Metro 2033 for the Xbox 360
BioShock and Left4Dead’s younger sibling.
by XboxOZ360:
©2009 Grant Smythe:
NOTE: This game has been in production since 2005, and was first shown at the GDC in 2006. The NEW footage released by A4-Games is from a “current Pre-Alpha build”, with the game being scheduled for a 4th Quarter 2009 release in the US. • See 2006 trailer at end of article: then compare it to this HD video at GameTrailers only released a few weeks agao in Mid-late December.
A new game to pop up recently on the OXCGN Radar Trap is Russian developer A4-Game’s Metro 2033: The Last Refuge. Set in or around the year 2012, in the bowels and subterranean subway system under the Russian city of Moscow.
After checking out the video, you could think that you’re in a dry-world version of BioShock. With the decaying city remnants, dark and foreboding atmosphere and not so friendly nasties running around in the dark.
Then again, seeing the frantic pace of the attacking demons, their never ending attempt to overcome the underground citizens of Metro 2033, you may think that you’re hard at work on a remake of Left4Dead. Which is not a bad thing, as if you were a developer, grabbing ideas and inspiration from those two excellent games would be a testament to their superb gameplay and visuals.
• More Metro 2033 OXCGN Articles and Hands-On
- Metro o2033 – Fallout 3 Comparison
- Metro 2033 Pre-Alpha stages – we take a look
- Metro Lands on the 360 in 2010 – Finally
- Hands-On time with Metro 2033 and MotoGP 09/10
- OXCGN to get 4 Hours Hands On with Metro 2033
The game looks raw and immersive.
• Metro 2033: The Last Refuge – 2008 Pre-alpha trailer
• See 2006 trailer at end of article: HD Vid at GameTrailers also (same as above but larger)
Each system looking after its own and doing the daily task of holding off the attacking creatures hell bent of making dinner out of the residents of each community.
It is being brought to us by the excellent team of Russian developers 4A Games. Builders of S.T.A.L.K.E.R: Shadow Of Chernobyl. And no, this isn’t the 360 version of said game, but a new IP that was first shown in 2006 at E3 and the GDC. While the two videos seen below may seem the same, once you see them played side by side, you can see the huge amount of work that has gone into the latest build.
The design of the game IS linear, most of these types of games need to be. In order for developers to get the player to follow the course of events, it must also follow a certain patten. Allowing the player some flexability, but also steering them in the right direction.
While “open world” and “Sandbox” games seem to be the IN thing, they do cause huge issues for game developers. They are great for making multiplayer maps with little of no story, but lousy at actually allowing a full storyline to be played out and completed.
Sure, you get to dig around underground, as well as “up-top” . . and there is a level of freedom goiven to the player, which is needed. But it still is a point A – z style of game. So if you’re adverse to those, then stay away. When you think about it, almost all good shooters are a linear based game. There’s actually nothing wrong with that style in my books.
I can see it now on forums and blogs, as well as previews and reviews. Panning the game for being a copy of this game or that. Thing is, all games are a copy of one game or the other. Or a meld of several. If done right, it pays off, and players give it great praise, if it faulters, then it’s doomed to the horrors of the net and eternal damnation.
Which is a shame really. As some developers are now seriously considering pulling several games from development due to the over stimulated and falsly inflated scoring system we now have. Were any game that scores less than 8.3 – 8.5 is doomed to failure. What happened to the days when a 5/10 was just that. A decent game, not quite up to the mark, but worth a go anyway, you’ll like it or hate it.
5-7 meant a game worth buying and will give you at least a solid bit of gameplay and worth the venture to the shops, while 7-9 was a game that was a definite buy, and worth raving about. There were few 10′s. Now, sadly, one only has to look at the metacritic scores and see any game that has a figure under 8 is basically not even bothered with.
Yet my experience, and others with said games have been one of decent game play, fun, excitement and enjoyment. Metro 2033: The Last Refuge looks like hanging on the edge of this sharp sword. It will be a love-or-hate relationship for many, but it’s certainly going to be on my “must-have-list for 2009.
• Metro 2033: The Last Refuge – Original 2006 footage
©2009 Grant Smythe:
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Filed under: 3rd Party Games, Console gaming, Gaming Videos, New Game Information, Xbox 360 Game Previews, Xbox 360 News Tagged: | 2033, A4 Games, metro 2033 the last refuge, Shadow of chernobyl, STALKER, The Last Refuge
