Metro Exodus - Sam's Story

Sam's Story is a perfect example of how a DLC should be done. One of my favorite touches was the reference to Vladivostok and San Diego as “twin cities.” Small but meaningful detail that make the world feel more connected, especially in this crazy time

not as good as "The Two Colonels" DLC and the main game itself, imo. but still good enough to buy and play if you're a Metro fan

Long unskippable yapping cutscenes that does not autosave after it finishes, so I died to a single shotgun blast from 20 meters away on ranger hardcore and I'm sent back to 20 minutes ago. This game is amazing but I will not in my good conscience recommend anyone to play this shit

The main game is very fun. The DLC is bad. The Colonel story too boring to continue. Sams story is better very buggy, small "use" prompt ranges will make you miss ways of progressing and there are captive area fights with a bat monster that is meaningless, just keep avoiding it until a cut scene activates. Little feedback that what you do in the fight matters. No as much care was taken as in the main game. Guards will trigger way to easy, but then forget about you even faster. Just play the main story and skip the DLC.

Reviewing (mostly) every game (or DLC) in my library, part 194: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (10/10) If [i]Metro Exodus[/i] was a story about hope in the ruins, [i]Sam’s Story[/i] is about letting go, moving forward, and daring to dream of something better—even when the world keeps punishing you for it. This DLC isn’t just more content; it’s a tight, emotionally resonant epilogue that blends freedom, survival, and raw human longing. ⚓ [b]Pros:[/b] [list] [*] A new open region that rivals the best in the base game. Set in the flooded, irradiated ruins of Vladivostok, the new sandbox map feels distinct from anything in the main game. Waterlogged buildings, half-sunken ships, rusted harbors, and mutant-infested slums create a haunting maritime wasteland. Exploration is dangerous, vertical, and incredibly atmospheric. It’s not just a backdrop; it’s a character of its own. [*] Sam is a likable, grounded protagonist. As the lone American in the [i]Metro[/i] series, Sam brings a unique voice—both literally and narratively. Unlike silent Artyom, Sam talks, and his warm, tired humor makes him incredibly easy to root for. He’s a soldier and a survivor, sure—but mostly, he’s just a guy who wants to go home. And that simple goal makes this DLC feel personal in a whole new way. [*] Narrative is tightly focused but emotionally powerful. This isn’t just “more Metro.” Sam’s journey is his own. The DLC tells a self-contained story about trust, betrayal, and letting go of the past. There’s no grand prophecy or chosen one here, just a man navigating a world that has moved on without him. And yet, it still hits like a punch to the chest in the final moments. [*] Stealth and gunplay are great. The enemy encounters in this DLC are wonderful. Whether you’re sneaking past cultists in a ruined aquarium or clearing out a sniper nest in a shipwreck, there’s a ton of variety. The open level design gives you multiple approaches, and the risk of mutated shrimp charging you mid-fight adds a layer of unpredictability. [*] Survival elements are more intense and rewarding. Resources feel tight in this DLC. You’re constantly scavenging, crafting, and repairing. Ammo is scarce. Filters are precious. Weapons degrade faster. And because the map is so flooded, travel itself becomes risky—boats are fragile, mutants can attack from the water, and it’s easy to get lost among the wreckage. Every step outside your safehouse is tense. [*] A phenomenal mix of setpieces and downtime. You’ll pilot a boat through mutated swamps, escape sinking buildings, sneak through a flooded warehouse with no lights, and more. But just as importantly, you’ll also sit around a fire, listen to Sam talk to himself, or look at old photos. Those quiet moments give the action weight. The pacing here is masterful. [*] Environmental storytelling is rich and eerie. The world is littered with tragic notes, makeshift shelters, ruined docks, and half-submerged corpses. You piece together the downfall of Vladivostok by exploring, by paying attention. And some of those stories are haunting. [*] Incredible visuals and sound design. From the glint of sunlight off the sea to the echoing creaks of flooded ships, the entire DLC is soaked in atmosphere. The audio design deserves special mention! Waves slosh under rotting piers, wind howls through broken windows, and Sam’s own breathing tightens as his mask filter runs low. [*] A satisfying emotional payoff. I won’t spoil the ending, but [i]Sam’s Story[/i] ends on exactly the note it needs to. It’s hopeful, without being naive. Bittersweet, but not tragic. It closes Sam’s arc perfectly, while giving players the kind of personal catharsis that the base game only hinted at. [/list] 🐡 [b]Cons: [/b] [list] [*] Can feel overwhelming early on. Sam starts with very little, and the world feels hostile and unfamiliar. If you’re not careful, it’s easy to run out of filters, medkits, or ammo before you’ve learned the lay of the land. [*] Occasionally invisible walls and small graphical glitches. Bats sometimes fly through walls or weapon clip through railings. It is quite rare, but it is still present. [/list]

It's good, though I was pretty exhausted by the end. Your mileage will depend on a few things. You get a new gadget that beeps when resources are near, or mines. It's ear piercing and it's incessant, it never stops, not during dialogue, not during long scripted scenes. Literally for the full 3-5 minutes of a scene it was beeping, like a goddamn smoke detector low on battery in the background. You can disable it, sure, but then you'll walk into a mine. You see the problem. I can't really hear Steve Blum as anyone other than Steve Blum at this point, and Sam talks an awful lot. Most of his lines are goofy and just don't fit Metro's tone at all. It's been a while since I played Exodus so I can't remember if Sam talks all this much in the base game, so that might not be an issue for some. It commits that cardinal sin of ripping control away for what feels like minutes at a time, to watch Sam do this and that like a ghost trapped in his body. I mean it, minutes. Minutes of you doing nothing but watching, unable to do anything. There's two entire fight scenes that are just you watching, and worst of all that's how the game closes. A QTE. I just don't get the appeal, it took me out of the game when it happened. On the plus side, it's gorgeous like the base game and The Two Colonels, and it's a decent sized new area to explore. I really enjoyed the detailing of the new area and the world building, I both wanted to explore and felt like it was worth doing. The new weapons are really cool; a custom 1911 and something resembling the AK-12 prototype. I really liked them, and used them the whole time. You can kinda break the game with the new incendiary rounds, they kill basically anything in one shot but hey. I'm not against that in single player games. It's fun. I saved mine for tricky situations and mutants. It's worth picking up and playing especially if you want more of the base game.

Respect. not giving up

Very solid DLC

sam is hot

;)