Metro 2033

by THQ

• An RPG-light story where players encounter NPC’s via engaging and trading activities across the various ‘Station States’ of the Underground, each with its own social system.
• A menacing atmosphere incorporating shadows, ambient sounds, lighting effects and claustrophobic scenes to create feeling of tension and fear.
• Diversity of combat ranging from brutally intense action from a distance, to melee combat fought with improvised weapons or hand to hand in the half shadows.
• A morality system based on points and measured by a proprietary engine that takes into account actions like curiosity, kindness and prejudice resistance, leading to alternative story endings.
• Unique economy and inventory management systems based on ammunition and items which can be used to take down enemies or saved to purchase upgrades or buy goods.

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B002V16T0Q
• Item Weight: 1.6 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: March 16, 2010
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (84 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,090 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
  • #51 in Video Games > Xbox 360 > Games > Adventure
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Platform: Xbox 360

Amazon.com

Metro 2033 is a single player first-person shooter (FPS) that incorporates role-playing game (RPG) elements. Based on the best selling novel of the same name by Dmitry A. Glukhovsky, it tells the story of humanity's struggle for survival in the forgotten tunnels of Moscow's underground subway system following a devastating nuclear war. Features include mission play combining a unique mix of firearm and melee combat, an economy revolving around ammo and items and an experience system which takes each of your actions into account, leading to a variety of possible alternate endings and extended replay value. Story The apocalypse came by our own making, with a single blinding flash, followed by a firestorm of sheer flame. It took just an hour and a half to wipe out 3.5 billion people and 10,000 years of civilization, plunging humanity into a hopeless Dark Age. In the aftermath, survivors in Moscow moved underground and slowly organized into small socially and politically independent tribes, clustered around the city's deep, subway stations. The young man, Artyom is among them. A member of the first generation of children raised in the subterranean world following the apocalypse, he has only the vaguest recollections of life above ground, and contact with other humans beyond those that inhabit his local station, "Exhibition," but he will have to face new experiences with both if humanity is to survive. Mutated beasts known as "Dark Ones" are spreading throughout the isolated stations of the Metro, and Artyom has been chosen as the messenger to spread the news of the new peril. Become humanity’s last savior and uncover the truth behind the horrors that await in Moscow’s underground. View larger. Gameplay Metro 2033 is a single player, FPS that also incorporates RPG elements. Action played out in the role of young Artyom, is mission-based and because the game is based on the Glukhovsky novel, the storyline veers away from the anti-Russian stance that is often seen in post-apocalyptic stories and video games. Here the Russian characters are humanity, and fight every day against the terrors that nuclear war has wrought. These terrors come mostly in the form of mutants known as "Homo Novus," who have invaded the Underground, as well as frightening alien-like paranormal creatures that haunt the gameworld. The game hero, Artyom, has a certain immunity to the latter and a talent for dispatching the former, which together make him a very popular choice to be sent on missions. Combat throughout utilizes a mixture of improvised firearms and melee weapons. Balancing the use of these two is important because in this world of violence and scarcity, ammunition plays the duel role of protection and commodity. Throughout the game players will use ammo as much to purchase items and upgrades at different stations visited, as they will use it in combat. In addition, the choices made by players throughout the game register as "Enlightenment Points," or the lack of them. Accumulated totals of these register as a variety of constructs such as curiosity, kindness and prejudice resistance that can and will lead to alternative story endings. Together with its unique inventory management system, engrossing storyline and replay value based on morality, Metro 2033 is sure to be a game not to be missed by FPS and RPG players alike. Key Game Features Menacing Atmosphere – Incorporating shadows, ambient sounds, lighting effects and claustrophobic scenes to create feeling of tension and fear DX10 and PhysX delivers the best graphical detailing of a post-nuclear setting to date. Visceral engagement with the game world - fall down broken steps, tunnel race etc. Diversity of Combat – Combat is brutal and intense, fought with improvised weapons or hand to hand in the half shadows. Enlightenment Points – Proprietary engine takes into account your actions and analyzes them (curiosity, kindness, prejudice resistance) leading to alternative story endings. Play through the game using either over-the-top shooter, or calculated stealth techniques, altering the game play style in the progression of the game. Time of No Return – The length of being in hostile environment on the surface is limited, players should take that into account when venturing above ground. Inventory Management – Use ammo to take down the opposition or save it to purchase upgrades. Cartridges replace cash, Gadgets are gold (gas masks). RPG Light Story – Encounter NPC’s via engaging and trading activity across the various ‘Station States’, each with its own social system. Additional Screenshots: Distinct underground societies. View larger. Unique combat blend. View larger. Loads of gadget options. View larger. FPS & RPG elements blended. View larger.

Product Description

Set in the shattered subway of a post apocalyptic Moscow, Metro 2033 is a story of intensive underground survival where the fate of mankind rests in your hands. In 2013 the world was devastated by an apocalyptic event, annihilating almost all mankind and turning the earth’s surface into a poisonous wasteland. A handful of survivors took refuge in the depths of the Moscow underground, and human civilization entered a new Dark Age. The year is 2033. An entire generation has been born and raised underground, and their besieged Metro Station-Cities struggle for survival, with each other, and the mutant horrors that await outside. You are Artyom, born in the last days before the fire, but raised Underground. Having never ventured beyond your Metro Station-City limits, one fateful event sparks a desperate mission to the heart of the Metro system, to warn the remnants of mankind of a terrible impending threat. Your journey takes you from the forgotten catacombs beneath the subway to the desolate wastelands above, where your actions will determine the fate of mankind. Metro 2033 is a gripping, atmospheric first person shooter experience powered by cutting edge technology to deliver incredible visuals. Witness the everyday horrors of a broken society living in constant fear. Brave the darkness of the tunnels, where mutants hunt their prey and ghostly spirits lurk. Explore the desolate city-surface, trusting your gas mask and rifle to protect you from a poisoned world and the creatures that roam there. Steel your nerve and prepare to face the terrors that await.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 59 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars nothing run of the mill about it March 17, 2010

By The Waz

Platform for Display:Xbox 360|Amazon Verified Purchase

Fun: 4.0 out of 5 stars   

Over all this game may rank with Dead-Space and the original Resident Evil as one of the scariest games I have ever enjoyed!

Gameplay: 4/5 the game perfects the idea of a "real-time" inventory system, unlike many FPS's when you are outside of a safe zone (metro stations in the game), you are in a constant state of danger there is no menu to pause the game and recheck your objective or to take and overview of your weapons. Everything is done in the open so even the simple idea of looking at your compass to see where you are going or reading your journal to remember what you have to do next means you are putting your weapon down and putting out an open invitation for attack. These elements add to the suspense and tension making the game very immersive and very scary! The AI in the game is superb giving a great amount of believability and difficulty, having your flashlight on draws the attention of enemies but leaving it off will allow an enemy to sneak up on you as many times as you sneak up on them.

The only detraction I can think of to the gameplay would be that Metro 2033 was advertised as a RPG and there are very few if any RPG elements in the game; however, this is quickly forgiven and forgotten once you play the first few chapters.

Story: 5/5 I have only been able to read Dmitry Glukhovsky's Metro 2033 in German as an English translation has not been released anywhere in North America and last time I checked it had not been released in Europe either. I am in not way fluent in German so while i enjoyed the book I can not be completely sure I understood the entire story and all the character development. That being said the narrative of the game is amazing the story and mystery in the game are executed perfectly and kept me interested the entire play-through.

Graphics: 4/5 the visuals are stunning especially when traveling through the surface of Moscow (or whats left of it). The use of shadows and light add to the tension in a way that only the best horror movies, games, and other entries into the genre have achieved before.

The biggest detraction would be that in most cases you don't get a chance to enjoy the environment because somethings trying to kill you. Another big negative would be the metro stations or safe zones, with few exceptions every station begins to look the same and is easily navigated.

Sound: 4/5 just like the graphics almost every sound seems to add to the experience, you will get as many startles from a gun shot or sudden roar as you will get chills down your spine from a far off scream or howl. Paranoia from an empty can being kicked far off in the distance occurs pretty frequently as well!

The downside would be the racket in the metro stations, the background noise is repetitive here and almost drowns out the important conversation you might actually want to hear.

Overall: 4/5

Pros: amazingly immersive! enthralling story, and incredibly scary!

Cons: every other thing in the safe zones.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Gritty Goodness March 18, 2010

By Philharmagic

Platform for Display:Xbox 360

Fun: 4.0 out of 5 stars   

This is a very good game. What I like is atmosphere (plently of that), story (finally something different), and gunplay that doesn't seem unfair. It gives me the feeling of Dead Space and Condemned Criminal Origins (being constanlty on edge and isolated). It is a balance of shooting anything that moves and conserving your ammo. If you get surprised, your tendency is to keep firing until it quiets down. This leads to low ammo and the fear that you will run out before your next safe zone. All you're trying to do is survive the trip from station to station.

This an old-school-type FPS for gun mechanics; not so much precision. If you are used to the mature mechanics of Bioshock, Mondern Warfare, and Halo, this game will bother you. It took me time to get used to it, but I don't mind it at all now. The gun mechanics match the feel of the game.

What appeals to me the most is that it is different. Theme, situations, locale, and style; and the different ways your items are used, hand crank light and gun and gas mask.

The game is missing the next iteration of game mechanics polish on some aspects (ie., I've seen this done better in another game). This pulls me out of the game at times, but not enough to detract from the game experience. For example, wonky AI, the barter system isn't at deep as advertised (don't generally regret not upgrading guns-ammo is so precious), and inconsitent stealth. The one thing that is consistently bothersome is that some enemies are always trying to bit off your knees, so you're always looking down and shooting (shotgun works the best here). Also, an improved melee mechanic would do wonders for this game.

This is an on-a-rail-type FPS with great set pieces and a variety of situations and not a in-your-face, run-and-gun, unlimited ammo type FPS. I would recommend this game to anyone that the game style appeals to and if you're FPS-multiplayer-hardcore (wait for used).

45 of 56 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars An early partial review of Metro 2033 March 16, 2010

By T. Burns

Platform for Display:Xbox 360

Fun: 4.0 out of 5 stars   

Greetings and thank you for reading this,
I picked up Metro 2033 on midnight release and have logged only a short time in game but I thought this may help some on the fence about it. With little time in I will keep my comments short and related to my findings.
The first thing that stuck out to me was the graphics. Now again I'm only early on in the game but when you watch the initial cutscene you can see that the graphics are a bit stale and dated. Not to say that its another "Turning Point" or "Legendary" title because there is a game underneath the graphics that is worth the time and they are a step above the above mentioned titles.

The plot is engulfing and will likely pull you in if you were a fan of Fallout 3 like I was. The polish is not on par but there is definite meat on the bone of this title and the concept of a post apocalyptic russia battered by Nuclear warfare where the citizens have moved underground and formed their own independent communities separated by tracks and blockades is strong.
You take on the character of Artyom who has been surviving now for over 20 years in his own station. There are mutants all over the tracks and the overworld- created by the environment itself either by radiation mutation or by other more complicated reasons. A plot device that is a bit different than other similar games is that you must wear a mask when outside the confines of the underground tracks due to toxicity of the air. There is a meter that shows you the amount of air left in you tank via a watch that you must keep an eye on. This reminded me a bit of Lost Planet.

Still, I felt as if I was playing a game from about 2-3 years ago in terms of graphics. The engine is just fine though you will see definite problems with the movements of mutants and the staged events. you will also see some mapping issues and overlap. Early on there was a button contextual moment similar to Heavy Rain and I would imagine that they are adapting the GOW formula of timed button sequences. It is a first person shooter first and foremost and I would pretty much ignore the RPG undertone of reviews. It's there but minor at best. I liked the way the plot had some set pieces that you must navigate similar to Half Life 2 but again, not that quality.

Overall I will grade it as follows but I will adapt this upon further play.
Graphics- 7-8
gameplay- 7-8
story- 10 (for those who like the wastelands) maybe an 8 otherwise
sound - 9 (pretty good ambiance)
Replayability - unsure
Overall I give it an 8.5 early on.

I don't wish to write more now. Just some early impressions that may help you make a decision. Being a fan of the concept itself I'll play this one for the story itself and forgive it for its imperfections- just know that they are there and against a title Like GOW3 (which I also purchased) it is night and day as you might expect. I think it depends on the flavor you like. If you were jazzed up to get this one you will likely enjoy it. If you are on the fence about it I'd suggest a rental to see if it fits your needs. Thanks for your time.