Really not sure why this is called an open world game

[Revolution]

Russian Special Forces that can't breach a chain-link fence or swim across a creek. Areas where simply stepping over a rock could open a huge landscape, but you can't take that step. Times when the NPC you're forced to listen to suddenly stops walking, blocking you so you are forced to take only one of many visible paths. Some maps are big enough that you feel pretty free, but mostly its just you following a rail through hallways trying to find a door you can actually use.
I love the game but it is hardly open world.

[Sovereign]

It's not open world, it just has some larger sandbox levels.

[Lunitek]

Agreed, but still quite enjoyable.

[Jackkel Dragon]

Since there's no central authority on game terms, some people conflate games with few restrictions on movement (like Elder Scrolls) with games that have big sandbox levels with nonlinear objectives (this game, some of the Hitman games, etc.). As such, "Open World" can mean one or both of those to some people.

As for the creek comment, most of the Metro dwellers can't swim. Even if they weren't wearing heavy armor most of the time like the player does, most bodies of water in the Metro are too dangerous and rare for anyone to learn to swim. Leaving home doesn't automatically teach one how to swim, especially with a backpack and armor.

Lastly, only a few levels are full sandbox levels. Of the six main levels, three are linear like the previous game, with the occasional optional side path. One is a trail of mini-sandboxes that has points of no return between each one. Only Volga and Caspian allow free-roaming in the way most people consider the mechanic.

[SkepticJoker]

Originally posted by Jackkel Dragon:

Only Volga and Caspian allow free-roaming in the way most people consider the mechanic.

Too bad, Taiga could have been so much more.

[Nightshade]

Originally posted by FiXyOuRpCs:

Originally posted by Jackkel Dragon:

Only Volga and Caspian allow free-roaming in the way most people consider the mechanic.

Too bad, Taiga could have been so much more.

Based on some of what I've read elsewhere and heard from the in-game commentary nodes, I get the feeling that the Taiga level was the first sandbox level actually designed for the game. I wonder if perhaps it had been locked down to major design changes before all of the sandbox elements were hammered out for the other levels, which would explain why a lot of mechanics are dropped and gear is reset just before the level. It still makes sense as a sort of no-gear challenge level in the final story, but it feels like the odd level out when the others are either more open (Volga/Caspian) or closed (Moscow/Yamantau/Dead City). Even Dead City has more game mechanics retained from the rest of the game, despite the railgun rendering a lot of them moot.

[SkepticJoker]

Originally posted by Nightshade:

Based on some of what I've read elsewhere and heard from the in-game commentary nodes, I get the feeling that the Taiga level was the first sandbox level actually designed for the game.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trFAe0HZtDE
In this reveal trailer when Artyom pulls out the map it looks more like a open world. You are probably correct about it previously being more like Volga and Caspian, I suspected it too.