Review of Metro Awakening for PS5/PSVR2

Metro Awakening stands as one of the most anticipated PSVR2 titles of 2024 and represents a significant evolution for Vertigo Games, known for their Arizona Sunshine series. While their earlier endeavors revolved around the chaotic thrill of slaying zombies, this time they’ve dived into the tense, resource-conserving world of Metro, where the ambiance drips with suspense. Initially, we had our concerns about whether the development team could successfully transport the Metro series’ hallmark features into the VR realm. However, they’ve not only managed to do so but have also crafted one of the standout titles on PSVR2.

The game is set a few years before the primary storyline of the Metro series, centering around a character named Serdar. He’s a survivor trying to navigate life within Moscow’s metro tunnels. Serdar’s wife, Yana, desperately needs medicine, haunted by the terrifying echoes of their deceased son’s voice. With a trusty pistol and gas mask, you venture into this horrifying underground world filled with dangers.

From the onset, Vertigo succeeds in capturing Metro’s signature aesthetics—the makeshift shelters bathed in the warm glow of barrel fires, the unsettling scenery of decayed camps, and the menacing nests of radiation-soaked mutants. It might not match the visual grandeur of something like Horizon Call of the Mountain, but Metro Awakening’s lighting creates an authentic realism within its environment. Whether it’s the mysterious green glow of mushrooms or your own flickering flashlight, every detail enhances the gritty atmosphere.

This rich visual world comes to life through the game’s immersive VR mechanics. Small actions like clearing your visor or lighting away cobwebs build immersion, with numerous memorable VR moments scattered throughout. There’s truly nothing like tentatively moving through a spider-infested corridor, only for a massive spider to leap towards you, the tactile sensation of its legs made more vivid through headset feedback. These are unforgettable experiences that simply can’t be mirrored in standard gaming formats.

In tackling the creatures that await, Metro Awakening features a limited, albeit satisfying, selection of weapons. Fans of the Arizona Sunshine games may recognize the familiar shooting mechanics, which feel especially powerful thanks to the PSVR2 Sense Controller’s haptics. Notably, new gameplay dynamics allow for more intuitive handling of weapons, letting you multi-task using your free hand while handling a gun—a process that quickly feels instinctual.

The game excels in ensuring its control schemes do not detract from your immersion. You interact naturally within the game’s world, avoiding needless game menus except for pause screens. Commands like switching on your flashlight using the R2 button while holding the controller to your head, or retrieving your backpack by reaching over your shoulder, create an unbroken connection to the game world. Even monitoring your ammo is done visually, providing a continuous in-game experience.

There are rare moments of slight control mishaps, such as mistakenly grabbing your backpack instead of reloading, but these don’t detract from the overall fluidity. The thrill of hunting foes, eying them down for the perfect shot, and grappling with scarce resources adds to the excitement. Metro Awakening’s combat shines whether you’re darting into all-out firefights or sneaking past foes with strategic distractions. However, melee takedowns might feel a bit clumsy, and occasionally enemy footsteps can be misleading.

When Metro Awakening’s elements combine—its tense soundscape, dynamic lighting, and seamless controls—the result is an intensely immersive experience. Yet, the story doesn’t quite maintain its momentum. It starts promisingly with engaging characters and solid motion-capture for VR standards, but as the narrative leans more into the supernatural, it slightly loses its grip. The supernatural additions bring a freshness to gameplay but aren’t nearly as captivating as stealthily navigating past enemies.

The game does wane a bit towards the end. We would’ve preferred a little more setting diversity and found the emotional peak of the story to leave us slightly unfulfilled. Nonetheless, the dynamic gameplay keeps you engrossed across its roughly ten-hour span.

On the technical side, Metro Awakening does encounter some hiccups. There were instances of brief freezes and frame rate drops, along with occasional crashes when loading new areas. However, these weren’t frequent, and overall, the technical performance was largely smooth.

In conclusion, any doubts about Vertigo’s ability to create a compelling Metro experience in VR were unwarranted. The developers have artfully encapsulated the essence of the Metro series, elevating it with engaging VR-specific features. Despite areas where the storytelling and setting variety might slightly falter, the game’s thrilling peaks make it a journey worth repeating. With its striking visuals, atmospheric depth, and intuitive controls, Metro Awakening stands out as an intensely immersive VR title.