Metro Exodus – The Two Colonels DLC

Developer: 4A Games
Publisher: Deep Silver
Rrp: £6.99 (Steam and Epic)
Released: 20th August 2019
Available on: Steam and Epic
Played Using: Mouse and Keyboard
Approximate game length: 2 Hours

This is the first DLC for Metro Exodus, in fact its actually the first one for the entire Metro franchise. As DLC’s go this isn’t a bad one and is in fact a rather bold move because you don’t play as Artyom nor any of the other crew of the Aurora. You do however play as Colonel Khlebnikov (whom you hear about in the ending levels) and you get to experience a section of his life.

The story of this DLC time switches between Colonel Miller (a member of the Aurora) and Colonel Khlebnikov, you never get to play as Colonel Miller seeing what he does through cutscenes. Your gameplay is all about what happened to Colonel Khlebnikov in the run up to the end of the game.

I have to say, you absolutely do not need this DLC to understand the story of the game, however it will expand upon your understand of the events within the game. I’d say the £6.99 price tag is about right.

Be prepared for yet more emotional gut punches from this DLC.

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Metro Exodus – Sam’s Story DLC

Developer: 4A Games
Publisher: Deep Silver
Rrp: £14.99 (Steam and Epic)
Released: 11th February 2020
Available on: Steam and Epic
Played Using: Mouse and Keyboard
Approximate game length: 6ish Hours

In the second (and seemingly last) DLC for Metro Exodus you take on the role of Sam, an American who has been stuck in Russia and more specifically Moscow for the last twenty years. This DLC takes place after the events of the main game where Sam has decided to leave his found family and finally return to his home country. He makes his was east eventually reaching the port city of Vladivostok and in turn his possible ticket home.

It’s actually rather interesting to play as Sam rather than Artyom. Sam is by no means a silent protagonist (yes, I know we hear Artyom’s voice in loading screens but never in cutscenes etc) in fact he’s quite chatty. Speaking his mind to other characters and occasionally speaking as he finds something of use. I actually find it quite entertaining to hear him speaking in a mix of Russian and American.

It’s got to be said that the DLC has two endings but much like with Dishonored’s Death of the Outsider what you did up to the build up of the ending makes no difference. You simply have to make a binary choice, which feels counter to the way the Metro series does its endings. Normally its the culmination of your actions that determine the end not whether you choose yes or no.

I really enjoyed my time with this DLC it really adds to the story of the Metro series as a whole and expands on one of the characters that I was honestly curious about.