Metro 2033 serves as a perfect example of how to effectively railroad players along a linear path in a game, mainly due to being so engrossed in the world that this game has created. This makes the characters I interact with feel very believable and hear people having conversations or arguing with each other as I traverse from one tunnel to another. It truly convinces me that the world of Metro is constantly in motion and that these people actually inhabit these tunnels.

It is really crucial to highlight that this aspect contributes to my engagement with the story and world-building. Although there are occasional instances of rushed pacing, I argue that it ultimately improves the overall gameplay experience because combat & stealth sections are well-paced and the game knows when to utilize chaotic moments to feel earned instead of constantly blasting itself like a bad CoD campaign.

The icing on the cake is the excellent presentation that, despite a few outdated character models, has aged gracefully to add more to the immersive atmosphere of Metro. Playing Metro 2033 and other FPS games recently has taught me that I can appreciate linear gameplay when it's well-paced, features a compelling world and characters, or is simply fun. This game has the right amount of length, not too short or too long. I highly recommend this game!