I played the original Metro 2033 and while the first game certainly gets props for atmosphere and an incredibly fascinating setting, the gun-play sucked. This can be problematic when one considers that the Metro games are first person shooters.
Gripes aside, any qualms I had with the original were quickly put to rest with the sequel, Metro: Last Light. The second game doesn’t require you to play the first, but purists may want to go ahead and do that. For most, I’d say just stick with the sequel, because that’s where the fun’s at.
Metro: Last Light puts you back in the boots of Artoym, a ranger who serves the inhabitants of the Metro, the old subway system below a nuked-out Moscow. While more linear than the Fallout or S.T.A.L.K.E.R. games, Last light offers players multiple paths to clear an objective.
Though the goal is often go from point A to B, the heavy emphasis on stealth, along with the option for lethal or non-lethal take-downs, makes the journey a treat. And even though players are tasked with going from one checkpoint to the next, the levels in Last Light are so densely packed with various nooks and crannies that exploration isn’t just rewarded, it’s encouraged. Inquiring minds can search for journal entries from Artoym or other inhabitants living in the world of Last Light. This gives additional texture to the world for those who seek it, and certainly encourages multiple play-throughs. I’m still in my first run through the game and I’m already thinking about my next go-round.
I alluded to the fact that gun-play has improved in the sequel, and I can certainly confirm that. Weapons work as you’d expect, simply point-and-shoot to drop foes with a well-placed head-shot. Gun porn enthusiasts will be pleased as you can mod your favorite side-arms to your heart’s content, using tried and true staples, like the AK47, or more creative guns, like pneumatic rifles that fire ball bearings. Such devices are crafted by your fellow denizens of the Metro, and add another notch to Last Light’s personality, making it stand out from other shooters. Pneumatic guns actually require you to pump them in-game. That same mechanic applies your flashlights and night-vision goggles. When the battery charge for either drops low, you’ve gotta crank away. This isn’t re-inventing the wheel, but it’s an interesting mechanic that surprisingly pulls you into the game.
You also have to wear gas-masks to traverse more deadly parts of the Metro and surface, as the very air is toxic. Rain and gore splatter your visor, and you’ll find yourself periodically swiping Artoym’s vision with the tap of a key. When things get hectic, you’ll blindly be firing away, wishing you could take just a moment to wipe the blood from your character’s eyes. But you can’t, as shooting the nasties in front of you is often more important.
Players must also watch their air meter. When the number hits zero, you’ll need to swap out filters for your gas mask. Run out, and it’s bye-bye. One of the toughest moments for me in the game occurred when I was waiting on a ferry above-ground. I had a minute of air, and a horde of angry mutants howling for my flesh. Miraculously, I made it through, but not before I had Artoym gasping.
From a narrative perspective, the story provides some fun twists and turns. Some of the characters are very cool. One of my favorites, is a hippie/lone-ranger named Khan, who often wonders the Metro alone, and believes humanity’s home to be a living, breathing thing. Whether or not that’s the case is open to interpretation, but there’s certainly plenty of odd bits going on with Artoym – whether he’s the next step in human evolution, a bit or a medium, or just plain delirious is questionable. The result though, is that you often see shit – and it’s scary.
From a player’s perspective, the possibility that your character is getting glimpses of the past or seeing ghosts will set you on edge. Coupled with some mean nasties and harsh human opponents, you’ve got a game that deftly juggles action, horror, and stealth. It’s a fine blend that sets Last Light one step further ahead of the pack. This is one of the few games where I had to go down a scary-ass looking hallway, but didn’t want to. I had a feeling it was where the developers wanted me to go. I tried searching every nook and side passage, but to not avail. Eventually, I let out a sigh and trudged down the scary passage.
Things didn’t turn out so bad, as I stumbled upon some human raiders. While humans have guns, they’re not as scary as the mutants above and below ground. But they’re just as deadly. From the fascists who demand genetic perfection and will kill mutants on-sight, to the Reds, remnants of the old Communist party, there’s plenty of diversity in the tunnels of the Metro. Throw in the Rangers, who just want to preserve humanity, and a few free cities, and you’ve got a veritable melting pot to provide differing ideas and conflict.
It’s a solid story. One of my gripes is is that there are quite a few on-rails moments. I hate them, as it reminds me of Call of Duty. But hey, you’ve got to tell the story some way, and that’s the way they chose to do it. And when the story’s so good (something lacking in many single-player shooters today), I can’t really complain. My only other gripe is the female protagonist. Her development is piss poor. One moment she hates you, the next, she wants to jump your bones. While that may describe my wife at times, such behavior is due to her hormones, so it kind of makes sense. 
In Last Light though, it doesn’t. What results is an annoying character among a stable of interesting and really cool ones. Her bi-polar behavior threw me off, and as my-in game avatar cupped her bare boob, I had to wonder what the hell was happening on-screen. Look, I get it. Last Light takes a page from The Witcher and wants to be a mature game. They like BEWBS (NSFW). Hell, I like boobs. But it’s got to fit into the context of the game. It has to make sense. I’m not saying the aforementioned scene shouldn’t be included in the game. But what results is a poorly fleshed-out female character who comes across as your stereotypical tough gal who falls for the hero. She also seemed like a sex object. If you want to have that in my game, that’s fine. But add some depth to it. Let me get to know her, like in Mass Effect. Even if I can’t get to talk to her, let’s get some development in here! You don’t just go from cold indifference to third base!
Last little critique is the lack of in-game dialogue. The voice actor in Last Light who portrays Artoym does a pretty damn good job. Everyone does in fact. But Artoym only speaks between levels. That’s not bad, but it’s kind of annoying, as characters will speak to you, and you don’t reply with any kind of dialogue. It doesn’t drastically detract from the game, but for a title that tries so hard to immerse you in the world, it seems a bit odd to remove your voice. One could argue that you are Artoym. But we hear him speak between levels. Again, like The Witcher, I’m fine playing someone else and stepping into their shoes. But give me the full shebang. Let me know how this character ticks. I want to hear them speak and interact, not just reflect. But that’s me.
Bottom line is that this game is awesome. Nothing’s more fun than killing the lights to an area, then picking off a group of human foes as they scream at their own shadows.
If you like shooters, especially ones that do something, different, Metro: Last Light may be for you. If not, stay tuned, as Metro: Redux is right around the corner, with all the DLC. Or keep an eye peeled on Steam this weekend, as Last Light is 50% off for the next 38 hours as of this writing.
Update
Just finished my first play-through of Last Light and I have to say, the ending took an unexpected, but pretty damn awesome turn. Some fans may be frustrated, but I loved it. The question in my mind though, is whether or not there is an alternate ending as the first game had two different endings. Either way, I’ll be giving this another run. First though, I have to get through the DLC missions, three of which provide additional insight into the story from the perspective of other characters. Reiterating what I originally said, do yourself a favor and pick this one up. It’s certainly worth your time.
The post Impressions of Metro: Last Light (Updated) appeared first on sai tyrus.
