A good game that does have flaws, but has it's share of good qualities as well.
The atmosphere in Metro 2033 is what you would expect from a system of broken down metro tunnels. It's dark, void of any life except for the other humans and monsters that creep around the tunnels. Also ghosts are in the tunnels. Which in my opinion the chapter "Ghosts", is one of the best in the game. It is eerie and down very well. Lights can be blown out or shot out, or even turned back on, radiation leaks glow green and give off ambient lighting as well.
Also adding to the atmosphere are the sounds, which at times can be creepy and make you wonder where that next monster will appear. Is it on the wall or around the corner? At times the glow of a lamp will give away if there is a monster in the next room by shining it on the wall. The tunnels give you a sense of "alone" and at times panic. Running outside in the ruins of Moscow is panic. If you cant find out where to go soon enough, your filters will run out and you will suffocate. Although it shouldn't really happen if you have played a FPS before.
Graphics wise it is good. Mist will surround your gas mask, dust and dingy air will fill rooms, and the ruins of the dead city looks great. Although I have ran into the occasional errors where parts of a rail car will be jutting into the wall, etc. Nothing major or something that repeats a lot, but it is there as with all games. Metro looks very good on the 360, and has a pretty consistent frame rate as well.
There are downfalls though. The stealth mechanics are not the best. I knifed a guard alone in the dark with the knife and all the guards knew it. Or it can be tricky to jump at times as well, not too bad, but could have been a little more precise. Also the weapons could have been a little better. In terms of choices there is not a lot, and the sniper seems kinda out of place in a close-quarters game like 2033. Maybe a better selection of guns, would have made up for it? I can see it being hard to find them etc, but maybe three or so different pistols?
Also the hit detection is a little hit or miss. I can hit 3 guards with the throwing knives and kill them, but miss on the fourth. Enemies seem to take a good amount of damage before going down. Not a complaint, but with the shear amount of enemies coming at you at once it can get hairy.
But my biggest complaint is the reload times for the guns. If you use a shotgun, it will cost you dearly on reloading the shells. The AK isn't bad, but the shotgun is slow. I have had to swap weapons a good bit because the shotgun is so slow at reloading. My favorite gun is probably the Scoped AK.
I really like the fact of having money in the game being military grade bullets. This forces you to decide on using the more powerful ammo on harder enemies or using it to buy more powerful and better guns, etc. Very nice use of choice for the player to have to make. If the guns broke it would add even more depth to the game and make it more challenging as well.
Metro 2033 is a fun, but at times problematic game. Great graphics and an eerie ambiance make 2033 a must play for any fps or even survival horror fan. If you are looking for an easy game this isn't for you. But if you like a challenge (Hardcore) Metro 2033 is for you. If they would have added a little more length to the game it would be even better. It clocks in at about 10-15 hours or so. Play this alone in the dark, the way it's meant to be played.