Hey, fellow gamers! If you are as interested in the sphere of VR gaming as I am, you’ve come to the right place. Today for instance we are focusing on this thrilling game called “Metro Awakening.” So let’s be clear on what this game is really offering you – because, believe me, it is far more than a survival horror.

What is “Metro Awakening”?

“Metro Awakening” is a VR game released by Vertigo Games, the guys who gave us a taste of intense zombie-sanctioned shooting with “Arizona Sunshine”. Well this time they are leading us to some much more sinister ground – the ground of the “Metro” series. It is those who know the original games and the novels of Dmitri Lucovsky that will immediately developed an understanding of its raw, tensed, and grim environment. And now, you get to experience it all in VR, this VR experience leaving you calm and relaxed.

Storyline and Setting

—Nuclear Armageddon and the Metro—

Metro Awakening takes place in a universe that has known post-nuclear holocaust. People have sought shelter in the metro of Moscow seeking asylum from the catastrophe outside. Apartment dwellers try to stay in ruined middle of subway tunnels with makeshift houses and avoid monsters and raiders and other dangers of post-nuclear world.

Credit: Metro Awakening

—Your Character: Serdar’s Struggle—

In the game “Metro Awakening” itself, the protagonist is a doctor named Serdar and the broken tragedy of his personal life is as vast as the troubled environment at that metro. His wife is devasted after the death of his child and later she disappears from his life also. This is the story of Serdar — a lonely man’ s hopeless struggle through perishable tunnels, ruined stations, and the dangerous territory of the under- ground metro. It’s a narrative that feels noir, dramatic, and multi-dimensional, a game that relies on the stories that it wants to tell and usually people enjoy that aspect or find them tiring.

Credit: Metro Awakening

Gameplay Mechanics

—Survival Horror in VR—

Boiled down to it’s essence, “Metro Awakening” gives the right ambiance of a true survival horror game. The atmosphere will be dark and constricted within the metro tunnels as will be the supply of everything, including ammunition and health provisions. This is about making decisions, changing direction often and developing another way of existing amidst continuous threats.

Credit: Metro Awakening

—Backpack System & Real-time Equipment—

The new elements include a ‘The Last of Us’ bag management system that fits very well into the VR setting. Allowing the viewer to access all the necessary tools that a detective have from a close range when you pull out your backpack from over your left shoulder you have a compass, a gas mask, a filter, a lighter, and many others. Every motion, from pulling on your gas mask to winding your flashlight for strength, seems to be natural and to belong.

—Intuitive Mechanics for an Authentic Experience—

Discovering one’s own Urbenville in “Awakening” was exciting, including not only well thought out and developed VR mechanics. When the mask starts to fog over, you just wipe it off. When you are in the dark, your flashlight is also becoming dim, you turn to hand crank and charge it. These small but meaningful interactions make you feel like you’re in a world – and let’s be real; we all just want to belong.

Shooting, Combat, and Stealth

—Gunfights and Intensity—

As is the case with most other mission types in “Metro Awakening”, the fighting is far from miserly. Shooting mechanics require precision – there’s nothing like auto-aim here. Every battle feels hectic, and quite frequently you’ll find yourself dodging incoming fire, searching desperately for more bullets, and hopfully finding some of them. It is disorganized, turbulent, and, above all, thrilling whenever you can overpower your opponent.

Credit: Metro Awakening

—Stealth: An Imperfect System—

Another component is stealth, but that is where the game falters a little for me. Stealth mechanics can be somewhat tight, and enemy detection is not alway as it should be. However, whenever you need to snipe out enemies these guys have almost X-Ray vision more often a man would love to play with a scary mouse rather than enduring the thought of the thing in the darkness. In any case, enjoying luck when stealth does pay out is a good way to save valuable shots.

Credit: Metro Awakening

Visual and Sound Experience

—Atmosphere and Environment—

“The environment of ‘Metro Awakening’ is traced as embodying the soul of the post-apocalyptic metro tapestried in the game.” Lack of light with lots of fog or darkness contribute to the fact that the tunnels are always tense. The game does an extremely good job of setting that tone of fear—whether it’s the occasional barking of monsters or that dim light coming from your headlamp.

Credit: Metro Awakening

—Voice Acting and Dialogue—

The cutscenes, characterization through interacting with other characters or NPCs and through the conversations heard through radio. Despite rather decent voice acting, the game also features far too much dialogue at times. At times, I longed for the game just to sit back and let me look around in the vain of peace especially when iconizing through the dark corredors. Nevertheless the dialogue helps to build the characters, and just the simple existence of this part of the world feels significant.

Credit: Metro Awakening

The Pros and Cons

—Pros: What Metro Awakening Gets Right—

• Immersive Gameplay: What is striking about the VR mechanics is that all these things, from wiping the gas mask to charging the flashlight, are actually fun.
• Atmospheric Setting: The darkness and the feeling of being closed inside tubes are well made and the feelings of oppressive risk are very much in keeping with the “Metro” series.
• Challenging Combat: There are shootouts which are tough and gritty, the gameplay has many shades of survival horror which should definitely make you edgy.

—Cons: What Falls Short—

• Finicky Stealth Mechanics: Stealth can be unreliable and tedious at times; it can be more of a headache than it is a plea sure.
• Control Issues: Taking inventory and changing weapons is not always lag-free, which is awkward at times, and particularly so during battles.
• Repetitive Environments: The absences of aesthetic difference and diversity in models lead to monotony in a number of areas in the game.

Credit: Metro Awakening

Should You Buy Metro Awakening?

—Who Will Love This Game?—

If you have already enjoyed the “Metro” series and you are a fan of VR, you should not miss “Metro Awakening”. As probably obvious, survival horror in an outstanding setting with highly engaging mechanics, intricate atmosphere, and a complex plot will be perfect for everyone who appreciates the best that video games can offer. It is also worth a try if you are a fan of totally immersive VR shooting games which also involve aiming, shooting and managing resources.

—Who Might Want to Skip It?—

If for some reason VR is not your thing, or you’ve never tried it before and you want something a little more finished, then “Metro Awakening” might not be the one for you. Control-related problems and unnecessarily picky matters connected with sneakiness might become a nuisance, and if you are a VR-game virgin, then it would be all even worse. If you expect more, or less, story in comparison to actions the game may be too slow or too fast for your taste.

Credit: Metro Awakening

Conclusion

“Metro Awakening” is both ambitious and successful in its attempt to adapt the well-renowned “Metro” series to VR, and delivers an atmospheric survival horror indeed. It is not without problems but for those who can forgive some of its faults it is an exhilarating ride through one of the most arduous and interesting post apocalyptic landscapes there is. If you are a fan of the story, the survival horror, or VR exploration of the desolate metro, “Metro Awakening” is worth the try – but on sale.

So, what do you think? Speaking of “Metro Awakening” has it been on your list, or are you still wondering whether to include it on your list? Please let me know on the comments as I would like to hear your opinions!