Metro Last Light
Gameplay - 9
Presentation - 10
Story/Creativity - 9
Lifespan - 9
9.3
It took me more than 10 hours to complete the single player only campaign and it was a blast. It’s really hard to fault since anything you think it’s missing it’s done on purpose to challenge you. What also impressed me was all the little character interactions going on all around you. Its clear lots of effort were involved to make the game feel realistic and overall they did a great job doing that.
Metro Last Light Community Page
Metro Last Light is an engrossing experience that will take you into its gritty torn world, letting your mind absorb the amazing atmosphere and emotional journey it has to offer.
Metro 2033 made by developer 4A games was a hit back in 2010, now gaining a bit of an early cult status. It intrigued gamers like me with its post-apocalyptic setting underground and on the radiated surface above. Mixed with survivor horror together with unique gameplay elements, it had an atmospheric feel that drew the player in, and explore the metro and the terrifying surface of Moscow.
The story involved an atomic bomb that hit Moscow in the year 2013, causing severe radiation across the city luring any survivors to live in the underground city called the Metro. Those on the surface who didn’t survive were mutated into creatures called the Dark Ones.
Not so Moscow anymore
Now twenty years later our protagonist Artyom, a soldier who was born in the Metro is called forth since they’ve heard reports of the Dark Ones trying to break into their station. He must travel and let allies know of the trouble and ask for aid in the struggle.
The sequel continues on from the first with our protagonist Artyom although I won’t mention much of Metro Last Lights plot. It continues on from the end of Metro 2033, and I wouldn’t want to spoil anyone if they’ve yet to play it. Suffice to say not all is what it seems.
Metro Last Light is a first person shooter; however there are multiple genres implemented. As mentioned it has a survival horror feel, since depending on the difficulty setting you play resources are scarce, such as ammo, air filters and medkits.
Furthermore the game design reflects survival horror, with strange phenomena and noises in many dark tunnels requiring a flash light to see a few metres ahead. When on the surface you need to wear a gas mask to avoid the radiation. There’s a timer on your air filters so you need to be very aware and move with haste while exploring to see if you can find more along the way.
A Firefight it is
Stealth also plays a large part in this characteristic sequel. You can use the dark to your advantage to not be seen by mutants of humans. Your best bet is to shoot or turn off lights near you so your presence or shadow cannot be seen. Movement plays a factor too, move slowly when you’re near an enemy or they might hear you. Lots of traps are planted to disrupt your stealthy ways by the way.
You have opportunities to buy ammo and weapons throughout the game but only at given progressions, mostly in towns. There is no money in Metro Last Light but ammo is your currency. You can collect special ammo from dead bodies or from exploring and use it to either buy weapons, upgrade your current ones or buy ammo for them.
The way it works is you have your regular ammo, then your special ammo which you can choose to use for extra damage or if you run out. But be warned it isn’t too common.
Metro Last Light wants you to be immersed, and it does this very well. It visually captures you in a dark, gritty underworld that while exploring the dark tunnels gives you the creeps – while safely in towns it captures you with its allure. When on the surface you feel nothing but terrified knowing the mutants are watching you while between you and the deadly air is a gas mask with a timer.
Lots of these waiting for you
Much of the game’s magnetism comes from the music and sounds as well. The voice work is spoken in English but is from Russian ascents, it just makes it in whole more genuine and believable. The music is masterfully fitted with the right theme at the given time. Suspenseful music plays when you’re in a dark tunnel or area full of enemies, and it lights up when you’re in town.
I really had a great time with Metro Last Light, it’s full of suspense and quite story driven even on an emotional level. It doesn’t hold your hand and it traditionally doesn’t have many of the elements a core shooter would have.
It’s more survival horror focused giving you few resources, little help, and loads of tension. This isn’t a first person shooter you’ll be gliding through; in fact you’ll be tip toeing with anxiety waiting what’s ahead of you.
