Tiny Details in Metro Exodus
Spiders and Cobwebs
Metro Exodus is full of creatures that are out to kill you. Mutants, watchers, bandits, and even giant spiders roam the open worlds and many of them will attack you at first sight.
However, there are some other smaller creatures in the game that are simply there to creep you out.
Early on in the game, before you even leave the Metro tunnels under Moscow, you’re introduced to the idea of burning cobwebs away with your trusty lighter. Simply walk through it with your lighter in front of you and the web will go up in flames.
Initially, it seems like all it does is stop the webs from slowing you down and obscuring your view, but they’re actually homes to loads of mutant spiders.
If you burn them away with your lighter, the little terrors will begin to climb all over your mask and arms. You can almost feel them scampering over the top of your head and across the back of your neck. It’s horrible.
Tiny Details in Metro Exodus
Organic NPC Conversations
You’ll do a lot of listening in Metro Exodus. There are whole levels that are little more than you standing around as Miller and the rest of the crew plan missions on the Aurora.
However, The Order aren’t the only people who talk a lot. When you’re creeping around enemy camps, particularly in the Taiga level, you’ll hear NPCs have long conversations. They’ll be arguing, organizing, or just joking with each other.
It’s fun to just sit in the tall grass and listen to pirates contemplate whether the cause they’re working for is worth the hassle, or watch them as they try to scare away mutant dogs. Every conversation makes the world feel more realized and adds more weight to each of your encounters.
Tiny Details in Metro Exodus
Watchers Howl
One of the most annoying enemies in Metro Exodus are the Watchers that are like mutant wolves. They travel in packs and are incredibly aggressive. If you’re not fully versed in the means of survival when you first meet them in The Volga level, you won’t stand a chance.
While they tend to travel in packs, you’ll often see just one at first. They tend to stand atop abandoned cars, surveying the area, but if they see you, they’ll howl for back up, rather than instantly attacking.
With a pair of headphones on, or the game’s Dolby Atmos setting turned on, the howl is terrifying and you can hear the pack react. Within seconds, you’ll be surrounded by up to ten Watchers, and your only option will be to turn and run away.
Tiny Details in Metro Exodus
Wildlife
We have already mentioned that the wild enemies in Metro Exodus act in their own unique ways, but the creatures you’ll find in the wasteland aren’t all terrifying and out to kill you.
As you can see in this video from SLAVOMIR SUCH JR, little bunnies are just going about their lives in the Volga level.
They’re just floating down the river together on their piece of wood, the giant mutant sea creatures minding their own business in the background. I wonder where they’re going…
Tiny Details in Metro Exodus
Enemy Reactions
You can read more about how your actions change the story in our endings guide, but one of the main things that change the events at the end of each main chapter and which ending you get is how you act in front of humans out in the world.
A lot of human enemies will act differently towards you if you lower your weapon before you enter their base. If you’re not threatening, you won’t necessarily be attacked, allowing you to preserve health and ammo.
It’s also cool that enemies react to lighting of all kinds. You’re easy to see if you’re in a bright area, and whether you can be seen if shown by a small light on Artyom’s left arm. It’s not just candlelight and your flashlight that makes you visible, though, all kinds of light will reveal your position, even moonlight.
Tiny Details in Metro Exodus
Killing Spiders
When you first enter the bunker in the Caspian level, you’re introduced to the idea of Spiders being afraid of the light. However, it’s more than a case of them running away when the sun appears.
You can turn on your flashlight with a press of a button and a spider will run away if you look at them. However, if you track them down or back them into a corner, you can kill them with light alone.
After a few seconds of being in the light, they’ll roll onto their back and their abdomens will begin to glow red. After a while, they’ll die.
You can even kill them with your knife when they’re rolling around on their back if you’re quick enough. Either way is easier than wasting bullets by chasing them around the room and missing over and over again.
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