- Sourabh Ingale
- Mar 11, 2019
- 7 min read
NOWHERE is truly safe in the world of Metro Exodus. Set two years after the events of Metro: Last Light, Exodus places players in the dirt covered shoes of series protagonist Artyom. A special forces soldier, Artyom and his wife Anna live in a world under the belief that only the citizens of Moscow survived the end of the world. However, this assumption is shattered early on when a massive steam train comes roaring through the city. One thing leads to another and eventually, Artyom, Anna, and a crew of Spartan Rangers finds themselves on a steam locomotive dubbed the Aurora.
This game goes out of its way to make you feel vulnerable, If the mutated monstrosities roaming the landscape or clans of humans who have thrown morality to the wind don’t get you, then the very air will. Almost everything you touch has been poisoned in some way by this nuclear-induced apocalypse. Whether physically or mentally, the end of the world has affected everything and it’s your mission to travel across Russia with only a few allies, some bullets, and a dream. Like the previous entries in this franchise, Metro Exodus pushes a character-driven story that largely revolves around Artyom and his relationships with the other crew members. Most of the supernatural aspects have been wisely shoved to the background allowing for a less confusing and more streamlined plot. This makes Exodus easier to enjoy and more accessible for those unfamiliar with this series former entries.
Metro Exodus biggest draw is the story and the characters who accompany yours during your journey. Not just your fellow Spartan rangers, as you’ll encounter more NPCs along the way, some of which will stay with you. As the story unfolds, it grips you, compelling you to keep playing. You’ll experience a huge variety of emotions, especially if you’ve played the previous games and if you’re someone who grows attached to your digital comrades. By the time the credits rolled, I was heart-wrenched. I felt something a very few narrative driven first person shooters has made me feel, EMPTINESS. Emptiness because I wanted to stay in that world, I wanted to experience it more. The immersion was so great to a point where Artyom and I became one and that’s something not a lot of immersive games can accomplish, and I have to credit 4A Games for crafting a game so profound and amazing.
Yes, the story is really depressing most of the time. Yet during it all, there’s always this glimmer of hope and it’s that hope that keeps the characters going. It’s what drives and motivates you as the player to strive to do what’s best for you and the people around you. You basically give or take goes on a 30+ hour of journey through Russia which is broken up into four distinct acts. Each section sees the crew of the Aurora arrive in a new location, two of which are mini-open worlds that can be freely explored. The remaining two offer a far more linear experience, but they are engaging and open enough to warrant repeat playthroughs. All of the acts are tied to a corresponding season, which not only influences the weather but gives a nice visual sense of progression.
LET’S TALK ABOUT THE NEW OPEN WORLD SYSTEM.
Unlike the previous titles, Metro Exodus is a completely different beast in terms of gameplay. While the linear gameplay is still present, with the sandbox world implemented, exploration is now a huge factor. These “mini-open” worlds serve as the backbone for Metro Exodus’ exploration and choice-driven gameplay. Once players are let off their leash, they are free to roam and visit any location on their map, regardless of what gear they possess. Each of the four major locations proposes unique and varied challenges for Artyom to overcome. Whether it’s rolling sandstorms that obscure vision in The Caspian Sea or the multitude of rivers around The Volga, Metro Exodus consistently finds a way to throw a wrench in your gears.
For those worried about how much of sandbox experience this is, we’re merely talking about larger maps and not a full-fledged “go where you want” affair. Sure, you have quests that need to be completed in order to proceed through the story. However, exploration will yield items for crafting, as well as mini-quests such as saving people before they’re killed. Or stumbling across tidbits such as recordings left behind by unfortunate souls before their untimely demise. One mission presented me with the option of saving a group of people that were captured by some bandits. I could have ignored them and carried on with my mission. Instead, I choose to save them, to which one of the captives presented me with access to some much-needed resources that were in the same location that my main quest. It’s up to us to decide if we are prepared enough to tackle whatever challenges await us in the wilds. This game offers new and returning mutants that all have unique abilities. Large crustaceans are heavily armored but are extremely weak to any form of head trauma. Swarms of giant spiders are extremely deadly up close but can be killed by shining your flashlight on them.
Most enemies are quite deadly and can easily kill us within a few hits if you’re on the Normal difficulty. Thankfully, you don’t always have to battle these beasts, as stealth remains a very viable option. Given how scarce resources are, sometimes just sneaking past a pack of mutants is better than risking it all in a gun battle. A lot of this plays into the day and night cycle that Metro Exodus expertly weaves into the gameplay.
For those looking to only explore when the sun is out, expect stealth to be exceptionally difficult. This also means more human enemies will be out patrolling their turf and there’s a good chance they will see you coming. Inversely, making your way through the world at night means guards will be asleep, but more mutants are prowling about. Understanding what time of day to strike an enemy encampment or raid a mutant-infested building is critical to our success.
There’s also plenty of lore and personal stories left behind in either notebooks or recordings. Many of which you’d never find if you just progressed from point A to B. Again, this is where exploration comes in and if you’re a fan of diving deeper and uncovering mysteries. Then straying off the beaten path is highly recommended. There’s a reason why this game has massive maps now. As for those concerned about those lovely indoor and underground claustrophobic areas that this franchise is known for can relax as there’s plenty of those in the game as well. There’s something here for everyone.
LET’S TALK ABOUT THE GEAR.
Artyom has a wide variety of weapons and tools at his disposal. While the core arsenal consists of the typical assault rifles, pistols, and SMGs, Metro Exodus’ weapon upgrade system adds a remarkable layer of depth. As you play through the game, Artyom will encounter a number of enemies with different weapon modifications that you can disassemble and take. When out in the field Artyom can break apart and modify his guns on the fly without any repercussions.
The gunplay is good enough, as to be expected from 4A Games. They’ve progressed over the years and the elements presented here are the best I’ve seen from them so far. The changes that can be made to weapons is rather robust, allowing players the ability to turn a revolver into a powerful, long-range rifle on the go. Since the new crafting system is incredibly streamlined, this allows users to quickly assemble any type of gun they need on the fly. It’s a smart and polished system that pushes experimentation without breaking the game entirely. Since Artyom can only carry three weapons (two primaries and one specialized), picking what type of gun is still important.
You’ll also have to clean your weapons of dirt and grime unless you enjoy using a weapon that constantly jams. Developer 4A Games has done a remarkable job with the visuals and Metro Exodus may easily be one of the best-looking games in years. From the shine of wet mud to the individual drops of water you have to wipe off Artyom’s gas mask, the level of detail on display is fantastic. Monsters are equal parts fascinating and horrific to look at, which is complemented nicely by the terrific sound design.
The only major fault has been the various bugs and weird A.I. glitches I experienced. Which to this point is kind of expected from 4A Games, but even then, we can’t really give them a pass for that because on a number of occasions where I tried to shoot something only for it to be blocked by some unforeseen force, despite having a clear shot. This not only wasted ammo but gave away my position. It mainly happens when you’re trying to shoot from behind a tree, or a fence. It’s likely a collusion issue, but it doesn’t change the fact that it does hinder your gameplay at times. Especially if you’re trying to pick off targets without them seeing you. It wasn’t enough to truly hinder my experience, but it certainly broke my immersion on multiple occasions.
The quick time events also make a return, much to my disappointment. I’m not exactly a fan of rapidly banging a key, hoping that this time I wouldn’t fail the event. Thankfully, an option was added to change the function from frantically pressing a key, to simply holding it down. (the reason why I’m criticizing on the QTE is because of the fact that this franchise was and to a certain extent still takes inspiration from franchises like Half-life, where the game never takes away the control from us)
At the heart of it all is the idea that everything you do in the game will ultimately decide your fate. Every decision you make, every person or creature you decide to kill or let go, and even who you save, will all play into which ending you arrive at. 4A Games states that there’s no good or bad ending. Instead, whatever you get is what you deserve, which are harsh words.
Overall, I feel this game is going to be a weird mix bag for a lot of people, mostly because Metro 2033 and Last Light were very linear and basically were following the formula set by games like Half-life. Exodus tries to create something new through years of hardships and experience, it feels completely different with a very distinct identity of its own created by people who’ve mastered the genre and are ready to take seminal risks that will set industry standards.
Sure, it doesn’t always work in the game, but is very captivating to unravel, as this game is low-key setting up new standards for the coming Devs to follow and experiment with.
FINAL THOUGHTS.
Metro Exodus is a master class in smart game design blending into a believable world. Moment to moment gameplay is rewarding and the weapon upgrade system is a stroke of genius. Even with occasional bugs and overly familiar story, Exodus is a highly enjoyable singleplayer experience. Whether you’re a series veteran or brand new to the Metro franchise this game is definitely worth checking out.
