Should I explore the world on purpose ??

[GR|M " 死神 " Reap3R]

Kinda stupid question, but it seems like Metro is now sort of open world game.
Should I just go exploring every part of the world aimlessly or should I just follow the Main / Side Missions ?

Because I've come across one mission, which is to collect an item from a bandit camp, but I've already been there earlier and clear it out, so now I have to return there again just to collect the mission item....
Feels kinda waste of time, having to run back and forth twice !

Or sometimes I feels like a waste of time when I went to areas to explore and ended up with nothing....

So for those who finished the game, do you advice me to just go exploring every nook and cranny of the world ?
Or sticking to the Main / Side Mission will be fine.

[Rautamies]

Definitely explore. I did it for the atmosphere alone. You'll, of course, benefit from doing so. There are suit upgrades and weapon attachments on each map. Take an advantage of the binoculars - you can tag locations/points of interest with it for the map.

[MAGs☢uilleᵗʷᶦᵗᶜʰ]

You can very well find weapon accessories/upgrades in empty areas protected by mutants than in large areas and sometimes not. So yes, it's always good to explore the map. At least, once to find everything and remember it if you restart the game playing on maximum difficulty.

Now you can play the game very well, without too much trouble, without having loot all the maps on the simple modes

[GR|M " 死神 " Reap3R]

Originally posted by MISE | ミセトイ:

Definitely explore. I did it for the atmosphere alone. You'll, of course, benefit from doing so. There are suit upgrades and weapon attachments on each map. Take an advantage of the binoculars - you can tag locations/points of interest with it for the map.

Is it like possible to use the Binoculars and like maybe it able to find new area of interest and it will mark it on my map ?
I mean I do use them to check out whether if there are bandits / mutants, that's all but I have no idea if that's even like a spot of interest to be explore.

[Rautamies]

Originally posted by GR|M " 死神 " Reap3R:

Originally posted by MISE | ミセトイ:

Definitely explore. I did it for the atmosphere alone. You'll, of course, benefit from doing so. There are suit upgrades and weapon attachments on each map. Take an advantage of the binoculars - you can tag locations/points of interest with it for the map.

Is it like possible to use the Binoculars and like maybe it able to find new area of interest and it will mark it on my map ?

When using the binocs, you will hear this clicking noise and the screen will blur whenever you're looking at a point of interest. The clicking noise and blur will disappear after a couple of seconds, and the game has marked that spot on your map automatically, accompanied by a journal sound effect. That's about all there is to it.
Just scan the spots thoroughly from a high ground and you'll find them all fairly easily.

[MAGs☢uilleᵗʷᶦᵗᶜʰ]

It is made for that. Either way, you don't need that, you just have to walk in the areas (with your metal detector, if you have it or not) and you will find the areas, by yourself. For me, the metal detector is really what is most useful to loot the maps and when you explore

If you looted the first map well, you should have it

[GR|M " 死神 " Reap3R]

Originally posted by MISE | ミセトイ:

Originally posted by GR|M " 死神 " Reap3R:

Is it like possible to use the Binoculars and like maybe it able to find new area of interest and it will mark it on my map ?

When using the binocs, you will hear this clicking noise and the screen will blur whenever you're looking at a point of interest. The clicking noise and blur will disappear after a couple of seconds, and the game has marked that spot on your map automatically, accompanied by a journal sound effect. That's about all there is to it.
Just scan the spots thoroughly from a high ground and you'll find them all fairly easily.

Ah I didn't know that, Tks a lot ! This definitely be helpful.
I don't recall they even teaching you that in the game, did they ??

Originally posted by MagSouille:

It is made for that. Either way, you don't need that, you just have to walk in the areas (with your metal detector, if you have it or not) and you will find the areas, by yourself. For me, the metal detector is really what is most useful to loot the maps and when you explore

If you looted the first map well, you should have it

Yep I just recently found it, great little thing.
Before it was the Compass, I have no idea how that work, what's the Compass even for ??

[MAGs☢uilleᵗʷᶦᵗᶜʰ]

The compass indicates the direction of your mission given by Melnik

[Waiting to Visit Japan (^.-)]

Originally posted by GR|M " 死神 " Reap3R:

Before it was the Compass, I have no idea how that work, what's the Compass even for ??

On your wrist...
Spinning arrow is the direction of your objective. The RED POINT, not the thin end. (^.-)

On the map...
Red triangle is you, pointing in the direction you are facing. As you rotate it rotates.

Left of map...
Big dial compass, red tip arrow is relative direction of objective (repeater of the wrist red arrow).
Example: When the red arrow points to the left, your objective is to the left.

One way to use it...
With the map displayed rotate yourself until the red triangle on the map points at the X objective.
When that happens, the point of the red tip arrow on the big dial will also point straight up.
Put away the map, select wrist, and that arrow will be pointing forward (towards your fingers).
Go that way! (^.^)

Navigation...
The map big dial, its arrow pointing right means your main objective is to the right. Turn right.
Wrist arrow pointing down means your main objective is to the right. Turn right.

To move towards your main objective, keep the wrist arrow pointed at your fingers (left hand).

The yellow mark at the top of the map big dial is just for calculating bearings.
The green mark on the wrist is likewise. Just a reference for those that use bearings.
HINT: Bearings are nice, but not required.

[Jig McGalliger]

You do not have to do it aimlessly, listen to Krest.

If you're using the binocs and you look around, you will hear the lenses focusing, it will be a faint clicking noise. When fully focused on an area in the distance the noise stops, it will become clear in your binocs (where it once was blurry), and you will hear pages flipping, like the map. When you look at your map after this, you will see new icons showing locations of whatever you just found in that area (mutant nest, biohazard, etc).

This is how you reveal more stuff on the map from a distance, focusing on it with the binocs.

[GR|M " 死神 " Reap3R]

Originally posted by Jig McGalliger:

You do not have to do it aimlessly, listen to Krest.

If you're using the binocs and you look around, you will hear the lenses focusing, it will be a faint clicking noise. When fully focused on an area in the distance the noise stops, it will become clear in your binocs (where it once was blurry), and you will hear pages flipping, like the map. When you look at your map after this, you will see new icons showing locations of whatever you just found in that area (mutant nest, biohazard, etc).

This is how you reveal more stuff on the map from a distance, focusing on it with the binocs.

I finally found out how to use the Binoculars...damn it HELP A LOT !!
Now I know where to look for and won't just wander around aimlessly !

The Metal Detection thing works really well too honestly.

Tks everyone for their advice. But just recently I've free some prisoners and they handed me a key....which he pointed me towards the area that I've already been there and completed the objective there lol...there was a locked door as I recall....that's the main entrance..but was able to use a detour to get in...

I wonder if the key is to that door or something else....thing is, the location is quite far away...lol
I will have to Google this see if will be worth my time returning...

[Death Approaches]

Not for nothing? "Metro is now..."

Wait what?! You didn't explore every nook cranny and crevice in both Metro and LL on Hardcore and/or Ranger? Go back, then! NOW! That was the fun. 0:50 of filter remaining, no namby-pamby ability to just freaking MAKE MORE when you need it, you had to SPRINT, past spiders wanting to smack you, past bad guys you knife in the throat drive-by pop-up style because you have no ammo, before you start gasping and choking and have to do the on/off/on/off dance... and reload for the 11th time... you likely played the first 2(4) differently than I did. :-) Go back and explore every hallway tunnel turn and dark corner!

[Draxuss]

Take your time....gather resources, you can find some pretty much anywhere you can get into. And without looking at guides the best way to get all the suit upgrades.

[jamesglen7]

Not aimlessly... but very carefully as this is a hostile environment but, Yes!... exploration... that is how you gain resources to craft with in addition to quick pickups. Should you find a good vehicle, you could probably use that too in search of resources, check your map. Save your boots.

[GR|M " 死神 " Reap3R]

Originally posted by jamesglen7:

Not aimlessly... but very carefully as this is a hostile environment but, Yes!... exploration... that is how you gain resources to craft with in addition to quick pickups. Should you find a good vehicle, you could probably use that too in search of resources, check your map. Save your boots.

Tks for all the advice, but seriously the Binoculars really helped a lot.
I've fully explored the first map ( The Fanatics town ) now I'm moving towards the 2nd.
Though I hope I didn't miss any important upgrades ! But I've found loads of stuffs honestly.
Armor etc.