Subway: Exodus Review

History

The world of Metro: Exodus is full of traditions. After a nuclear apocalypse devastates the Earth, the citizens of Moscow retreat to the subway tunnels and sewers where civilization is rebuilt. This is where protagonist Artyom and his fellow Rangers live their lives. The outside world is filled with bandits, mutant creatures, and all kinds of dangers that the player must be prepared to face while exploring.

However, the lure of the rich world ends there, as some players will struggle to experience them while chasing NPCs. Many levels feature sequences where Artyom must follow an NPC to progress, and these are downright agonizing. Artyom has to wait patiently while the characters keep buzzing for too long or while the NPCs take him for a walk handcuffed.

While Artyom is mostly a mute protagonist, his supporting cast is anything but. Non-player characters talk so much, in fact, that you’ll spend a good portion of the game time simply waiting for the dialogue to finish.

It’s hard to enjoy the game world (or even other characters) as the supporting cast keeps the player on such a tight and restrictive leash. Additionally, NPCs frequently trigger glitches: they lock in place or get stuck on an object in the environment, blocking their progress and that of the player by association. Be prepared to reload your game simply because an NPC prevents progress by refusing to move.

Game

Thankfully, once Artyom has been released, the game starts at, well … it looks like a game. Metro: Exodus looks and plays like Fallout, except with fewer RPGs and more survival elements. Think Far Cry without the fantasy of power.

As you spend time searching for supplies and completing various missions, the player needs to be aware of Artyom’s environment and his ability to survive its dangers. Solo exploration segments are where Metro: Exodus is at its best.

Game systems revolve around making it look like a survival game without the intrusive nature of the genre. You will not keep the counters that deal with hunger or thirst. Instead, the gameplay is much more immersive.

The equipment must be maintained. Weapons must be clean. Gamers watch their Geiger counters a lot for dangerous radiation and need to be aware of the air filters inside their gas masks. Gas masks can also break, requiring on-the-fly repairs. They also need to be clean so that Artyom can see clearly.

The menus in Metro: Exodus also feed on immersion. The map and achievement screen appear as a notepad that must be removed from the player’s backpack. It’s these little gameplay touches that make the player feel like he’s a survivor on a perilous journey. None of these elements feel like a distracting job from the main gameplay.