Metro 2033

[nub]

DAMMIT, I never have the money to buy a game when it goes on sale.

[RefaelBA]

After reading the book (before) and completing the game (later) I concluded that someone who didn't read the book cant possibly understand shit from the ending, and someone who has read the book has a very little chance to understand the ending (of the book or the game). The book says very little about the Dark Ones and their role, and the game says even less. As a result the main storyline feels like an unnecessary addition to the most important thing, which is presenting the societies of the underground.

I didn't feel like you should know more about the Dark Ones than the game offers.

In the end you can deduce that they're a new civilization, they're inteligent, and after a period of struggles with the Metro humans they want to come to terms. It's up to you in the end to decide whether they live to make peace with humanity or die. The mystery and lack of solid detail made the decision much more personal and philosophical. I liked.

[xoqolatl]

Maybe I'm too used to old hardcore SF books and simple Hollywood movies, but I think the whole Dark Ones sub-plot could have been executed better. I'd have the author either ditch it altogether and concentrate on humans undergound, or expand it significantly. Also, the book has only one ending and I didn't even know the game has two, I just followed the book

[source-maps]

the game had 2 endings? wasn't it a win or fail situation?
either you destroy them, or you die? that's not really a choice imo

[Wrangler249]

Definitely no choice that I came across, just kill them or it's game over. You can hardly call that an alternative ending.

[RefaelBA]

Warning, MASSIVE SPOILER.
Here I tell what's the end and what's the alternate ending.

The alternate ending is only available if you gain enough "moral points" through the campaign. There are a few ways to get them, in several situations that you're mostly not aware of, and then in the end you get the chance to stop the launch before destroying the Dark Ones. The game ends with a promise of peace and future cooperation with the new species. In case you do destroy them, Artyom says "something was lost"...

[9f1062f623f9]

An all right game. Started off very good, then got progressively worse unfortunately as it went on. Some very poor design choices were made in the maps and mechanics of the game. I'm glad I bought it on budget with the steam sales as I felt I would only have been paying extra for the graphics with it on full price.

[Unstoppable Florence]

Just started this game tonight. I have two things to say, and they roughly describe my experience in a chronological context:

1. HOLY CHRIST, WOOW THIS IS AN AMAZING GAME. IS THERE ANYTHING UPON THIS EARTH THAT COULD RUIN THIS?

2. Filters. ¬¬

It's not that I dislike being forced to restart a whole section because I didn't 'plan ahead.' What I dislike is not having that gameplay mechanic explained to me beforehand. How am I supposed to know that the number next to the filter icon is the number of minutes remaining, not complete filters? It's a real shame about that, because besides that confusion I don't think I have anything but praise for that mechanic. The tightened breathing, the build-up of moisture... the way my mask cracked as I fought back those mutants with my knife. Ahh what is it with these Russian games? They always get so near to perfection...

Edit: I have just finished. Ghost Tunnel. The pit between the Reds and Nazis. The Tower. Wow wow wow. This game will live with me for a long time.

But I have one major gripe. The alternative endings. I gave money to the poor, I spared lives where I could, I refused the reward for rescuing the boy. Apparently I wasn't good 'enough.' Why does that even matter? Why deny the player the choice, based on some arbitrary conditions met throughout the game?

Stalker's alternate endings where brilliant. You were given hints that the prize at the end wasn't quite as it seemed, and if you ignored them, you payed. I spent the last half of the game not wanting to kill the Dark Ones. I climbed that tower with the intention of confronting them and seeking truth. I even let myself get killed by them a few times, hoping that it would be the trigger for that ending. How the hell does giving to a begger at the start of the game hold any sway at all on that conclusion. Utter tripe. : (