Metro Awakening has emerged as a standout release on the PSVR2, marking a significant departure for Vertigo Games from their previous ventures like Arizona Sunshine. This entry into virtual reality explores a different genre rooted in stealth, meticulous ammunition management, and a gripping atmosphere, all distinctive traits of the Metro series. The transition of these elements into VR was a point of curiosity and concern, but Vertigo Games has not only managed to fulfill this task; they have excelled, creating one of the best experiences available on PSVR2.
Set years before the mainline Metro series, Metro Awakening introduces players to Serdar, a survivor navigating the perils of the Russian metro system due to the dire circumstances imposed by the harsh world above. His journey is driven by the critical need to find medication for his wife Yana, who suffers from haunting auditory hallucinations of their deceased son. Equipped with just a pistol and a gas mask, Serdar’s adventure is one of survival and horror. The setting of the game is one of its strongest suits. Players will find themselves in a world beautifully rendered with the grim aesthetics typical of the Metro universe. Makeshift shelters glow in the dim light of barrel fires, and ruins teem with grotesque details, including human remains and eerie mutant nests. Although it might not surpass the visual fidelity of titles like Horizon Call of the Mountain, Metro Awakening compensates with its atmospheric lighting and authentic settings that enhance the immersion.
Using VR capabilities innovatively, the game introduces interactive elements such as wiping condensation off your gas mask or using a lighter to clear cobwebs, which enhance the realism and pull players deeper into its world. The experience of navigating through spider-infested zones, feeling the crawl of spiders through headset haptics, and managing weaponry manually makes for a uniquely engaging gameplay that could never be replicated on a traditional screen.
The weaponry in Metro Awakening, while limited, offers deeply satisfying mechanics. Players must manually reload and manage their weapons, which adds a tactical layer to the gameplay. The refined haptic feedback of the PSVR2 controllers further accentuates each shot, providing a powerful sensation that complements the game’s intense scenarios. Navigation and interaction have been designed to minimize disruption of immersion. There are no conventional in-game menus, and actions such as turning on a flashlight or checking ammunition are performed through physical movements and gestures, which intuitively mimic real-life actions.
Despite being meticulously designed, the game is not devoid of minor issues. Occasionally, players might experience slight control mishaps or difficulty in enemy localization. Moreover, while the narrative begins strongly with compelling characters and storylines, the engagement slightly wanes as more supernatural elements become prevalent, slightly detracting from the narrative’s initial grounded and urgent feel.
Throughout its approximately 10-hour campaign, Metro Awakening consistently delivers heart-pounding moments, enhanced by stellar sound design and responsive controls that make it easy for players to lose themselves in the terrifying world. The game’s immersion is occasionally interrupted by technical issues such as crashes or frame rate drops, but these are infrequent enough to not detract significantly from the overall experience.
Metro Awakening is a testament to the potential of VR in transforming narrative-driven games into fully immersive experiences. The game successfully brings the distinctive atmosphere and tension of the Metro series into a new dimension, making it a must-play for fans of the series and VR enthusiasts alike.
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