The Metro 2033 series continues, as Ukrainian developer 4A Games brave the horrors of actual war in order to tell a very serious story of human greed and folly.

There’s a characteristically Slavic sense of gloom that runs through Dmitry Glukhovsky’s Metro books. Even by the standards of post-apocalyptic fiction, which naturally gravitates towards a certain grimness, it stands out for its bleak humour and sense that humanity’s self-destructive foibles will always accompany us, wherever we happen to be. In Metro’s case, that was Moscow’s underground train tunnels, where survivors seek shelter after World War 3 turns the surface into a mutant infested, irradiated wasteland.

Underground, things are only slightly better, with Musovites’ last stand blighted by power struggles and personal ambition. Since Glukhovsky also writes the stories for the video games, they slot seamlessly into this canon. An outspoken critic of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, he’s persona non grata in Russia, which has given him plenty of time to work with Ukrainian developer 4A Games on the latest instalment in the series.

Released in 2010, the original Metro 2033 threw you into a world of inky dark tunnels full of lurking terrors and cosy underground stations, some of which suffered from their own brand of human monster. For most Western players it was the first time they’d heard of Metro and three years later its sequel, Metro: Last Light, offered an outlook that was perhaps a shade less desolate, albeit still replete with the franchise’s hallmark pessimism.

The third – and best – of the series, Metro Exodus arrived in 2019, mixing time spent in the claustrophobic confines of the Metro tunnels, with open world sections. It cemented the series’ tenets, which along with an atmosphere of dread are typified by expertly administered pacing, blending stealth with more kinetic first person shooting action, and the respite of snatched moments in stations, where human camaraderie briefly replaces constant impending danger.

Due February next year, Metro 2039 is the latest instalment. Developed in post-invasion Ukraine, along with support from teams working internationally, its themes have clearly been shaped by recent experience. In the game’s overground areas things are just as dangerously radioactive, even if the nuclear winter is now starting to thaw, but underground society is breaking down. Hunter, the chief spartan and former people’s hero has started a propaganda based war to recapture the surface from the ‘novo-Reich’ while brutally subjugating the people of the Metro.

The hands-on section we played occurs around halfway through the game and includes the station of Sevastopolskaya and two missions to the surface. Much of the station was walled off, and story beats deliberately omitted to prevent potential spoilers, but what remains is richly textured, with shadowy, wonderfully detailed environments, and the series’ trademark overheard conversations, as you walk though its snug but chaotic subterranean corridors.

Perhaps the most immediate difference from the original trilogy is the absence of its hero, Artyom. You now play The Stranger. He’s a darker hero for an even darker time, and unlike his predecessor is fully voiced in conversations, sounding like a growly Slavic Batman. He’s a serious man on a serious mission: to kill Führer Hunter. That means finding him first, and Hunter has an army of henchmen paid to keep you away.

Exploring the ruins of post-nuclear Moscow, you’ll still need to maintain a supply of spare filters for your gas mask, reaching up to wipe condensation from its glass visor from time to time. That immersive physicality extends to expressive hand gestures as the stranger talks, and the usual first gun fiddling when you’re standing still. Especially compared with the first two Metro games, its production values have received an obvious upgrade.

In buildings you rummage through, there are now further secrets to uncover. A UV light lets you find hidden messages, while your oxyacetylene torch and breaching charges let you open up previously blocked pathways. Weapons have also been updated, with blueprints you unearth offering upgrades and entirely new guns to assemble at crafting tables you find on your travels.

Sometimes they come at a price though. In a memorable early encounter, a blueprint on its own in a cellar looked too good to be true. We decided to take it anyway, triggering a fight with an enraged and very large mutant wielding a club, which in the tight dimensions of a single basement room made for a stressful way of expending every single one of our shotgun shells and Molotov cocktails.

Enemy AI feels as though it’s been given an overhaul. Some mutants may still run, snarling straight towards you, but human foes are not so suicidal. Spotting you, they’ll call for back-up and come and investigate, but shooting an enemy doesn’t cause his friends to line up at the same chokepoint. Instead, they’ll retreat and try and bait you into the open or use RPGs to blow you out of cover.

It makes for really varied firefights, with intentions of stealth regularly subverted into open warfare, enemies’ far greater numbers offset by your powerful and effective arsenal, and the ability to craft more than enough ammo to put it to good use. Checkpoints can be far apart, making every choice in those set piece battles feel consequential, when a couple of mistakes can mean restarting an entire floor of a building.

When people or mutants aren’t actively trying to kill you, its environmental richness includes scenes the developer calls ‘frozen stories’; tableaux of death, with skeletal remains reaching for a gun that’s just out of reach or a child’s drawing amongst the remnants of a family’s poignant final struggle. It fleshes out the broader tragedy of its world, co-opting the process of exploration into its storytelling.

With five months of development time left, the impression is of a mature, polished game that remains infused with Metro’s charismatic bleakness – albeit one that arrives with a faint glimmer of hope. You can already feel its different rhythms as you progress from Metro station to surface, and then into individual buildings, each one offering its own challenges and stories. And it’s even more impressive when you realise all that’s been achieved in a country at war.

Formats: PC (previewed via streaming), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S
Publisher: Deep Silver
Developer: 4A Games
Release Date: February 2027
Age Rating: 18

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The court heard the accused aged 27 denied breaking in to house in South Belfast and taking a TV and other items

A Co Tyrone man with 99 convictions on his criminal record has been refused bail due to concerns he may re-offend.

The application to release Padraig Anthony James Brolly from custody was made and refused at Belfast Crown Court.

From Castle Gardens in Dungannon, the 27-year old is awaiting trial on a charge of burglary.

Prior to reaching his decision on Tuesday on the bid for bail, Judge Philip Gilpin was addressed by both a Crown and a defence barrister.

The Crown barrister told Judge Gilpin the application was being opposed for two reasons – concerns that Brolly would re-offend and would not turn up for his trial.

Regarding the burglary charge denied by Brolly, the prosecutor said this dated back to June 24 last year when a house on Southview Street in Belfast was broken into and a TV and other items were stolen.

The Crown barrister said that following his arrest on suspicion of burglary, Brolly spent a period of time in custody before being granted bail in February 2026.

She said that on July 4 Brolly breached his conditions by not being at his bail address and that for a period of 47 days he was “at large.”

It’s the Crown’s case that during this period, Brolly was involved in two separate incidents that are currently under police investigation.

The prosecutor told Judge Gilpin that on July 4 Brolly was reported for an incident of aggravated vehicle taking and that on August 15 he was named as suspect in an assault on a female.

Confirming both of those investigations are currently “ongoing”, the Crown barrister said Brolly was arrested for the bail breaches and returned to custody on August 20.

Telling the Belfast Recorder that the bid for bail was contested, the prosecutor revealed Brolly has 99 convictions on his criminal record.

She added that in the past, seven bench warrants have been issued for Brolly and that he has breached bail on 27 previous occasions.

Citing concerns that Brolly would both re-offend and not turn up for his trial this November, the Crown barrister said he “simply does not adhere to any bail conditions.”

The Judge was then addressed by Brolly’s barrister who asked that his client be given “one further opportunity.”

Brolly’s barrister said that when he was arrested for the breaches, his client did not resist and co-operated with police.

Regarding allegations of recent offending, the defence barrister said today was the “first” he had heard of the alleged aggravated vehicle taking incident in July.

He added there was “no statement of complaint” on the incident earlier this month concerning the assault on the female.

The defence barrister also told Judge Gilpin that whilst on bail, Brolly has been engaging with services in an effort to address addiction issues and said “the progress he is making cannot continue if he is in custody.”

After listening to submissions from both the Crown and defence, Judge Gilpin noted Brolly’s “substantial” criminal record and the previous breaches of bail.

The Judge added that whilst Brolly was entitled to the presumption of innocence, there were two further incidents in July and August under police investigation.

He concluded by telling the court: “I share the prosecution’s concerns in this case about a risk of re-offending and about the risk of the defendant not turning up for his trial so for those reasons … the application for bail is refused.”

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Nearly 1,000 fines were handed out last year but that has not stopped people ignoring the rules, according to those living near Dovestone Reservoir

People living close to Dovestone Reservoir fear a ‘horrendous’ parking and traffic ‘nightmare’ could return now the area is back open to the public.

The area around the body of water, near Greenfield in Oldham, was closed for over a month following a devastating fire that destroyed a large area of moorland from July 11. People were ordered to stay away as emergency services and fire crews tackled the blaze.

The major incident was stood down on August 3 with crews at the scene for several days afterwards. On August 20, it was announced the roads and car park near the reservoir would reopen.

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That has led to concerns among those living in the area, fearful of a major influx of visitors again, especially during periods of hot weather. More tourists has meant ‘local people tend to avoid it’.

Before the fire, people said litter would pile up with ‘rubbish everywhere’, empty beer bottles would be left behind, and barbecues lit despite a ban. So many cars turn up, Sarah White said: “They were blocking the roads. You couldn’t even get through at the time.”

While the area has long been a popular visitor destination, people said things had got worse after the COVID-19 pandemic with adverts and social media posts attracting ‘hundreds on bank holidays’. As there is a lack of sufficient parking, motorists reportedly dump their vehicles anywhere including across driveways.

A spokesperson for Oldham council said they were taking action regularly deploying their traffic wardens to the area. In 2025, there were nearly 1,000 fines handed out.

United Utilities has also published an action plan aimed at tackling issues around safety, litter, and parking in partnership with the relevant authorities. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), which manages the area, also said its ‘long-term ambition is to ensure Dovestone remains a safe, welcoming and well-managed place for people to enjoy nature’.

‘It’s a nightmare, then you get abused going home’

One of the worst affected roads is Bradbury’s Lane, where residents living in a row of terraced houses have had to take matters into their own hands putting up orange barriers to try and stop people. Despite double yellows along the roads leading up to the reservoir, those on the street said visitors often risked a fine.

Karen O’Connor said: “I have been here 35 years and it was never like this. It’s just so well advertised now. It’s a nightmare and then you get abuse when you are trying to get back [home] and they think it’s one way. It’s really hard to describe how bad it is.

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“It takes forever getting out. They just abandon the cars anywhere.”

The situation has prompted concerns about access for emergency vehicles if the roads are blocked. Karen added: “If something happened to someone up here, they would just be stranded.”

One woman said she had to queue for 40 minutes to get home once. On other times, she said drivers shouted and swore at her because they thought she was queue skipping.

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While the reservoir is busy in the summer, people said there are issues now all year around with tourists from Yorkshire and further afield. Natalie Wilde said: “It’s bad. Just litter everywhere. Barbecues everywhere. People who are not from the area, they do not respect it.”

Natalie said she used to go out litter picking regularly but does this less than she used to. She said: “They can see the signs. They just do not listen. It’s horrible. I do not ride around Dovestone anymore but if I see litter, I will pick it up and put it in my bag.

“They need to be more on top of things. Put more bins out especially around Dovestone. Put more signs around to deter barbecues and fires.

“With the tourism, it can’t be helped. It’s a beauty spot. A lot of people come here at the weekend. You even have a guard to try to stop people coming through because it gets out of hand.”

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Councillor Helen Bishop, who represents Saddleworth South on Oldham Council, told the Manchester Evening News: “Although it is great to see people being able to access Dovestone again, especially the memorial forest, I still have deep-rooted concerns that this was too soon, and that a comprehensive plan of action to ensure the access and safety of residents, wildlife, the environment and visitors alike should have been decided and communicated first.”

To encourage people to stay safe when visiting the area, an action plan was published by United Utilities in 2020 to ‘improve the experience of visitors to Dovestone and to reduce the impact from the high volumes of visitor traffic on those who use the site regularly’. This includes CCTV, managing littering, fire rangers patrolling the area, improving paths, signage and warnings to visitors, as well as more communication around the risks posed by the deep water as well as barbecues.

What council and RSPB have said

Ahead of A Level results day earlier this month, Jo Harrison, Asset Management Director at United Utilities, warned people against swimming in the water company’s reservoirs as they have ‘hidden dangers’ and are ‘often in remote locations which makes rescue difficult when people get into trouble’.

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A spokesperson for the RSPB said: “RSPB Dovestone is one of the most visited sites in the Peak District. This brings huge benefits in terms of wellbeing, access to nature and local tourism, but we recognise that high visitor numbers can also create challenges for the landscape, facilities and surrounding communities.”

“The RSPB took on the operation of Dovestone car park in summer 2026. Since then, we have been working to manage the site safely and responsibly, while developing longer-term plans for its operation.”

“We understand concerns that have been raised locally about parking, traffic and litter. Dovestone receives very high visitor numbers, and effective management is important to protect nature, ensure public safety and provide a positive experience for visitors and local residents alike.

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“We encourage visitors to park considerately, take their litter home and respect both the landscape and those who live and work nearby.”

“We are committed to being responsible stewards of the site and to working collaboratively with partners to address long-standing challenges around infrastructure, visitor pressure and safety.

“We will continue working closely with United Utilities, Oldham Council, local communities and visitors throughout this process. Our long-term ambition is to ensure Dovestone remains a safe, welcoming and well-managed place for people to enjoy nature, while protecting the special landscape and wildlife that make it such an important destination.”

In 2025, Oldham council issued 717 penalty charge notices at Dovestone car park, 197 on Holmfirth Road, 18 on Bradbury Lane, eight on an access road off Bank Lane, three on Bank Lane and three on Hollins Lane.

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A council spokesperson said: “We want everyone to enjoy our green spaces and countryside – but we also ask that people respect the area and local residents. Sadly, problem parking is an issue at many beauty spots across the country, especially when the weather is good.

“The area around Dovestone is heavily used for parking especially during peak times and our wardens are regularly deployed there.

“The council understands the frustration of residents and has installed measures, such as permanent double yellow lines on roads and streets in the area to try and ease the situation. Last year 946 Penalty Charge Notices were issued in the area around Dovestone Reservoir.”