Read on for our full review. Metro Awakening, a first-person shooting game with a compelling narrative that tackles difficult topics like grief and mental illness. The game is set in the year 2028 and follows Dr. Sedar through the dark tunnels of the Moscow Metro to find his wife. The Facts
What Is It? :
A supernatural, narrative-driven VR adventure set in the Metro universe.
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, Steam (reviewed on Quest 3)PS VR2Release DateQuest: 11/7/2024ViveportDeveloper
: Vertigo GamesPrice:
$39.99Sights and Sounds of The Metro
Metro Awakening visually excels, displaying a masterful use of light and shadow creating a visceral tension that grips players from the start. I sometimes find myself frozen in fear at the flashing of a slaver’s headlamp in the distance or the glowing eyes of a Nosalis, the large mutated mole-like creatures that live in the metro’s dimly lit tunnels and burrow under its architecture.Entering the game’s many vents and tunnels can be an unsettling experience for those who dislike tight spaces. Shadows that catch your attention can make you feel more vulnerable. Metro made me realize how much attention Vertigo put into the details, like cleaning the dirt off the gas mask. It’s an added touch of realism. There are some visual issues with objects and characters, such as enemy models that are lacking in detail. For example, the enemy creature’s whiskers are floating over the surface of the face or the corpses on occasion twitching like a rag doll. Vertigo’s soundtrack for Metro Awakening is outstanding. It makes games feel realistic. It was one of my most memorable VR experiences. The 3D audio effects were eerily real, creating a psychological terror and enhancing awareness of enemies and the environment. I was moved by the voice acting, which conveyed deep emotions. For example, the anger of the protagonist when we found out about his dead friends or the fear that slavers had taken away his wife. I became so swept up in the emotion when a bound character was put in harm’s way that I screamed out loud for them to stop.
Gameplay Experience
The atmospheric immersion and compelling narrative Metro provides are highly captivating. The 12 hours and 28 minutes I spent in the tunnels were filled with challenges. They ranged from the necessity for stealth, to direct combats that required strategic resource management. Sometimes I wish that I had been more careful with my ammunition… I was especially surprised when I found the eight-legged crawly things that are scurrying about further in the tunnels. If you want to keep your mind, you should have extra bullets and stamina ready because you will be sprinting a lot. This game is not for those who are arachnophobic. Vertigo has even added a trigger warning that players must bypass at the beginning of the game because of this, so be aware anyone with this phobia will find that a few sections of the game very difficult to complete.
Combat is satisfying and the enemy AI is smart enough to offer a challenge. Stealth works best in many scenarios but you can also use force if that is what you prefer. If you are like me, and you prefer the Leroy Jenkins style run-and gun gameplay, then remember to use your bullets sparingly. In stealth missions, enemies can be activated both by audio and visual clues. So things like forgetting to switch off your headlamp or making loud footsteps are sure to catch you. Scene is much darker in headset. Scene is much darker in headset.
Weapon selection is varied and progresses throughout the gameplay with some of the later weapons in the game having a cool aesthetic, making them seem authentic to something that would be scavenged from the rubble or cobbled together from spare parts. The reloading process is completely manual, which can be a little frustrating. There were several times when in the heat of battle that I kept reaching to my chest pouch for more ammo but failed to pull the next clip and instead got my backpack or syringe.
Metro Awakening offers support for both seated and standing play, complemented by customization options such as snap turning, teleportation, and vignetting to alleviate VR motion discomfort. This should make it easier for players who are prone to motion-sickness or have different play styles to enjoy the game. The environments of the game, though richly detailed and beautiful, get increasingly repetitious as you advance. The game’s environments are repetitive, even though they look beautiful. Rooms and trains cars seem to be reused often. I found myself losing interest in the game at times due to limited interaction with objects, such as some drawers that couldn’t even be opened and others where my hand would pass through. Making all walls solid would eliminate the need for this effect and improve immersion. Making all walls solid would negate the need for this effect and would greatly improve the immersion.
Other gameplay mechanics, such as the hand-crank charger used to keep the flashlight going, and access certain doors and machinery, added to the immersion but quickly became tedious to use as the game progressed.
Metro Awakening – Final Verdict
With Metro Awakening, Vertigo Games has once again delivered a mesmerizing VR gaming experience. This is a game that demonstrates the studio’s ability to create immersive stories and adventures. Metro Awakening, a dark and chilling virtual world, is the core of a VR narrative adventure. This is a game I would recommend to those who enjoy a dark dystopian tale and don’t mind some repetitions or minor bugs. Ya know…the kind that aren’t those terrifying spiders you just ran from.
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