Metro 2033: Guide

Metro 2033 features dark world after nuclear war. Humanity is almost eliminated and survivors live in several safes from radiation and mutants areas. In Moscow, people occupy entire metro system where they can breathe clean air and eat clean food. A lot of stations and tunnels are destroyed and polluted. Monsters from surface try to destroy the rest of citizens. Radical human organizations such as Fourth Reich or Red Line fight for leadership. Finally, strange mutants Dark Ones attack one of terminal stations. In this world, you will play as Artyom, one of the survivors from VDNKh station. Your main goal is to find a protection from Dark Ones. For that reason, you should move to Polus in the center of metro and find help.

Here we provide an ultimate guide for Metro 2033. It covers basics of the game, features of interface, weapon and combats important options, interactions with the world around and less detailed story features. We don’t want to fill this guide with spoilers so will not provide the detailed step-by-step walkthrough. The game is pretty linear, though. For sure, you will not face any problems with understanding the story and completing it.

So, here we will focus on different game features without spoilers or each mission descriptions. For that, we have another guide where all levels are listed. Let’s start with basics!

Gameplay

Metro 2033 is a unique combination of FPS, survival story and horror. It’s obvious that you should proceed through different locations full of hostiles. But it’s not a typical shooter where you can grab a powerful riffle and eliminate entire level. No, the game is difficult and challenging so far as it requires players to think strategically and don’t move the easiest way. You just will die from several shots or monsters’ bites in direct combat.

Thus, survival horror enters the game. Sometimes it forces you to sneak from dreadful mutant hunting on you. Sometimes it allows you to run from combat or crawl in shadows. Linear style of the game makes it less variable so sometimes you have to enter the battle as well. Normally, the game mix direct combats, stealth levels and safe locations where you can take a rest. During the story, you will visit different stations and parts of Moscow.

There are some gameplay features that make Metro 2033 quite original:

• Health and injuries system.

The game doesn’t include a regular health or stamina bar. Instead of this you can detect injures by blood splashes on the screen. The more splashes there are the less health is left. Artyom heals his wounds automatically after each fight, but in tough battles, it’s highly recommended to use medical kits as you can die fast.

• Radiation and air system.

This system is similar to previous one. There isn’t special bar or interface element like built-in Geiger counter which could show the level of radiation. At all, you will not face a lot of areas with high radiation. But air on the surface is greatly polluted so you should use air filters and a gas mask. It’s possible to detect high pollution when your mask starts to fog up.

• Money system.

In Metro 2033 people use military or «gold» cartridges as the main currency. With it, you can buy weapons, equipment, and upgrades. But also you can use these cartridges as regular bullets with great damage and accuracy. It’s important to use cartridges wisely. We recommend to save them for merchants until 5 chapter and use them for the weapon after that.

• Stealth system.

Probably, stealth has the worst design in the game. You can beat only a few levels without being detected while during other mission you have to kill enemies or alert them. It’s possible to destroy sources of light and use night vision goggles to reduce the chance of detection. Note also that all mutants will detect you even in the total dark.

In further paragraphs we will provide more detailed reviews for some features.

Interface

The interface of the game can be divided into 3 parts. 2 of them represent combat interface and town one with different elements included. The last part is actually an element of each interface called wrist watch. Let’s reveal features of each interface:

• Combat HUD.

During the combat or just in unsafe zones you will see some elements on your screen. Basically, those are a number of regular and military bullets in the right bottom corner, list of usable items in the left and menu with a different weapon in the center. Use the circular menu for weapons as it’s easier to use than a standard wheel. Thus, in the circular menu, you can see slots.

• The top left slot features revolvers that are good for precise shots in the sewers.
• The top center slot features automatic weapons that are only suitable for «gold» cartridges.
• The right slot features heavy weapons means shotguns that have high damage.
• Low left slot features throwing knives that are essential for stealth playthrough.
• The low center slot features pipe bombs that can deal with big crowds of foes.
• The low right slot features sticky bombs that can in addition stick to targets.

• Town HUD.

In safe areas interface become more detailed. You can access your inventory to observe weapons, equipment and quest items. Town HUD also includes an amount of money and ammunition always when combat HUD shows «gold» bullets only when a certain automatic weapon is selected. In safe areas, you can interact with NPCs using dialogue interface.

• Wrist watch.

It’s one of the most important elements of the interface. Watch shows exact time of your computer, not of the game. But this item is more important as timer or detector of visibility. Each air filter lasts for certain time and you can measure it with wrist watch. Check timer to reveal how long equipped filter will be helpful.

Also, there are 3 lights on your watch and when they are all dark it means you are not visible at all. If the green light is on it means you are slightly visible. If the yellow light is on it means you are partially visible and should find a cover to not trigger an alarm. If the red light is on it means you are totally visible and foes will attack you immediately.

Weapons and equipment

Each weapon in the game has different damage, accuracy, sound and can use different ammo. Only automatic weapons can use military cartridges means money. Some weapons such as pneumatics or tossing knives suit best stealth strategy while others such as shotguns are cool for devastating combats. We suggest collecting ammo and money in the early game. After 5 chapter you can use «gold» bullets for weapons as there are no vendors until the end.

Here are short descriptions for every weapon in the game:

• Revolver. It’s the basic secondary weapon which can be pretty useful. Aim with it into heads to kill human hostiles with a single shot. A lot of bullets for revolver can save you in tough episodes when you don’t have any other weapons.
• Bastard Gun. It’s the basic main weapon from the start. This gun is artisanal, slow, long-reloading and completely frustrating. Sell it as fast as you can and find Kalash which is way more useful during entire game.
• Kalash. It’s an iconic weapon for Russian originally designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov. It features magazines per 30 bullets in each, moderate damage and short animation of recharging. Kalash is suitable for first half of the game.
• Kalash 2012. It’s upgraded version of Kalash which is the best automatic weapon in the game. There are 40 bullets in each magazine, several upgrades such as scope or silencer and high damage. Change regular Kalash with it as fast as you can.
• VSV. It’s sniper rifle which can help you during stealth playthrough. It has small magazines per 20 bullets and strange mark system with only one small red dot. VSV isn’t handy for bright places, but it works well in metro.
• Uboyneg. It’s a standard shotgun which can deal with mutants easily. Be sure to use it in close range for maximum power. Also, take some time to explore reload system as it is quiye puzzling for newcomers.
• Duplet. It’s the double-barreled shotgun which is way cooler than previous one. You can fire both barrels at once dealing devastating damage. But remember about reloading. Duplet is useful against mutants as well.
• Tihar. It’s the first pneumatic air-charging weapon that you can use. It is suitable for stealth lovers, but also can deal a lot of damage while fully charged. Use an alternative fire button to pump it to avoid accidentally fire.
• Helsing. It’s another pneumatic weapon which uses spears. Helsing is similar to regular crossbows, but with additional pumping mechanism. Note that spears are very rare and you can break them. Helsing is quite exotic weapon.
• Throwing knives. It’s the best alternative for stealth weapons. Knives are silent and deadly if you are aiming heads of your targets. You can recover knives after combat. Also, there are a lot of knives in chests during the game.
• Bombs. Here are essential items for all who love explosions. Bombs or grenades can easily eliminate a lot of enemies at once. Be sure not to throw sticky bombs in running mutants as they are always running in your direction.

Aside from weapons, ammo, and upgrades for them you can buy or find equipment and valuable items:

• Suits. There are Stealth and Armor types which decrease your sounds or damage taken respectively. There is a glitch which allows you to wear both suits at once.
• Gas masks and air filters. Your main equipment for missions in the city. Be sure to always have several filters and at least one reserve mask.
• Night vision goggles. These items are helpful for stealth strategies. You can simply wear it, break all lamps and crawl behind enemies. Monsters still can see you in the dark.
• Medical kits. We suggest having at least one kit in the inventory. It will be helpful in long difficult battles where you cannot take a rest and heal wound automatically.
• Protective kits. Quite rare equipment which is needed for areas with high level of radiation. Basically, NPCs will let you know when you need it.

And we have the last tip about weapons. Be sure to spend your money in safe areas before next missions. Buy a lot of supplies as you don’t know where next town or vendor is.

Endings

As the story of Metro 2033 is pretty interesting we will not reveal all secrets. It’s enough to know that the protagonist Artyom have to deal with supernatural mutants called Dark Ones. A mystery of them you can solve near the end of the game and you can do it in 2 ways. There is a normal ending for which you shouldn’t do special choices and can just play. But there is also a secret ending which is available only if you have enough moral points.

At all, you should speak with people, hide from enemies, be generous and kind. Try to contact with Dark Ones any time you can, don’t kill people without the need and don’t loot corpses too often. There are several crucial moral choices, especially during last mission. Probably, you will recognize these episodes with the knowledge that an alternate secret ending is «good» and linked with Dark Ones strongly.

FAQ

In conclusion, we have some reminders that can help you in the game:

• How to distinguish regular cartridges from «gold» ones?

Military bullets or in-game money can be inserted only in Bastard Gun, VSV, Kalash and Kalash 2012. You cannot use these cartridges in other weapons. It’s also easy to recognize «gold» bullets as they have a yellow circumference.

• What are the best weapons for different enemies?

Use revolver against nosalises and shotgun against Demons. Pneumatics and knives are good against humans when shotguns and high-leveled automatic weapons can easily eliminate mutants. It’s recommended to upgrade your weapons.

• How to change the air filter and a gas mask?

If you have enough filters Artyom will change them automatically. But the broken gas mask is a more serious problem. With it filters cannot help you to avoid polluted air. So be sure to have at least one reserve mask or try to find it in nearby boxes or safes.

• Are there upgrades to different stats?

Basically, you can upgrade equipment and weapons. Talk to vendors to reveal what upgrades are available. But you also can buy special suits to boost your stats. Stealth Suit increases your secrecy while Armor Suit reduces the damage taken.

That’s all for this guide. Explore metro and enjoy the game!