So I have finally set up my new PC and gotten used to it. Might publish my worklog on how I built it at some point if I get around to it. Anyhow, I built it as a gaming system, so I thought I will do some game reviews as play them. Can't promise timely reviews, but I will do what I can.
One of the top games on my Steam library that I was eager to play was Metro 2033. It promised S.T.A.L.K.E.R. like atmosphere and much more story driven gameplay. Overall I was not dissapointed as got what I was expecting.
I will start of with graphics. Can't say they were bad, but I was expecting something more. Maybe it just me, not being able to play on full graphics at high resolution for so long I was expecting bigger leap. Especially seeing all the videos on small Flash player windows makes it look so much better. I suppose the biggest gripe was with the look of NPCs and how they interacted with level design. Sceneary was quite nice though, especially surfice level ones.
That said, you have very limited options to explore it all. The game is packed with invisble walls and small fences or other structures that restrict your path. While at times it is nice and needed in a story driven game to provide the expected narrative, there were times that it was limiting. Most notably I felt limited around (currently or once) populated areas. For example, there was a second floor to which you could not get to in couple of stations. If you are an explorer then enduringing restrictions in already restriced and enclosed space is not something you would expect.
I did not experience any of the AI glitches I heave read about, and for the most part combat was great. I played on Ranger mode - easy, but that is by far not an easy difficulty. In every combat I had to make every shot count as had no spare bullets. Especially towards the end of the game when enemies took more then one to take down. I did like how it added more tension to the game.
Weapon management for me was a bust as well. I really wanted to use one of the pump action guns, but they took the slot of shotgun of which I had the most ammo. In addition it was the best close combat weapon. This is something they should think about for the sequel.
Turns out the game had an alternative ending as well, but it was not something I was going for. I really enjojed the game and would recomend it to anyone, especially if you like FPS games. While the ending was interesting it left me with a huge question burning at the beck of my head... how is he going to get back? (you will know what I am talking about if you finish the game!)
