H.Bogard
12-03-2009, 08:02 AM
Eurogamer has the first hands-on with Metro 2033: A post-apocalyptic FPS from former developers of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. that aims to take realism to the next level. From the impressions themselves, the game seems to derive some elements from its spiritual father Stalker, as well as from 2008's FarCry 2.
It's an oppressive experience from the word go, driven by tension and a malevolent atmosphere that has you duking it out with twisted mutants and ruthless mercenaries as you penetrate the gloom. With no HUD to speak of, you have to rely on other cues to determine your status. For example, you have to glance at the magazine cartridge passing through the firing chamber to see how much ammo you've got left, while checking your map actually involves pulling your map case out and illuminating it with a cigarette lighter if it's too dark to see. Health-packs are applied in similarly physical fashion, and using the gas mask necessitates looking at your watch to check on the remaining air supply.
The commitment to a believable world is also evident elsewhere. Neither 4A Games nor THQ has attempted to 'westernise' the dialogue, with local voice actors providing a credible Mosovite ambience as you wander through various mini-communities on your journey. As well as providing interesting bits of information about their lives and problems, some will comment on the path ahead or their thoughts on your quest.
On the technical side, the game appears to have been pimped up quite a bit thanks to a partnership between THQ and Nvidia:
Appropriately, the PC version is being held up as a flagship offering by NVIDIA, with PhysX support promising to provide a more believable physics system and physically driven animation. To ram the point home, THQ has produced a document listing every last technical buzzphrase (my favourite: Hierarchical Per-pixel Occlusion Culling), but to the uninitiated, it's a game the more visually-minded gamer will be drawn to, regardless of whether you plump for the more sumptuous PC version or the slightly less spectacular Xbox 360 version.
Check out the preview at EG here. (http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/metro-2033-hands-on)
It's an oppressive experience from the word go, driven by tension and a malevolent atmosphere that has you duking it out with twisted mutants and ruthless mercenaries as you penetrate the gloom. With no HUD to speak of, you have to rely on other cues to determine your status. For example, you have to glance at the magazine cartridge passing through the firing chamber to see how much ammo you've got left, while checking your map actually involves pulling your map case out and illuminating it with a cigarette lighter if it's too dark to see. Health-packs are applied in similarly physical fashion, and using the gas mask necessitates looking at your watch to check on the remaining air supply.
The commitment to a believable world is also evident elsewhere. Neither 4A Games nor THQ has attempted to 'westernise' the dialogue, with local voice actors providing a credible Mosovite ambience as you wander through various mini-communities on your journey. As well as providing interesting bits of information about their lives and problems, some will comment on the path ahead or their thoughts on your quest.
On the technical side, the game appears to have been pimped up quite a bit thanks to a partnership between THQ and Nvidia:
Appropriately, the PC version is being held up as a flagship offering by NVIDIA, with PhysX support promising to provide a more believable physics system and physically driven animation. To ram the point home, THQ has produced a document listing every last technical buzzphrase (my favourite: Hierarchical Per-pixel Occlusion Culling), but to the uninitiated, it's a game the more visually-minded gamer will be drawn to, regardless of whether you plump for the more sumptuous PC version or the slightly less spectacular Xbox 360 version.
Check out the preview at EG here. (http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/metro-2033-hands-on)