I happen to agree that both Metro 2033 and Last Light are superior to Infinite. First, they have varied combat situations allowing multiple strategies. They both have some levels letting you sneak, kill everyone, or a mix of the two. Infinite is almost entirely shooting gallery style fights. There are no alternate paths at all.
The Metros have populated environments with NPCs who actually give interesting back story and set the mood. The NPCs actually say things you'd expect them too, such as where to find the next meal, wanting to go to the surface, and so on. Infinite goes for the theme park style of NPCs being there to just provide a postcard event, such as the Barbershop Quartet and song and dance on the shore. Those NPCs do their scripted event then are done with.
The Metros create ambient environments that let you explore and find little story elements (a dead body clutching a gun or book for example). This is something Fallout 3 did incredibly well. Infinite goes with the shove it all in your face method, offering virtually interesting nooks or crannies. The best Infinite offers is an Infusion pickup, which offers no deeper insight into the world other than why the heck are all these lying about?!
The Metros immerse you; Infinite just goes for gamey shallowness. Ever wonder why all those locked doors and chests hiding Infusions aren't already looted in Infinite? Why can I have Eliz warp a rocket turret into existence exactly where I need it? Why is there cover locations strategically placed in a bar room? It's all so overtly gamey. The Metros instead opt for a believable environment. You have to find your own cover. All Military Grade Bullets are stashed in spots that make sense. Monsters attack from holes and grates.
The Metros provide a main character who shares his thoughts with you each level in an honest way. You get to understand Artyom as a person. Booker never becomes more than just a stereotype, a war hero struggling with his past. His comments during the game are all shallow and unrevealing. He mostly comments on events around him. Artyom often speaks about human nature, war, and the price of peace.
The last point leads me to conclude the Metro games are actually much more thought provoking than Infinite. Infinite delivers one big shock reveal at the end that's been done better before. Metro 2033, being based on an actual award-winning novel, relies on great writing, great pacing, and a steady reveal of the world and ideas around you.
I could go on and on...I wanted to enjoy Infinite, but I found it so juvenile and shallow, a waste of great ideas. Infinite's story constantly jumps from one idea to the next, never exploring any of them. The game is like a loud infomercial, popping up words like Racism, America!, Founders, Power Corrupts, Songbird, Hate Lincoln!, Ghosts!, Rapture!, Quantum Physics, Time Travel, Identity Crisis!.
Bioshock Infinite reminds me of how Torgue from BL2 would tell a story: loud, dumb, and shallow (and funny except Infinite is trying to be serious, ugh). Both the Metros wipe the floor with Infinite, in my opinion.
