From the moment you put Metro 2033 into your drive, prepare to be wowed. From the initial start screen to the final credits, THQ and 4A games Russian apocalypse themed first person shooter drips with pitch-perfect ambiance, stunning HD graphics and astounding pacing.

Then you actually start playing.

The truth is that Metro 2033 is a great interactive experience, but then again, so is a Leapster. With broken mechanics, horridly stupid AI and a middle act that doesn’t seem to fit at all, Metro 2033 is a frustrating video game.  And yes, there’s a difference. The worst part? Once the credits roll you can’t help but feel like the game deserved much better.

Based off the Metro 2033 novel by Dmitry Glukhovsky, the adaptation places players in the role of Artyom, a young boy living in the Moscow’s station after the city has been decimated in apocalyptic warfare. Now, I know what you’re thinking; it’s awfully similar to Fallout 3. While you’d be right that Fallout 3 has already done the whole post-apocalyptic thing (along with countless other titles), there’s something inherently different about 4A Games version of a wasteland. When they were built, the Russian Government actually intended for the Metro to be used as a shelter in the worst case scenario, so there’s a creepy feeling when navigating the tunnels that sticks with you until the end of the title. The Metro’s tunnels feel creepily realistic here; you can almost smell the dankness of the air. The development team did a great job making the tunnels feel lived in.

"...this section of the game reminds me more of a survival horror game than an FPS."

The best moments in Metro 2033 are when it’s just you and the wasteland. This isn’t like Fallout 3’s land in rehabilitation, Moscow is freshly under attack and you’re not even able to step out of the safety of the Metro without your trusty gas mask.  There’s something strangely hypnotic about wandering the wasteland to the rhythm of your own amplified breathing. Even the most seasoned gamer is sure to jump at least a few times when a freak disfigured by the blast or a desperate human attacks you from out of your limited vision.  Echoing the early days of Resident Evil, this section of the game reminds me more of a survival horror game than an FPS.

As you progress through the subway system, your tale, and just what happened during the Apocalypse begins to unfold with pitch perfect pacing. I actually had fun exploring (which the game actually encourages you to do), and I never felt like I was being rushed into the next plot twist or event.  Some of the locations throughout the Metro are a bit too dark, but you’ll enjoy exploring the different settlements and checking out the awesome art design. Seriously, the detail in this game is nothing short of stunning. It’s one of the best looking games I’ve seen not only this year, but in recent memory.

"...it seems that all of your enemies take about a dozen clips to take down."

Oh, but Metro 2033 is a first person shooter isn’t it? That would mean you actually have to shoot – and that’s where the game goes downhill.  Let me paint a picture for you; you’re in a dank, abandoned section of the subway you’ve never seen before. Across the way you see a group of hostiles taking aim at you.  You aim, and let your trigger finger do the talking. Now in most games a few shots would be sufficient – these are malnourished beings we’re talking about after all – but in Metro 2033, it seems that all of your enemies take about a dozen clips to take down. Combine this with the fact that some of the animations are so odd you won’t even be able to tell if you’re actually hitting your enemy and you’re left with a pretty frustrating time. It’s a shame too, as a lot of the game’s guns are quite fun to use and can add a bit of strategy to the game.

Metro 2033 is a decent experience that doesn’t work as well as it should as a video game. Everything from the setting, to the mood to the ambiance and the pacing is pitch-perfect, but once you get down to the gameplay itself, you’re bound to be left wanting more.  If you’ve already finished Bioshock 2, played through Call of Duty and are looking for something to keep you busy until Splinter Cell arrives, Metro 2033 might be for you, just don’t expect a lasting experience.