Metro Exodus (Enhanced Edition) Review

 1UP Gameplay: 

Release Date: 14 Feb, 2019

Developer: 4A Games

Publisher: Deepsilver

Graphics:

Continuing the tradition of the Metro video game series,  Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition brought an improved visual quality as one of the first video games to showcase the new RTX/ Ray tracing Technology by Nvidia. Although personally I cannot see these changes because the original is not yet out of date visually, I do find that there are some heavily added particles, especially with the snow in Moscow. Funny thing I have tried launching this on my 1060 MAXQ (3GB) laptop before realizing that's not possible as it's below the minimum requirements for not having RTX.

Art Style:

The art style remains the photorealistic dark parallel universe where everything is dull and nothing is good to look at, the type of world made only for survival. Although the more the world is explored through the crews' travels the more colours seem to pop through different seasons and environments, showing there's more to this world and Artyom's dream after all. 

Gameplay Mechanics:

This game has some of the perfect controls in video game history, I wouldn't say they invented anything in that regard but the mechanics of everything and how it works makes it unique to most games. All items have a specific use in this world and it's hard to get through the world without figuring out how each item works as most stages require some use of each, from using the lighter to burn spider webs  in order to prevent them climbing you to using the flashlight in dark areas and your battery to charge your flashlight and also power the facilities you're in to illuminate them. 

Story:

The story of Artyom seeing to live on the surface has always been captivating because it is something he never gave up on even from all the conflicts he faces in the metro, he remained focused that things should be better and go back to normal, either he is going to see it or make sure the next generation does. The single man's determination that keeps these games going, and we are rooting for the silent protagonist, that somehow only narrates during the loading screens by the way, he's just isn't feeling like speaking to his mates. 

World Building:

Artyom searching the surface has brought interesting adventures that had him and Anna captured, only to unveil more of the mystery of this world as they find the rabbit hole goes way deeper in terms of what they knew and how they were living. Escaping with the train named The Arora has them discovering survives and new interesting places where they have to regroup, salvage for anything that would be usable/ beneficial to them such as medicine, engine/weapon part, food, water and anyone who may be of their assistance. Each place they come across has new enemies,  stories to unfold and a different atmosphere from what they were used to in the Metro. Some areas are windy and sunny which is something the crew isn't used to from living their lives in the Metro, other areas are a bit tropical with greenery everywhere. Some areas are too toxic with radiation everywhere and you have to make sure you don't run out of air filters. Every level has some new tests and fun experiences for you, you even get to drive in some. 

Verdict:

= This remains the perfect experience for video games in the first-person shooter genre. The story, gameplay, mechanics, and world all fit together in ways that test you.