Metro Awakening VR Review (PS5, Meta Quest & PC)  

After the Metro games’ legacy on traditional platforms, Metro Awakening brings the immersive horror action experience to VR. The game features manual weapon reloading, realistic survival mechanics, and a hauntingly atmospheric world. With its dark, mutant-infested tunnels and tense, tactical combat, this VR version aims to immerse players in the post-apocalyptic Metro like never before. Now the question is, will it live up to the series’ reputation and capture that same gripping tension? Well, let’s jump into the game’s review to find the answer to this question.

After the Apocalypse

If you have played any Metro game, you know the drill: nuclear apocalypse, dark tunnels, and mutants lurking in the shadows. Well, it’s the same with Metro Awakening VR. The game drops you right back into the post-apocalyptic Moscow. However, this time, you’re not just watching it from a screen; you’re living it in VR.

Set 10 years after the bombs dropped, survivors have been crowding in the Metro’s underground tunnels, trying to make a life out of what’s left. You play as Sar, a guy sent to find medicine for his wife to refill her used-up medication. Along the way, he encounters creepy mutants, radiation zones, and lots of dark, scary places to keep players on edge.

The game kicks off by dropping you into a room full of resources you can use. Once in, you can pick the items, move things around, or simply listen to conversations happening nearby. There’s a lot to look at and interact with. Players can decide to recharge their headlamps or adjust their gas masks as part of the activities before getting all the spooky surprises. It’s these little touches that make the world feel alive.

The Metro itself feels more real than ever. The tunnels are dark and tight, with every corner possibly hiding a mutant or a trap. With the VR headset, the world feels much closer, and the danger is more real. This is like stepping into a nightmare, except you control the action.

Hit the Tunnels

While the story takes center stage in Metro Awakening VR, the gameplay offers a satisfying mix of combat, stealth, and exploration. At its core, Metro Awakening is a first-person shooter, but the VR elements set it apart from other shooters. Players aren’t just aiming their weapons with a controller. They have to use their hands to reload, switch weapons, and interact with the environment. 

When navigating the dark, confined tunnels of Moscow’s Metro, players must manage their resources carefully. Ammo is limited, so scavenging becomes essential. Players often find themselves ransacking through abandoned stations or dead enemies for supplies in the game.

Reloading weapons in Metro Awakening is one of the most immersive parts of the game. Instead of pressing a button to reload, players manually handle each weapon. You’ll need to pull back the bolt, slap in a new magazine, or even pump a shotgun. Essentially, every action is something you physically do in VR games. The weight of each weapon is also felt through the controllers, whether you’re wielding a pistol or a heavy shotgun. On top of that, the haptic feedback intensifies the experience, so every shot, every reload, feels satisfying. 

Stealth is another key element. You will encounter multiple enemies, ranging from mutants to hostile humans. Sometimes, it’s smarter to sneak around them rather than engage in gunfire. You distract enemies by throwing objects, making it easier to slip by unnoticed. However, you don’t always need to rely on stealth on a normal difficulty level, as ammo is sufficient. For those seeking more challenge, a higher difficulty setting will force you to conserve resources and think strategically.

Dark and Beautiful

When it comes to VR games, the graphics can make or break the experience. In Metro Awakening VR, the visuals are generally exemplary but not without flaws. The game runs on Unreal Engine 5.2 and, on a high-end PC, delivers a smooth and visually impressive experience. While some players have complained about the graphics, many found them quite impressive, especially compared to other VR titles in this genre.

The lighting in Metro Awakening VR is particularly notable. The game uses lighting not just to illuminate the environment but also enhance the mood and tension. The dark, shadowy corners of the tunnels are expertly lit to create a sense of mystery and dread. The overall aesthetic contributes significantly to the horror experience, making every moment feel both dangerous and atmospheric.

That said, there are a few areas where the graphics could be improved. Some textures feel a bit low-resolution, especially when viewed up close. While the issue doesn’t diminish the overall experience significantly, it’s worth noting for players who expect top-tier visuals in every corner of the game world. Still, compared to other VR shooters like Arizona Sunshine or Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners, Metro Awakening VR holds a good spot and may even outperform those games in certain areas.

The Fear of the Unknown

Exploration in Metro Awakening VR has a psychological element. The game’s atmosphere is designed to make you feel constantly on edge, even when you’re not directly engaged in combat. The low visibility, eerie sound design, and ominous lighting all contribute to a sense of fear. 

As you venture deeper into the metro system, the environment becomes more hostile. What begins as a relatively safe journey through abandoned stations quickly turns into an unpredictable and dangerous adventure. Mutated creatures and hostile survivors lurk in the shadows, and you’ll need to balance curiosity with caution. Often, the unknown is the most terrifying part of the game. The decision to investigate an unfamiliar area can lead to valuable rewards or terrifying encounters. 

Some areas are almost pitch black, forcing you to rely on a flashlight or other light sources to find your way. The darkness, combined with the occasional sound of something moving in the distance, adds anxiety to the exploration. Seemingly, safe areas can be hiding threats. Therefore, as players venture deeper into the game, they should anticipate anything. This fear of the unknown encourages cautious exploration, as you never know what might be lurking around the corner.

Not Just Another Shooter

The game’s exploration is further enhanced by environmental puzzles. These puzzles are often simple, but they break up the action and add engagement to the exploration. The game encourages players to interact with their surroundings in meaningful ways. Players can power up generators or access locked areas with keycards or codes. 

While these puzzles are rarely difficult, they require players to pay attention to the environment and solve challenges logically. Some puzzles are tied to the story, offering pieces of information that help fill in the narrative. On the other hand, others provide access to hidden areas where valuable resources can be found.

Missing Mark

In Metro Awakening VR, combat plays an important role, but it’s not without issues. Of course, the game offers a variety of weapons and intense action moments. However, the combat can feel somewhat lacking in depth. The enemy AI is often predictable, and many enemies can be easily outmaneuvered or taken out with little effort. This predictability makes encounters less challenging and more about simply surviving rather than engaging in tactical or intense combat. The AI does have its moments, but the lack of variety in enemy behavior reduces the overall excitement.

Additionally, while the combat does feature a range of weapons, from guns to throwable items, the encounters often feel repetitive. Players will face similar enemies in similar situations, which can be monotonous. The game could have benefited from more dynamic combat scenarios, like incorporating environmental hazards or more varied enemy types. As it stands, most combat encounters boil down to shooting or sneaking past enemies without much strategy involved.

Overall, the combat in Metro Awakening VR is solid, but it doesn’t quite match the high standards set by its narrative or atmosphere. It is functional but lacks enemy variety, and AI sophistication means it doesn’t feel as engaging as it could have been. 

Verdict

In conclusion, Metro Awakening VR is a strong entry into the VR gaming world. Its compelling story, immersive atmosphere, and solid gameplay mechanics make it a standout title for fans of narrative-driven VR experiences. The graphics, lighting, and sound design all contribute to the game’s horror elements, creating an experience that is both thrilling and emotionally engaging.

However, the game isn’t perfect. The combat, while enjoyable, lacks the depth and variety that could elevate it to the level of other top-tier VR shooters. However, the flaws don’t detract from the overall experience. For players who are looking for a survival horror VR experience that’s more than just a shooter, Metro Awakening VR should be on their radar. It’s not the best VR game of 2024, but it certainly earns its place among the top VR games of the year. With a bit more polish and refinement in the gameplay mechanics, it is a title worth playing.