Metro 2033 Redux

Again not got this on GOG but had on multiple platforms. I first played this and last light on console then when i move to pc i could not resist as i loved em so much and glad i did as it played much better, the story is great with a cople endings and the gunplay is great fun. Best atmosphere in a game by miles, would reccommend.

First and foremost: I absolutely LOVE this game. The setting, gameplay, story and atmosphere, anyways. Such a damn shame, but it has to be said: UNPLAYABLE IN ITS CURRENT STATE. Starts out alright, some weird audio and surround issues, mainly affecting dialogue... okay, switch to stereo, solved - kinda. But it just keeps coming. At certain resolutions, the game goes full-bright, particularly in surface levels, where the sun illuminates every supposedly creepy, dark basement room, shining "through" all walls. Without two .ini edits, and "read only" flag after, it may not allow you to change the resolution, either. I switched to windowed mode and used "ShiftWindow.exe" to put the game centerd on my screen as it won't allow you to move its window without 3rd party tools. It's notorious for its crashing to desktop, and it didn't happen to me - until it did, many hours into the game in one level in particular ("Defense", at 120+FPS), 100% reproducible. "Solved" by lowest settings and disabling PhysX, for the remaining half of the Level (playing at ~500+ FPS now, wow). Also a known bug: The Helsing arrow gun is losing all spare ammo you spent your very limited money on, with each loading screen (including reloads). And, just for the fun of it, I got one more. That one's probably specific to my system, though: I've got a soundbar, and only Metro disables any and all system volume control while I'm ingame. To lower or raise the system volume, I have to either tab out, or open Galaxy Overlay to get the media keys on my keyboard (or the soundbar) to work. Very weird. I could keep going, but if I'd have to at this point, you won't care anyways - go ahead, buy it if you love to spend more time tinkering around, trying to solve numerous weird issues, than actually playing the thing. Do some research, first. Here's my favorite quote: "I invested more effort into trying to run this game than into my relationship". Still was in vain.

The game is based on a novel of the same name. The setting is unique and the adaptation of the game as well. And the attention to details for making oppressing and closed environment is quite good. The studio put a special emphasis on immersion in the game that can be fund strange for some layers, included myself. This is even more reinforced with the special higher challenge modes you can unlock. In this mode the UI is reduced to the minimum. As consequences more than one time you may be a little lost on what to do or do understand pretty quickly how to use the items. On this redux edition you can adapt the game a little more to your style: You can play as survival/stealth (the original concept) or as spartan/Rambo. This difference is particularly important because the game has the special concept that the best ammo available is also the currency. herefore, on the original setting you were constantly under the oppression of administering your ammo while in the new setting is easier to get enough ammunition for all your weapons. This first delivery of the series is highly linear, although you can do some degree of exploration. The voice and animation of the characters are good, but not exceptional. Yet, the good work on the environment compensates it. And yes, you explore Moscow’s metro system, therefore you will see A LOT of tunnels.

This game is a charming game. You really get to know the people and they way of life. There are interesting mysteries, and an interesting story. There are also secret supply stashes and, though the game is pretty linear, you have choices about how to carry our your goals. There is a good/bad system. If you put money in the pot for the musician, you get good points, and if you kill a mother nosalis guarding her babies, you get bad ppoints and the ending will change bassed on your good/bad meeter. The game play is very good as well. It's a fun fluid first person shooter. There is a focus on resource scarcity and upgrading makeshift weapons, but you still get the FPS machanics that we have come to expect. If you find it on sale, you can't go wrong. All of the Metro games are worth playing. I have played them all more than once.

I bought these both on Steam in a sale, just before they became available here. My self imposed budget for computer goodies is expended for this month, but I intend to buy them again here. Nothing against Steam, but I like having games that I can burn the install files to DVD and tuck away, and be able to load and play without usernames and passwords, or online DRM. I know it's necessary, but I don't have to like it. :) Between these and the Stalker series, I have a lot of newer big name games gathering dust.