The launch of a new generation is a great opportunity to pick up some great games from “last-gen” at some great prices. I’m going to do a feature like this every couple of weeks of a great game that I picked up at, or saw for, a great price. Especially titles that may have slipped under the radar and we haven’t covered before.
Metro: Last Light was on my to-play list for a long time, but with some other big releases it got pushed further, and further back. I picked up the “Limited” Edition for PS3 brand-new for a very pleasing £15 a few weeks back, not bad considering it was only released in May 2013. It’s also set to come to PS+ in the UK soon, and is well worth the price of the shortest subscription, as well as being frequently for sale on Steam.
Spolier Warning - If you’ve not played Metro 2033, and don’t want to know how it ends, skip the next few paragraphs. Or go play it then come back.
The story follows on from the events of Metro 2033, with Artyom and the Rangers dealing with the aftermath of the destruction of the Dark Ones home on the surface. The story is driven by revenge, with plenty of twists and turns that keep you engaged with none of them being too predictable. Those familiar with the lore of Metro 2033, know about the assorted factions of Hansa, The Red Line and the Nazis and they all make a return adding a rich background narrative to Artyom’s personal mission.
As well as the human depth to the Metro, the setting itself is excellent. Even though most of the game has you fighting through Metro tunnels, there is more than enough variety to break up a potentially monotonous location. The labour of love that went into the detail of the setting is obvious, and really adds to the tension. Creaking and clunking of pipework, snarls of hopefully far away creatures bring the Metro to life, with tantalising side paths to explore, often littered with the bodies of previous visitors.
The surface of Moscow is as detailed as the tunnels below, and the panoramic vistas are beautifully designed and make a huge visual impact in contrast to the dark, claustrophobic tunnels. One of the biggest differences between the surface and the underground is the lack of background noise. Being on the surface is one of the few times that you can actually notice silence. The first time I actually noticed the lack of noise was a real “wow” moment, it’s daft, but it really made an impact.
Artyoms journey between the Metro and the surface is broken up with visits to stations, that act as a sort of hub. They serve to break up the action, propel the story a little further and to re-equip and improve weapons. They are also some of my favourite places in all of video games. The hub stations above everything give a huge sense of a society struggling to survive, and in some cases achieving it. Children run and play, people eat and drink in make-shift bars, there are doctors, musicians, and people just talking.One station in particular, Venice, stood out for me. A sprawling, tiered station, built up with tiny living spaces joined by bridges over the river below. And all beautifully presented.
The gameplay is as great as the setting. The core element, the shooting, is good. The weapons feel weighty and, if you turn of all the assists (as you should), it’s the right amount of a challenge. The shooting works well in the stealthy portions, the firefights with human NPC’s and the shooting-wildly-whilst-yelling-to-kill-big-monsters encounters. The variations in enemy types and behaviour, and the clever pacing and spacing of them, prevent the action from getting stale.
Stealth is a big part of Metro: Last Light and this is executed very well too. It’s a simple line-of-sight based stealth mechanic and you’re encouraged to turn off lights, use distractions and explore the environment to find an advantage. Artyom’s watch is the equivalent of Sam Fishers green “you can be seen” light, and glows blue when you could be caught by an enemy.
Metro: Last Light has a few extra layers that a lot of FPS games don’t have. Little details like having to wipe blood and grime from your gas mask, to some really key gameplay mechanics that add an extra pinch of danger. I love the little details like having your objectives on a little combination clipboard/compass and wiping the gas mask visor clear. But some of the big details can be killer if you forget about them. The torch and NVG’s are integral to your survival, and they use battery power. A batter that has to be manually recharged, and the beasts of the Metro don’t care if you’re trying to power your flashlight. They will eat your face regardless. I really enjoy games that have a simple core mechanic (shoot bullets at man until man falls over) but really flesh it out with some interesting gameplay.
The chances are that if you played Metro 2033, you’ve already played Last Light. But if you haven’t and like shooters with a rich setting and backstory, solid core mechanics with touches of complexity and some fantastic set-pieces I’d keep a look out for Metro: Last Light.
For extra depth, try Ranger mode that turns off all assists and the (already limited) HUD and play it in Russian.
