079REVIEW
routes, these maps all allow the
story to evolve and the world of
Metro to grow.
How you behave also
becomes as important has how
you play. Approach characters
with your gun holstered and
they’ll treat you better than
going in hot. This can lead
to new routes being revealed,
locations of rare gear shared,
or even set-piece events
changing direction. How you
treat enemies – kill or knock
out – can mean the difference
between the factions and
fanatics you meet being up in
arms against you or welcoming
you with them wide open.
LONELY PLANET
Metro Exodus is resolutely
a single-player experience
so don’t expect to jump into
multiplayer, and even though
it embraces open world design
there’s not an avalanche of
tick-sheet collectibles to worry
about. Focusing on story, Metro
Exodus is beautifully crafted
VERDICTAbove Missed
the nasty, dark
side of Metro?
You’re still
catered for
in Exodus.
Right Even
the smaller,
narrower maps
are fairly large
and worthy of
the Photo mode.
Above Explore the story and characters while hanging out on the Aurora.
THE OPM BREAKDOWN
The inclusion of new sandbox
maps, accessible crafting, and
beautiful as well as genuinely
horrific moments, ensures
Metro Exodus keeps the series
on track. Ian Deanand presented with enough
moment-to-moment surprises
to keep you on edge. The sandy
camouflaged Humanimals
of the Caspian desert will
make you jump, and there’s
actually a bigger bad out there
than mutated bears and the
returning Demons... oh, and
don’t go anywhere near the
final run-in if slippery, wriggly
things make you heave.
Speaking of which, if you’re
a long-term fan of the Metro
series and have qualms over
whether this new open-
world approach can muster
the same sense of haunting
claustrophobia found in the
previous games, have no fear.
This sequel plays on its roots to
great effect at key moments.13% Loving the
references to
past games in
the map design
and locations.7% Oh, so that’s
why we needed
to find an old
guitar – who
knows Stairway
To Heaven?6%Stopping
to enter Photo
mode and take
some snaps.4%Hanging out
and having a
sneaky smoke
with your pals.WHAT YOU DO IN... METRO EXODUS54%
Scavenging,
tinkering,
exploring,
shooting,
chatting...16% Dipping
into your
backpack to
tweak your
gun’s loadouts.STAT PACKPostcards of
classic Russian
landscapes to
find and collect.
Pin ’em to your
train bunk.Diary entries
that reveal a little
more about the
Metro world and
life after the
bombs dropped.Chapters to play
through, mixing
open world maps
with traditional
Metro-style
tunnels.47112 12
Seasons to play
across, starting
in winter. Each is
themed to evoke
the time of the
year perfectly.HOW TO... CRAFT YOUR WEAPONSWeapons can be
stripped for parts and
these can be used to
tweak your base gun
models. Doing so during
a level means you can
change your tactics. You
can clean your weapons
at workbenches for
improved accuracy
and damage.THE FIRST FIVE HOURS...1 We get up to speed with the Metro world in a opening cinematic that
literally takes a train ride through the game’s history. 2 Exploring the
ruins of Moscow we stumble onto a conspiracy, and a train, which we
make off with. 3 Winter’s coming... Volga, the first open world map, feels
fresh. 4 We find a teddy bear for one of our companions. 5 We defeat
the Tsar fish, the biggest, ugliest fishy thing since Resi 4’s Black Bass.13245IS IT BETTER THAN?We love Exodus’ new
sandbox approach and
cinematic touches, but
Resi 7 has PS VR – and
it’s terrifying.Despite Exodus’
breadth, Arkane’s
complex, beautifully
designed stealth sim
just edges it.YES
Better storytelling,
open world maps, and
improved crafting
means Exodus is the
best Metro yet.NO NO