Metro 2039 Hands-On: Evolved Combat and Exploration in a Darker Underground

The preview build, which appears to be a partially unlocked version of the mid-to-early game, confirmed that 4A Games's promise to deliver the most advanced combat system in the series' history is not empty talk. The experience highlighted a seamless transition from the dark underground Metro stations to the radioactive surface world outside Sevastopol Station. Here, players must navigate a hostile environment filled with mutants and scavengers while managing critical survival needs like oxygen filtration.

Evolved Exploration and Survival

Unlike the linear progression of some rail-shooters, Metro 2039 demands active exploration to uncover blueprints and solve environmental puzzles. The surface world is heavily contaminated with radiation, making filtration a constant priority. While finding filters in the environment is possible, the game encourages self-sufficiency through its crafting system.

A key evolution over the previous title, Metro Exodus, is the flexibility of crafting. In the predecessor, players were restricted to specific workbenches for creating items like healing kits or ammunition. In Metro 2039, basic tools—including filters, healing drugs, and ball-bearing bullets—can be crafted anywhere on the fly. Full weapons and attachments still require a workbench, but this shift allows for much greater freedom during exploration.

Environmental puzzles have also been deepened with the introduction of new tools. A UV light is now essential for solving certain locked doors, as it reveals hidden clues in the numbers required to open them. Additionally, players can use a cutting torch to sever specific types of barbed wire and explosive charges to breach walls, though these actions are context-sensitive rather than universal sand-box mechanics.

Refined Combat Systems

Combat in Metro 2039 builds upon the foundation of the original series but introduces new layers of depth. Encounters with mutants rely heavily on firepower, requiring players to switch between shotguns for close-range threats and machine guns for distant enemies. Boss-level encounters demonstrate that raw damage alone is insufficient; players must utilize specialized secondary ammunition types, such as flashbangs or incendiary rounds, to exploit enemy weaknesses.

Human combat retains the stealth-focused approach of the original games but introduces a new mechanic: the lean animation. Previously, peeking around cover required fully exposing the character's body. Now, players can lean out slightly while remaining mostly concealed, allowing for safer engagement with enemies like the scavengers threatening Sevastopol Station.

Translation Quality and Atmosphere

One of the most notable improvements in this preview is the quality of translation. Despite being a pre-release build, the dialogue, notes, and environmental text were praised for their high fidelity, alleviating concerns often associated with AAA titles. This attention to detail contributes significantly to the game's darker, more oppressive atmosphere.

The narrative shift is also evident in the tone. The story follows a new protagonist known as "The Stranger," whose cynical personality contrasts sharply with the hopeful tone of the original Metro trilogy. The world feels heavier and more dangerous, reflecting the harsh reality of a surface reclaimed by mutants and warlords like Novoreich.

Controls and Final Impressions

While the gameplay loop was satisfying, the control scheme presented some challenges for controller users. The build featured a dense array of mapped buttons for items like flashlights, night vision goggles, UV lights, knives, and explosives. While these additions expand the gameplay vocabulary, they can lead to finger fatigue or accidental inputs without dedicated tutorial guidance.

Despite minor ergonomic concerns, the overall impression from this short session is highly positive. The evolution of exploration and combat feels natural rather than forced, and the survival elements add genuine weight to every step taken on the surface. With a confirmed release date of February 2027, Metro 2039 appears poised to continue the legacy of the series while pushing the boundaries of what a Metro game can be.