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Name: Metro 2033

The year is 2033, man has all but destroyed itself and turned the once lush and industrialised earth into nothing more than a wrecked and radiated wasteland. People have been driven from their homes to seek shelter from the aftermath of the nuclear fallout and now mainly live in train stations, one of which, and what the game is based around, is the 'VDNKh' within the Moscow Metro, the largest air-raid shelter ever built. But people aren't just avoiding the radiation, a new species has arisen within the wastes that have adapted themselves to the harsh environment, it's these nightmarish creatures which you'll be defending yourself against as you start your story through the deep and dark subterranean tunnels of the Moscow Metro.

The majority of your time spent in Metro 2033 will be spent underground, exploring tunnels which interconnect with one-another with the odd outpost dotted in between. These outposts come in various forms, mostly being nothing more than scrounged together scrap metal and hastily erected, you can usually tell what type of outpost is ahead, whether it be the well entrenched beginnings of a military outpost or the chewed up corpses and remains of those not fortunate enough to have survived the close proximity to a camp belonged to the beasts.

The atmosphere and tension while you're exploring is definitely one you won't forget in a hurry, as you make your way down dark tunnels you're haunted by the sounds of evil beasts and unpleasant happenings lurking in the background, no doubt waiting to make a move when you least expect it. Unfortunately for you, all you get is a headlamp to keep yourself on course, the odd radioactive fungi lights various small areas and the rare electric lamps can look like beacons of safety to which you'll head towards, don't be fooled however because for the majority you'll be all alone in the dark with nothing but your wits and your weapons to keep you alive, and even the well lit areas aren't always safe. There are the odd parts where you'll be with a group of allies, tasked with a mission, but these are few, although very enjoyable. Later on you'll be able to use night vision goggles which add some relief to the atmosphere within the underground, these can be great for sneaking up on any unsuspecting foes and taking them down, finding things to shoot isn't a problem you'll come across, but when you do come across an abandoned tunnel, your left deciding whether the silence is golden, or deadly.

Parts of your adventure will lead you onto the surface with a gas mask strapped to your face, there isn't much left of Moscow, mostly piles of rubble and destroyed buildings, but this doesn't make exploring any less important, or the timer on how long the filter on your gas mask lasts. Exploring the wasteland can be a treasure trove in disguise for any adventurer, ammo caches and dead bodies filled with loot can make the day of any explorer, but don't think for a moment you're any safer topside than you are down under. Evil beasts live in holes out here, and it's these unsightly creatures which won't hesitate to attack and feed on your remains should they spot you.

All hope isn't lost in the wasteland, you'll get access to a variety of weapons to help you on your way, some of the rarer pre-war weapons can be extremely powerful and very valuable, but the majority are cobbled together with spare parts from whatever is left around after the fallout, such as the pneumatic crossbow, a deadly combination if ever there was one. Combat can be surprisingly tricky when taking on some of the faster beasts, when you're shooting a fast moving enemy for instance knowledge dictates that you should shoot ahead of it, it's difficult to tell however whether your bullets are actually hitting the monster or not. Ammunition isn't the most abundant commodity throughout the Metro so you can't go in guns blazing and hoping for the best, but the combat is an enjoyable experience, which is especially pleasing when using stealth to take out your enemies with some of the post-war weapons. The controls make the game a delight to play and are your typical shooter layout for the controller, or the mouse and keyboard if you're a PC gamer.

Metro 2033 was originally a book by Dmitry Glukhovsky which gives the game some credit in its narrative, the world is an interesting place and it's filled with information that will broaden the scope of the story and the areas around you. Sneaking up on enemies isn't just about taking them out, if you listen in you'll hear conversations which fill you in on your surroundings, these add immeasurable insight into the story and aid in the understanding of the situation the game portrays for those unlucky enough to still be alive after the fallout. The game isn't without its problems however, mostly down to the graphics which can seem like a patchwork at times. Environmental textures and characters all suffer from their own set of problems on both the Xbox 360 and the PC version, they don't dampen the experience at all because you'll usually either not notice or be too busy shooting something, but you'll no doubt occasionally notice some of the odd ones during your time in the Metro. However, the graphics are quite spectacular in places, more so on the PC if you have the needy requirements the game demands on maximum settings.

Converting a book into a video game is no easy task, yet 4A Games have done a pretty good job in conveying Metro 2033's rich story into an enjoyable and playable first-person shooter, despite a few technical flaws. The single-player only game roughly spans ten hours and you'll be greeted with a deep and invasive atmosphere that plays on your mind as you progress through the Moscow Metro. Metro 2033 offers a rewarding and compelling experience which anyone can enjoy if they fancy their chances in a dark world filled with the sounds of horror and nightmarish creatures.