Even after over a decade since its initial release, *Metro 2033* remains a beloved title in the series, experiencing a resurgence in popularity following the launch of *Metro Awakening* for VR. As the first chapter in Artyom's gripping journey, the game unfolds primarily within the subterranean tunnels of Moscow. A key location, the Cursed Station—known as Turgenevskaya in both the novels and real-world geography—is where players first encounter anomalies. This leads into a challenging mission where Artyom and Khan must assist a beleaguered group of survivors against relentless nosalis assaults.
This mission can be tricky for players due to unclear objectives and the station's complex layout. After observing the anomaly obliterate a nosalis horde in the preceding mission, Khan advances to the next station via a railcar, marking the beginning of the "Cursed" mission. Once you disembark from the railcar, follow Khan through the tunnel and around the corner to join the defenders at the barricaded escalators.
Where To Find The Bomb
Upon conversing with the defenders, you'll learn that an explosives team ventured down the tunnel earlier to detonate it and prevent nosalis incursions, but they've vanished and no explosion occurred. Your task is to locate the bomb and set it off. Throughout this mission, expect continuous nosalis attacks. As Khan advises, it's wise to fall back to the defenders for support if overwhelmed. You'll likely need to retreat to the defenders at least once during your search for the bomb.
The bomb is located at the far end of the right-hand tunnel. Avoid proceeding past the ghostly shadows, as this will harm your character. Once you have the bomb, you can either proceed directly into the adjacent tunnel or, if overrun by enemies, retreat to the defenders for safety.
How To Destroy The Tunnel
With the bomb in hand, proceed deep into the left-hand tunnel (as viewed from the defenders' position) to trigger a cutscene. Artyom will automatically place the bomb and ignite the fuse, but you must ensure to escape the blast radius in time, as staying too close will result in Artyom's death.
Alternatively, you can throw a grenade or pipe bomb into the same section of the tunnel to cause its collapse. Remember, even after destroying this main tunnel, nosalises will continue to enter through alternative routes, so remain vigilant and keep your weapon ready.
How To Destroy The Airlock
After collapsing the left-hand tunnel, your next objective is to secure the station by destroying the airlock, another potential entry point for mutants. This was mentioned during the initial dialogue with the defenders. To reach the airlock, ascend the stairs on the right side of the main platform towards an area illuminated by torchlight. You may encounter nosalises here, but it's safe to ignore them for now.
To collapse the airlock, approach the support columns and interact with them. Artyom will attach a pipe bomb with a lit fuse. As with the tunnel, quickly evacuate the area to avoid the ensuing explosion. Once both entrances are destroyed and collapsed, follow Khan to the next segment of the mission, which takes place in a small shrine room. After a brief conversation with Khan, Artyom will descend through a floor panel, leading to the next mission titled "Armory."
