun fights, therefore, choosing between stealth and non-stealth along with types of guns play a huge role of surviving in Metro 2033. A straight forward shotgun or machine gun seems to be a good way to waste ammunition on all enemies the player encounters, thus more and easier way to loot and collect valuables. However, a silent sniper rifle or a crossbow would seems, in my opinion, a much better way to pass enemies without emptying out all of your ammunition, thus your money, thought picking up valuables near living enemies appears to be much harder. Through all these factors and considerations, 4A Games makes Metro 2033 a very intense and stressful game to play, however, it forces the player to think carefully on every actions that the player will carry, thus making the game very realistic and interesting.

(post before new assignment announcement)
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