When it comes to VR game development, Vertigo Games is the most trusted name in the space. Having delivered hit titles like Arizona Sunshine, Arizona Sunshine 2, and After the Fall, I feel it’s safe to say they’ve got what it takes to deliver quality FPS games. Vertigo Games has also proved they have the chops to provide incredible flat-screen to VR conversions with their work on The 7th Guest VR.

Now, let us see if they have what it takes to take on the beloved Metro franchise. Join me on this spiritual journey through the labyrinthian tunnels of the Metro as we dive into Metro Awakening VR, developed by Vertigo Studios Amsterdam and published by Vertigo Games in conjunction with Deep Silver.

Metro Awakening is a story-driven first-person adventure built exclusively for VR. Blending atmospheric exploration, stealth and combat in what is set to be the most immersive Metro experience yet. Metro Awakening takes place a handful of years before the events of the mainline Metro Games. The year is 2028, and survivors of the nuclear armageddon are clinging to existence in the buried tunnels of the Moscow Metro – civilisation’s last refuge and tomb, where ghosts and spirits haunt the living in this man-made purgatory.

Players take on the role of Serdar, a doctor braving the darkness, crippling radiation, and deadly threats of the Metro in search of his wife and the medications she desperately needs. Your courage and sanity will be pushed to the limit, and you must learn to walk the line between life and death, the spirit and material world, and awaken the being you will become… Khan. Playing through such a powerful story in VR is an experience unlike any other.

I’ve experienced so much tension throughout my time with this incredible campaign that I’ve even questioned my sanity. Serdar’s plight is easily felt, largely because you are filling his shoes, which makes his character much more relatable.

Metro Awakening VR can be played either standing or seated. I highly recommend playing while standing because it makes peeking around corners much easier. It also has the usual comfort settings like snap-turn rotation, dominant hand selection, and teleport movement. I prefer the most immersive VR experience and always choose the smooth motion options.

The labyrinthian tunnels of the Metro are incredibly dark, and for a lot of your journey, you will need to light your way with your headlamp. The headlamp can be turned on and off by reaching to the top of your head and pressing the left trigger. Eventually, your headlamp will flicker and run out of power. To charge the headlamp, you must wind the handle of your portable generator attached to your backpack. You will go through this process a lot throughout the campaign, and it doesn’t take long before it is second nature.

Your backpack is accessed by reaching your left hand over your left shoulder and squeezing the left grip. The backpack houses items that you will frequently use throughout the campaign. In addition to housing items like your gasmask, spare filters, generator, health stim vials, and trusty lighter, it also shows you how much of the various weapon ammo you are carrying.

Plenty of danger lurks within the Metro, and you must eliminate the threat quickly or pay the price. On your right hip holster, you will find your trusty pistol. As you progress through the story, you will also come across other makeshift weapons housed over your right shoulder. These right-shoulder weapons can also be switched by reaching your left hand over your right shoulder and grabbing your weapon from your shoulder bag.

Each weapon needs to be manually reloaded, and each has a unique process that can take some time to master. There were quite a few times when I was caught out in the heat of battle. Once I got the hang of manually inserting shotgun shells and crossbow bolts, there was no stopping me. Being able to physically check to see if you’ve got a bullet in the chamber by slightly sliding back the slide is handy, as ammo is pretty scarce.

The only issue I ever faced when utilising all of the game’s various mechanics came from trying to use the health stim. The health stim can be used in one of 2 places to restore your health. Injecting the stim into my right hand was where I faced the most issues, often clipping through my hand and missing the mark. Injecting the stim into the body is the most effective, but you’ll need to make sure that you’re looking partially down so that it tracks properly.

Throughout your journey, you will encounter a couple of different combat scenarios. Encountering mutants for the first time is a truly terrifying experience. They are fast, sneaky, and won’t hesitate to rip you to shreds, so make sure you’re always listening for their telltale growl as they approach. You will also come across other scavengers along your travels.

These combat scenarios bring a different kind of intensity to the table. Rather than pure fear and reaction, these fights require stealth and cunning. These encounters will certainly have the heart pumping and tension felt. One mistake, and you’re in for one hell of a gunfight.

Scavengers are not the most intelligent bunch and will usually make a B-line straight toward you once a firefight has been initiated. Sure, they will hide behind some cover between taking shots at you, but they are easily led to their demise.

The most interesting thing about the scavengers is that they can recognise the light coming from your headlamp. Taking down a scavenger wearing helmet armour can be a rough time. Achieving a headshot through a tiny mail slot is the most effective way to take them down, as well as being the most satisfying.

As a fan of the Metro series, I am thrilled to see so much care and attention to detail that has gone into matching the dark and gloomy aesthetic. Vertigo Studios Amsterdam has done a brilliant job bringing the Moscow Metro to life in VR. Mutants are genuinely terrifying to look at. I was particularly impressed with the makeshift weapon models. I loved that the team was able to make them look unique to this game whilst also managing to fit the original weapons design structure.

The out-of-body experiences throughout the campaign are certainly a sight to behold. The only downside to the visuals is that some of the debris littered around the levels appears to be floating above the floor where it was intended to be placed.

The audio experience is everything I have grown to expect from the team. Carnivorous growls echo through the mutant tunnels, which insight copious amounts of fear. Whispering voices in the pipes will have you questioning your sanity. Honestly, I could be here all day talking about the incredible soundscape delivered. The backing soundtrack perfectly combines everything and hits all the right notes, even as I attempt to play chopsticks on one of the derelict pianos.

Metro Awakening VR is a dark, twisted spiritual journey that will have you questioning your sanity. I have experienced fear and panic that I never even knew that I had within me throughout my time with this incredible entry to the Metro series. This is the ultimate experience for any Metro fan and a must-play for every PSVR2 owner.

Written by: Gary Nielsen