Metro Exodus Review: 6 Ups & 4 Downs

1. Script And Voice Acting Is Spotty

While I mentioned before how Exodus' train hub acts similar to Red Dead Redemption 2's camp, unlike that game, this sequel doesn’t quite have the script or voice talent to back it up. Some standout sections - like a group singalong midway through the game - really resonate, but sometimes you can spend five minutes listening to someone spout exposition before realising they’re not really saying anything at all.

People just talk at you for minutes at a time as they pace backwards and forward. That would be fine, but Artyom is a mute protagonist, a feature which feels incredibly dated in 2019. For such a story-driven game, making the main character mute can make the already wonky dialogue feel even more unnatural. It transforms conversations into exposition dumps. Anna in particular suffers the most, constantly telling you how much she loves you, and having long winded “conversations” that are entirely one-sided.

It’s an odd choice - especially because he narrates the loading screens anyway. Even worse, this problem with delivery seeps into the story itself. As a narrative, Metro: Exodus is great, offering up interesting characters as they embark on this year-long journey into the unknown. But the actual way this story is told and conveyed takes something away from its impact.