I broke a controller playing Metro 2033. I threw controllers, I even cussed controllers, but I never stomped one into oblivion before my failure-filled trip through Moscow’s Metro. I found the game from the Ukraine to be deviously difficult: the lack of a HUD left me without a visual health indicator, the lack of a map meant that I was lost a great deal of the time, the autosave fucked me, and the combat skill needed to successfully complete the game was far beyond what I possessed at the time. That was then...this is now
Metro: Last Light picks up a year after the events of Metro 2033. Ukrainian studio, 4A Games, once again plays developer for the post-apocalyptic shooter set in the Moscow subway system. However, due to the demise of THQ, Deep Silver took on publishing duties this time around. A year has passed since Artyom, the protagonist from the first game, rained a shower of missiles down on the colony of “dark ones” thus protecting the way of life for the denizens of the Metro. Players once again experience the subterranean post-apocalypse through Artyom’s eyes, and will be glad to know that Artyom rose to the rank of Ranger after his act of genocide. However, a single dark one survived, and if Artyom wants to continue to live the good life as a Metro Ranger, he needs to get his ass back up top and finish the job. Artyom’s superior, Col. Miller, sends Artyom back to the dead colony, with Miller’s own daughter providing cover, to finish off the last of the dark ones.
The immersive odyssey that follows plays more like a good book than a video game. Most games are constructed around interesting environments, then a story is written to include these environments, like a James Bond movie: determine where you want the protagonist to be then fine-tune the tale to encompass these exotic locations. Although Metro: Last Light is not Metro 2034, the literary successor to Dmitry Glukhovsky’s Metro 2033, Glukhovsky worked with 4A’s development team, resulting in a game that tells a story like a good book should. Just keep in mind that this odyssey is more Stephen King than Homer, complete with armies of bad guys, mutants, and monsters
The Lone Ranger
It turns out that even though Artyom’s Rangers are well respected, they are not always welcome in every part of the Metro. The Metro is ruled by several different factions, each claiming authority over their respective turfs. Factions like Nazis, Communists, and gangsters all claim a piece of the Metro and vehemently guard their boundaries. The tension inside the Metro is almost palpable, and players need steady hands and nerves of steel to traverse enemy territories, and the creature-filled tunnels that connect them.
Artyom, although alone, is far from defenseless. Weapons are available in the Metro, but limited. Assault rifles, revolvers, shotguns, pneumatic weapons, and long rifles serve as the main weapon choices, and Artyom may carry only three. Throwing knives, grenades, and mines complete his arsenal. Players must be selective with their targets: ammo is limited and so precious that it serves as the only form of currency in the Metro. Players can use military-grade ammo to buy cheaper, shittier ammo, but it still does the job. Make your shots count and search every fallen enemy if you want to make it home and save the day. Conservation is the key.
In addition to the scarcity of ammo, Artyom must also conserve his gas mask filters, which are consumed at an alarmingly rapid pace. Since the toxic air outside of the tunnels is lethal in less than a minute, players should stock up on filters before going topside to knock out those outdoor activities with due haste. The less time spent outside, the better.
Eye of the Beholder
4A Studios produced a near-perfect rendering of the ugliest game environment in existence. In other words, the graphics are stunning, not quite Crysis 3, but the detail is amazing: a beautiful presentation of a place that one never hopes to see. The HUD, as in the last game, is conspicuously absent. 4A doubled down on the organic interface: damage is related through the controller and displayed as redness on screen. Toxic respiration causes Artyom to breathe laboriously and stagger. Artyom possesses an air meter, but it is located on his watch. Players must make use of a compass pointing to the next objective, in lieu of a map. This organic interface does make the game a bit more difficult, but at the same time it deepens the immersion by forcing players to be situationally aware, instead of relying on a health meter. 4A utilizes a hidden karma system, so Artyom’s actions throughout the game will result in one of two outcomes. Metro: Last Light, like its predecessor, is a single player experience for seasoned shooter veterans. Most players should complete the campaign in about twelve to sixteen hours, perhaps a bit longer if you’re the scavenging type.
Final Verdict
Metro: Last Light provides a highly immersive environment and storied experience almost unheard of in shooters. It’s a living novel, complete with Nazis, Reds, brothels, guns, monsters, betrayals, and camaraderie. The game’s difficulty keeps it from being perfect. Not everyone will be able to finish the game, but then, this game is not for everybody. Noobs, you have been warned! I did not destroy a controller this time around, but there was quite a bit of profanity. Expect to see this on our GOTY list at the end of the year.