It s deathly quiet in the forest. Then the silence gives way to a man shouting for help. He’s tied to a post and trying to fend off a ravenous wolf. A single crossbow bolt takes the feral creature out. The shirtless man pleads for my help to free him, cussing as he explains his predicament. I choose to cut him loose. I owe you my life, he says. I ll never forget this, I swear.

Inconsequential though it may seem, I begin to ponder his words. Could this have implications? Maybe his captors will return to find he s escaped and attempt to track me down. It may have been better to leave him tied up. But perhaps he ll help me the next time our paths cross. It s this kind of small-scale player choice that runs through the heart of Metro Exodus.

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