I know, many many years ago we played this game and I was pretty convinced that the metal world was another strange world, I mean, it was clear for me that it was another world where we go when we die, in case of Eddie Riggs, because he was "called" by Ormagöden.

I'm playing the game again on Xbox360 for the achievements, by the way, I got the viral achievement and the viral trophy on PS3 if anyone needs help, and I was shocked because at the very beginning we can hear Lars, the resistance leader, and his sister, talking about Ormagöden as the "Destryoer of the Ancient World". So, my theory is this:

When Eddie Riggs died and awoke Ormagöden, this was still the same world, then, Ormagöden literatelly killed almost the entire world as we know it and the METAL ERA began, including the fact that people survived somehow and, for some reason, begin to tell stories. One prophecy said that Eddie Riggs will come and save the world. So, maybe one thousand years had passed when we play as Eddie Riggs.What do you think?