Actually, I've been replaying Metro 2033 and it's been quite fun, because the atmosphere is what sold this game to me.
Much like the first STALKER (didn't like the others), the setting and atmosphere is very captivating. It adds so much to the gameplay and it mitigates the fact that it's so linear. I'm not a fan of totally linear games in this day and age, but Metro 2033 was a pleasant surprise. For example, my favorite levels were the library and D6. D6 especially had no major action set pieces, yet it was so interesting to walk around and listen to the dialogue in that huge complex, with such a great atmosphere of suspense, waiting for something to happen, that it nailed exactly what I wanted from it! In that regard it reminded me of Clive Barker's Undying, which is yet another game that completely nails the perfect atmosphere for the story it tells.
Much like the first STALKER (didn't like the others), the setting and atmosphere is very captivating. It adds so much to the gameplay and it mitigates the fact that it's so linear. I'm not a fan of totally linear games in this day and age, but Metro 2033 was a pleasant surprise. For example, my favorite levels were the library and D6. D6 especially had no major action set pieces, yet it was so interesting to walk around and listen to the dialogue in that huge complex, with such a great atmosphere of suspense, waiting for something to happen, that it nailed exactly what I wanted from it! In that regard it reminded me of Clive Barker's Undying, which is yet another game that completely nails the perfect atmosphere for the story it tells.