A Metrospective.
The Metro series is a set of first-person shooters, with light survival elements. It is set in a decimated Russia, twenty years after a nuclear war. What you may not have known though, is that Artyom's tale was a book long before it was a video game. While Metro 2033, written by Dmitry Glukhovsky, may have inspired the first game, there are still plenty of noticeable differences.
It's surprising just how different the two versions are - save for a few recognisable characters, factions, and plot points. This article will highlight some of those differences.
1) The Characters
The gallant leader of the Rangers, Miller, appears in the book under the name Melnik. Miller is the English translation of Melnik*. Besides this though, Miller/Melnik remains similar between both platforms.
Khan is another character similar to his video game counterpart. However, philosophy and spirituality are a far more prominent part of the book's version of the character.
I found that Bourbon had the greatest personality difference between the book and the game. The book presents him as a rather sinister individual; a deeply conniving and mysterious figure. He and Artyom never see eye to eye for their exceptionally brief encounter. This is in contrast to his confident and trustworthy character as seen in the game.
(*This simplification of names is present throughout the games. The original Russian in the books can be difficult to follow, even in translated novels. A4 would change certain names where possible to help with accessibility and understanding.)
2) The Moscow Metro
While Artyom visits a good portion of the Moscow metro in the book, many of the stations are omitted from the game.
Moreover, some of the names have been changed in the game. Prospekt Mira simply became Prospect and Artyom's home station, VDNKh, became Exhibition.
3) The Atmosphere
Something noticeable between the book and the game is how they establish the atmosphere.
The game leans towards jump scares as a means to unsettle the player. The book however creates unease in the reader by referencing the mystery of the Metro - leaning more towards a fear of the unknown. What really does lie out there in the impenetrable blackness of the dark? In the stillness, the vast emptiness?
4) The Creatures
Whilst the game has Artyom battle through hordes of sub-dwelling Nosalis. An array of warped mutant creature, including what appear to be giantand monstrous; moles, rats and bats - are all in fact absent from the literature. The bizarre balls of lightening, the Anomalies, are also never mentioned in the book.
As I have previously mentioned, the atmosphere in the book does paint a picture of hidden creatures. Though, Artyom quickly discovers man himself is the real threat down in the tunnels. Along with the occasional rat horde and restless spirit.
Demons and the Watchers do exist up on the irradiated surface, but Watchers are never named, and are only described.
5) Artyom's Kill Count
The game puts you in some very tricky situations where killing those in your path is usually the only viable option. The game is an FPS after all and provides you with some very interesting weaponry. Why not use it?
Well Artyom, during the events as conveyed by the novel, kills only a single person. Thi is in a situation where he needs to, to survive. He carries a rifle with him for a good portion of the tale, but actually uses a knife to make the kill.
It seems Artyom is not as bloodthirsty as the games would have us believe.
While the game and the book have very different approaches to the story, they do work great for their respective platforms. After Metro 2033, the story would further diverge; the books showing more of life in the Metro and the games instead stincking closely to Artyom in particular. Regardless of this, I do hope Glukhovsky and A4 continue to create new entries.
thumbnail image ©: A4 Games, Deep Silver, THQ, Koch Media, DaSuppaStudios
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