4A Games is returning to the familiar, irradiated setting of the Moscow Metro in Metro 2039, the fourth mainline entry in the series. While Artyom has departed, the developers are bringing back elements from the previous title, Metro Exodus, including its more open-ended environmental design. Players will step into the boots of a new protagonist, The Stranger, who is on a mission to eliminate Hunter, the current tyrannical ruler of the metro.
The demo for Metro 2039 allowed players to explore a segment of the game, showcasing a return to the atmospheric and physically grounded presentation that defines the Metro series. The physicality is evident in the persistent need to manually operate equipment, such as whirring a contraption to brighten a torch.
Exploring the Surface and Tunnels
A significant departure from earlier Metro titles like Metro 2033 and Last Light, Metro 2039 incorporates open-ground areas that encourage player exploration. Access to these areas is gated by the player's supply of gas mask filters and crafting resources. This design allows for a more in-depth discovery of the game's world, rewarding players with weapon modifications, story fragments, blueprints, and hidden stashes behind locked doors requiring code deciphering. The environment is populated with mutated creatures, and the game allows for a stealthy approach to combat. However, the consequences of loud combat are severe, as alerted enemies can quickly overwhelm the player.
The gameplay loop involves navigating dangerous environments, whether it's infiltrating bandit-controlled buildings or venturing through tunnels. The demo featured an objective to clear a bandit-occupied building. Initial direct assaults proved difficult, prompting a strategic retreat to explore the surrounding areas for advantages. Discovering a nearby wrecked apartment complex revealed the previous occupant's surveillance of the bandits, and yielded a scoped rifle that proved instrumental in neutralizing the enemy threat from a distance. This emphasis on environmental interaction and emergent solutions appears to be a core tenet of the new title.
Within the metro tunnels, the gameplay reverts to a more traditional Metro experience. Players face armed opposition in claustrophobic environments, with options for direct combat or stealth. The stealth mechanics in the demo felt more forgiving than in previous installments, allowing for successful room-clearing with throwing knives and careful observation of enemy patrol patterns. The game's visual cues, such as a watch glowing blue when the player is visible, assist in maintaining a low profile.
Mutants also inhabit these underground areas, creating action-oriented encounters that break up the exploration. The demo highlighted an increased frequency of boss-like encounters, sometimes occurring immediately after players acquire new blueprints or items. While not overly challenging, these encounters could feel somewhat repetitive.
A Chatty Protagonist
One notable shift is the protagonist, The Stranger. Unlike the largely silent Artyom, The Stranger is verbose and possesses a gruff demeanor. While this adds a new dynamic to the narrative, the English voice acting has been described as leaning towards an action-hero parody, which may contrast with the series' typically somber tone. Despite this, the overall experience of returning to the Metro universe and engaging with its distinctive atmosphere and mechanics has left a positive impression, generating anticipation for the full release.