Metro Awakening [Meta Quest 3] | REVIEW

The Metro franchise has always been synonymous with grim post-apocalyptic storytelling, atmospheric exploration, and thrilling yet methodical combat, and with Metro Awakening, you get to experience all of that in virtual reality. Developed by the virtual reality geniuses at Vertigo Games and guided by the creative input of Dmitry Glukhovsky (the creator of the original Metro novels), this prequel brings players back to the haunting tunnels of Moscow’s subway system in a captivating new adventure.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Nuclear war has forced the remnants of Moscow’s population to take refuge in the city’s expansive subway system, turning it into an intricate web of makeshift homes, trading posts, and treacherous tunnels. Taking place five years before the events of Metro 2033, players take on the role of Serdar, a doctor with a shady past, as they’re thrust into this unforgiving world on a personal quest to find their missing wife, Yana. The narrative unfolds as a deeply personal journey, exploring grief, guilt, and the harsh realities of survival, all while subtly laying the groundwork for the events that take place in the mainline series.

It’s a harrowing tale, but much like the other entries in the series, is expertly told through the desolate lives of the citizens you meet, the environmental storytelling that constantly paints a picture of the struggles faced in the Metro (and the lives lost along the way), and the unsettling eerie moments where the ghosts of the underground make their presence known. For those new to the Metro universe, Metro Awakening serves as a self-contained story that’s accessible without prior knowledge, so don’t be put off if this is your first venture through the tunnels. And if you’re a longtime fan? You’ll appreciate the nods to other titles in the series, including the origins of a fan-favourite character.

At its core, Metro Awakening feels like an action-title that’s laced with stealth, though there’s a strong element of survival that means players have to take care when exploring the sinister tunnels of the Metro. Ammo is scarce, health packs are precious, and gas mask filters are a lifeline when venturing into toxic zones, whilst the monstrous creatures you encounter won’t shy away from hunting you down. And sure, you’ll face off against plenty of human enemies who are arguably eviler, but the added immersion of virtual reality makes encounters with the monsters much more terrifying.

“Metro Awakening succeeds in translating the Metro series to virtual reality by focusing on its strengths: immersive storytelling, atmospheric exploration, and visceral combat.”

The combat of the game is engrossing, bringing together a blend of all-out action and careful planning where you’ve always got to pick your shots carefully if you hope to survive. Weapons feel tactile and fun to use, but also require players to physically reload them and manually check ammo to ensure they’re prepared for each firefight. That’s right, there’s no HUD to tell you how much ammo you have remaining, with players instead having to physically check the bullets that remain in their guns themselves. These mechanics may seem minor (and undoubtedly stressful to some), but they significantly enhance immersion, raising the stakes of each encounter to truly keep players on their toes.

Stealth plays a crucial role in the experience too, with a strong focus on sneaking past enemies or silently incapacitating them. It can make for some of the game’s more intense moments, though it can have frustrating moments of inconsistency – there were a few occasions where my stealth takedowns just didn’t seem to land effectively, leaving me open to attack and spoiling my sneaky approach. It’s not a regular enough issue to feel like a real problem, but when you carefully plot out an attack on an enemy and take your time to make sure you catch them out unaware, it’s a little annoying when the game just doesn’t seem always recognise your actions effectively.

Still, there’s no doubting that the action-orientated moments of Metro Awakening are a ton of fun, whether that’s when carefully wiping out a group of enemies without being seen, engaging in a thrilling firefight with a ruthless onslaught of foes, or surviving through some of the set pieces that really ramp up the intensity. Whilst the Metro series is known for a slower and more intense pace, it also knows when to ramp things up, with Metro Awakening clearly showcasing that. It can be a real spectacle at times and it’s impressive just how effectively the experience translates over to virtual reality, with everything complemented by intuitive controls that ensure the game is easy to get to grips with. I would recommend sticking to smooth motion if your stomach can handle it though – it adds to the immersion, and just makes some of the game’s trickier sections easier to handle.

Check out some screenshots down below:

One of the things I loved the most about Metro Awakening was how it takes every opportunity it can to immerse players in its world. Every interaction feels purposeful, whether that’s when wiping condensation off your gas mask, manually charging your flashlight, or interacting with the countless unique objects in the environment – whilst players would’ve experienced a lot of these things in other titles in the series, it all felt more special here. And sure, it has scrapped some things such as crafting and weapon customisation, but it helps make for a more streamlined experience that better suits the virtual reality platform.

It manages to look fantastic on the Meta Quest 3 too, with the game utilising every bit of power that the headset has to stand out as one its best-looking titles. The game captures the eerie atmosphere of the underground world with its dimly lit corridors, decaying infrastructure, and morbid mutant lairs, and whilst there are some moments where some muddled textures do rear their head, it’s hard not to be blown away by just how fantastic it looks.

It’ll probably take players around seven hours to beat the game, so there’s a decent size adventure to embark on here. It actually feels like the perfect length, especially since Metro Awakening can be guilty of getting repetitive at times. Whilst there’s plenty of excitement to be found (and the eerie atmosphere will keep you on your toes), you’ll find yourself doing a lot of the same things the further you progress through the game. It never feels boring, but it might’ve been nice if a few more enemy types or set pieces were introduced to keep players fully engrossed as they venture further through this dark, deadly, and desolate world.

Developer: Vertigo Games
Publisher: Vertigo Games
Platform(s): Meta Quest 3 (Reviewed), Meta Quest 2, PlayStation VR 2, PC VR
Website: https://metroawakening.com/