Without being a major fan of previous installments in the Metro series, we were nonetheless anticipating Metro Exodus. Just last week, we published a teaser video based on a nightmare experienced by the protagonist, Artyom. Metro Exodus is developed by 4A Games, a Ukrainian game company (based in Malta), and is based on the book series of the same name by Dmitry Glukhovsky (specifically, the book Metro 2035). It is noteworthy when a studio outside of the established American or Japanese AAA development scene undertakes such a large project. CD Project RED, from Poland, achieved considerable success with Witcher 3, elevating their status for their subsequent title, Cyberpunk 2077. So, how does 4A Games fare? Generally, quite well, though not without caveats.
Metro Exodus shares thematic elements with Fallout, but maintains a significantly darker tone.
The game is set in 2036, over 25 years after a nuclear war devastated the Earth. The population has been drastically reduced; from seven billion to approximately 50,000 survivors, humanity now struggles to survive in underground tunnels and caves, particularly within the Moscow Metro system. A group of soldiers, the Spartan Rangers, which includes the player-controlled Artyom, battles the hazards of poisoned air, mutated creatures, and supernatural threats, all while striving to maintain a fragile balance of power amongst various factions that teeter on the brink of civil war. Artyom believes that life exists beyond the irradiated boundaries of Moscow, initiating a journey that will profoundly impact the lives of all involved.
Metro Exodus is a first-person shooter adventure that integrates elements of action, stealth, puzzle-solving, crafting, and survival. While this blend is often successful, inconsistencies are present. The game demonstrates significant ambition, featuring impressive aesthetics and design. Although the frame rate is capped at 30 fps (even on Xbox One X), the overall performance remains acceptable. Observing the desolate Russian landscapes from a train car can be a captivating experience. However, the balancing of gameplay elements and the presence of bugs detract from the experience. During our time with the game on Xbox One (X), we encountered recurring issues, including characters floating in the air and impeding story progression, enemies becoming lodged in walls and proving difficult to eliminate, and complete game lockups requiring a restart. While the game features frequent autosaves, the prevalence of these issues detracts from the overall polish. Furthermore, the inability to skip cutscenes, even those previously viewed, proves frustrating. Although these scenes are presented from a first-person perspective, maintaining immersion, they often involve extensive exposition through NPC dialogue where the player is merely an observer. While acceptable upon initial viewing, being forced to re-watch these scenes due to game crashes becomes excessively frustrating. Metro Exodus also suffers from extended loading times, reaching up to three minutes before the game initiates. Installation on a fast SSD is highly recommended to mitigate this.
Hey cutie!
While bugs and subsequent patches have become an unfortunate reality in the world of increasingly ambitious games and release schedules, this situation underscores the argument for delaying the purchase of major titles until initial issues have been addressed. Aside from these technical issues, Metro Exodus provides an engaging, though somewhat inconsistent, gaming experience. The game fluctuates between moments of intense atmosphere and compelling storytelling, and periods of sluggishness and cumbersome mechanics. At its best, the narrative delivers surprising twists that keep players engaged. However, the game’s attempt at “realism” results in a less fluid FPS experience compared to titles like Call of Duty or Doom. Artyom is portrayed as an ordinary individual, albeit one with exceptional resilience, whose movements and weapon handling reflect a more realistic, deliberate approach. This, coupled with limited ammunition and resources, can extend combat encounters unnecessarily. While realism is appreciated, incorporating such elements into a game that also features supernatural creatures and a protagonist with heightened endurance can feel incongruous. Sharper enemy AI and improved overall polish would enhance the immersive experience; as it stands, the pacing occasionally feels slower and less refined than intended.
The sound design is a notable strength. The inclusion of authentic Russian and Ukrainian accents is a welcome addition. Although the acting and script may not be award-winning, they effectively support the narrative and enhance the sense of presence and authenticity. Metro Exodus incorporates political undertones, particularly regarding the historical experiences of Ukraine with both communist-socialist and national socialist (Nazi) ideologies, which have garnered attention in Russia. The protagonist, Artyom, remains silent, leading to moments of unintentional humor as NPCs attempt to interpret his actions, resulting in dialogue that feels somewhat forced.
Metro Exodus expands upon the linear structure of previous games, offering more open environments. While not a true open-world title, individual sections function as smaller-scale versions of such, complete with side objectives. The diverse environments, ranging from snow-covered landscapes to deserts and forests, are a highlight. The accelerated day-night cycle (reminiscent of Witcher) is another positive aspect, allowing players to approach challenges strategically based on the time of day. While the game avoids the excessively cluttered maps of titles like Far Cry, it can occasionally feel somewhat constrained and overly scripted.
Similar to Kingdom Hearts 3, which also suffered from optimization issues at launch (though without game-breaking bugs), Metro Exodus shows signs of a prolonged development cycle that originated on previous-generation hardware. Experiencing the game on a high-end PC with 60 fps and enhanced graphics would be ideal. On Xbox One X, the game provides a reasonably competent technical experience, albeit one that feels somewhat dated in its mechanics and pacing. The deliberate pace, while intended to create a sense of realism and differentiate itself from the super-soldier archetype found in games like Master Chief/COD, can become tedious, particularly when combined with lengthy, unskippable dialogue sequences.
Despite its shortcomings, Metro Exodus remains a distinct, engaging, and compelling gaming experience that warrants recommendation, especially after becoming familiar with its various menus and features. The post-apocalyptic narrative is enhanced by a visually impressive presentation and intriguing storylines. If one can overlook its occasional stiffness and lack of polish, this title represents a worthwhile choice for FPS enthusiasts who appreciate the atmosphere of Half-Life more than the action of Battlefield. The presence of bugs, however, is regrettable.
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