This post is dedicated to Metro 2033 video game from the storytelling perspective. My first encounter with Metro 2033 was not, in fact, the video game itself, but the book by Dmitry Glukhovsky (also called Metro 2033), which the game is based on. When I read the book and realized that I am totally obsessed with it, I went on "googling" for a movie of it. However, I found out that the author has decided to give the green light to a video game instead, which I was waiting for impatiently. And now that I have played it, I can say that the game creators have successfully implemented the compelling story of Metro 2033.
Metro 2033 is a Post-Apocalyptic Survival-Horror and First Person Shooter video game released in 2010. The game has an immersive complex storyline and character relations, while also revealing morales of humanity as the story goes. The story takes place in Moscow's metro tunnels in the post-apocalyptic world, which was caused by World War III 20 years ago. The main character Artyom, which player takes control of, is an orphaned Russian man, who was born just before the nuclear war and saved by his adopted father Alex.
The Earth is possessed by mutants of different kinds and is also a continuous threat in the metro. In Artyom's home station called Exhibition, he and Alex learn from the fallen battalion about a new kind of mysterious species called dark ones, who they believe is a potential threat to the humanity in the metro. Soon after they meet a ranger called Hunter, who goes on the battle against the dark ones on his own. He gives to Artyom a Sparta medallion and tells him to deliver the news about the dark ones to Polis station if he does not return. He does not return and Artyom heads to Polis and encounters different characters on his way as well as superstitious enemies. Just before reaching the Polis he is captured by Nazis and slips from inevitable death when two rangers Ulman and Pavel saves him. Artyom presents the medallion from Hunter and tells them to bring him to the Polis.
When reached Polis, Artyom meets Miller and presents the medallion to him, who leads him to tell the story to the main council. They decide that they can not spend their resources on hunting the dark ones, because of the war with Nazis and lack of resources. However, Miller pledges himself to help with stopping the dark ones and tells Artyom about 'D6' intact launch facility, which should irradicate the dark ones. They must go out to the surface to find it and encounter several deaths of comrade rangers, obstacles and Artyom even sees a couple of visions from the dark ones, where they proclaim peace between their kind and the humanity. In the end, Artyom climbs onto the Ostankino Tower, where he installs the guidance system for destroying the dark ones.
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The player is presented with ending based on the choices he has made during the gameplay. The classic ending is when Artyom lets the dark ones to be destroyed and he considers the meaning of humanity's existence and visions from the dark ones. The other ending is presented if the player has gained good moral points, where he can choose whether to destroy the missile beacon or let the missiles be launched. If the player chooses not to kill the dark ones the guidance system falls off the tower, smashing to the ground, and Artyom realizing that the dark ones wanted only to reach out to humanity and make peaceful communications.
My personal favorite thing about the video game is the story itself and I do believe that it is a great example of how to combine a compelling story with immersive gameplay. Also, I do appreciate the detail-oriented approach to the story and graphics, which makes the player engage in it and live through the story. Each character is unique in its own way and the post-apocalyptic underground life in the game is intricated enough to lift the player in the virtual world completely.
Used for inspiration:
Fandom. Metro 2033 (Video Game).
http://metrovideogame.wikia.com/wiki/Metro_2033_(Video_Game)
“Fear the light. Fear the dark. Fear the future.„
— Original taglineMetro 2033 is a Post-Apocalyptic Survival-Horror and First Person Shooter video game released in 2010. The game has an immersive complex storyline and character relations, while also revealing morales of humanity as the story goes. The story takes place in Moscow's metro tunnels in the post-apocalyptic world, which was caused by World War III 20 years ago. The main character Artyom, which player takes control of, is an orphaned Russian man, who was born just before the nuclear war and saved by his adopted father Alex.
The Earth is possessed by mutants of different kinds and is also a continuous threat in the metro. In Artyom's home station called Exhibition, he and Alex learn from the fallen battalion about a new kind of mysterious species called dark ones, who they believe is a potential threat to the humanity in the metro. Soon after they meet a ranger called Hunter, who goes on the battle against the dark ones on his own. He gives to Artyom a Sparta medallion and tells him to deliver the news about the dark ones to Polis station if he does not return. He does not return and Artyom heads to Polis and encounters different characters on his way as well as superstitious enemies. Just before reaching the Polis he is captured by Nazis and slips from inevitable death when two rangers Ulman and Pavel saves him. Artyom presents the medallion from Hunter and tells them to bring him to the Polis.
When reached Polis, Artyom meets Miller and presents the medallion to him, who leads him to tell the story to the main council. They decide that they can not spend their resources on hunting the dark ones, because of the war with Nazis and lack of resources. However, Miller pledges himself to help with stopping the dark ones and tells Artyom about 'D6' intact launch facility, which should irradicate the dark ones. They must go out to the surface to find it and encounter several deaths of comrade rangers, obstacles and Artyom even sees a couple of visions from the dark ones, where they proclaim peace between their kind and the humanity. In the end, Artyom climbs onto the Ostankino Tower, where he installs the guidance system for destroying the dark ones.
The player is presented with ending based on the choices he has made during the gameplay. The classic ending is when Artyom lets the dark ones to be destroyed and he considers the meaning of humanity's existence and visions from the dark ones. The other ending is presented if the player has gained good moral points, where he can choose whether to destroy the missile beacon or let the missiles be launched. If the player chooses not to kill the dark ones the guidance system falls off the tower, smashing to the ground, and Artyom realizing that the dark ones wanted only to reach out to humanity and make peaceful communications.
My personal favorite thing about the video game is the story itself and I do believe that it is a great example of how to combine a compelling story with immersive gameplay. Also, I do appreciate the detail-oriented approach to the story and graphics, which makes the player engage in it and live through the story. Each character is unique in its own way and the post-apocalyptic underground life in the game is intricated enough to lift the player in the virtual world completely.
Used for inspiration:
Fandom. Metro 2033 (Video Game).
http://metrovideogame.wikia.com/wiki/Metro_2033_(Video_Game)
A good summary of the game. I really liked the world design of both this game and the sequel. Even though the decisions you make in the game are not very consequential, the different endings are a nice touch by the developers.
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