With the first-person shooter genre all but locked down by staples like the Call of Duty and Battlefield franchises sometimes it is refreshing to get the chance to see something new. The release of 4A Games’ Metro 2033 in 2010 was one such breath of fresh air so much so that a sequel was in the works almost immediately. Mired in delays that had very little to do with the game itself, however, it isn’t until now that we have gotten the chance to play it. It is finally time to see if Metro: Last Light stands up to the amazing visuals and story-driven single player that the original did so well.
Game: Metro: Last Light
Published By: Deep Silver
Developed By: 4A Games
Review Sample Provided By: NVidia
Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, PC (Review Sample)
Genre: First Person Shooter, Survival
Release Date: May 14th, 2013
MSRP: $59.99
Written By: Debo
Screenshots By: Debo
Story
Metro: Last Light begins a year after the events of the first game. The Dark One nest has been obliterated and Artyom and the Rangers are holed up, safe and sound in D6. A report from Khan, a traveling mystic, arrives that a single Dark One may yet survive. Under orders from Colonel Miller, Artyom is sent to the surface to track down and kill the last remaining Dark One.
Of course, it cannot be that easy, while you are able to find the sole remaining Dark One child, Artyom’s mission is brought to an end and he is captured by The Reich. While in custody he befriends Pavel, a soldier for the Red Line communists, and the two must work together to escape their imprisonment so Artyom can complete his mission. A war is coming to the Metro and all factions seemed to be focused on controlling D6. You must make your way across enemy territory and through uncharted Metro tunnels infested with all manner of nasty beasts to report your news to the Rangers.
The story and happenings are based on the events of the first Metro 2033 game and not the events of the original book’s sequel Metro 2034. This still doesn’t force you to play through the first game, however, as the game flows quite nicely and lets you know about important places and past events through log files and conversations as you advance through your play through.
Admittedly the last third of the game’s story feels a bit underwhelming and possibly rushed. It is unclear if that is the case or if it is just the fact that the setup is just so well done. The gameplay continues to be fun throughout and the world and people in it feel alive and real. Having a story told through a different cultural perspective is a refreshing thing to see at the very least.
Gameplay
Last Light is a First-person Shooter played from the perspective of Artyom, the hero of the first game and managing resources while dispatching foes is how you advance through the somewhat linear chapters that make up the game. The linearity of the game does well to give the game direction as a whole thankfully but I feel that because of it gameplay is shortened if only slightly.
The core FPS gameplay is solid, benefiting both skill and accuracy. Headshots matter (sometimes required) and all the mutated denizens of Moscow have their own special combat quirks and tactics that you have to account for.
A more robust and mechanical focus on stealth is in place with decent enemy AI to keep you from getting too bored. Through the first couple hours of the game I stuck to the shadows and killed or bypassed almost every enemy without firing a single shot. In fact, there are many sections throughout the game where stealth plays a big part and sometimes avoiding the big fight is simply a better idea.
Of course this isn’t the only way to play and if you find yourself with a large amount of ammo at your disposal the game does not hold you back from run and gunning your way through. Just be aware that you will never find as much ammo as you will probably spend clearing a room and in Metro: Last Light, military grade ammo is the currency by which you purchase everything. It also may be a good idea to diversify your load out to use multiple types of ammo if “guns-a-blazing” is your preferred style.
Another important resource that comes into play is the gas masks and filters. In high radiation and surface environments you are required to have one equipped to survive. The in-game watch lets you monitor your filter time down to the second as well as your inventory. Take too long and your filters run out suffocating you, take too much damage while wearing one and your mask breaks exposing you to the environment and your own mortality.
Controls
Basic controls are the same as you will find in almost every FPS genre title with WASD for movement and mouse aim. Last Light has support for keyboard controls as well as a PC compatible controller and grants you the ability to customize the action keys to whatever you fancy. “E” by default is your main action interaction button and most of the rest of the default scheme seems intuitive enough to learn after only a short time playing the game.
The Military grade ammunition that serves as currency in Last Light can be used on the fly any time to give your weapons a bigger punch in those sticky situations you may get yourself into. Inventory management is only a quick button press away and modifying your guns is quick and easy as well with all information laid out before you. The quick menu doesn’t pause the game, however, so being prepared is for the best.
Graphics and Audio
The 4A Engine is back and its capabilities make Last Light a beautiful game with dark and distinct atmospheres that wraps around you as you play and forced you to check behind you from time to time or even question yourself whether you want to go through doors in search of resources.
This atmosphere comes at a price as the best of the best graphics settings will require a powerful gaming rig and the console versions will not give you the best possible experience. Last Light has NVIDIA PhysX support that adds even more to your environment in the form of persistent debris, real-time fog and smoke and more realistic explosions with almost double the amount of particles that all react to the environment around them.
The audio is very well done on the whole. Areas with lots of people feel alive with real conversations you can stop and listen to, most which can help you as you play, though some of the voice acting can get a bit cheesy. Each of Last Light’s mutated enemies has a range of distinctly recognizable calls and roars. Even ambient objects such as fires have sound which brings the world to life.
Overall and Final Verdict
Last Light goes a long way to improve on Metro 2033 while still being very recognizable to fans of the first game. The graphics engine is the same and while having intensive requirements, does run a bit better on the whole then 2033. The environments and other recognizable elements have all returned to create an immersive world for established fans and new players alike. The story feels interesting without being too predictable and flows well from point to point while still giving you freedom to play. Monsters are distinct, powerful and force you to fight each in its own unique way.
Some sections feel a little too linear, however, and AI while not being incredibly bad still does seem stupid on the whole where human enemies are concerned. The voice acting, as I’ve said before, does feel a tad cheesy in some parts and while passing conversations may be helpful, stopping to listen to every one really stops the flow of the game while more than a few tell you perhaps a bit too much. The story is interesting and strong but does fall off during the later portions of the game which is a shame.
Metro: Last Light did not ship with a multiplayer mode to the disappointment of some and while there are rumors we may being seeing that functionality at a later date, nothing has been confirmed leaving us with a single player offering that does impress on the whole if a bit short. The linear style of the chapters does work in delivering a good story that anyone can understand and follow along. Last Light is well worth the pick up on Steam, Xbox 360 or PS3 for anyone and a must have for previous fans of the series.
