Metro: Last Light

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before. The silence was unbroken, and the darkness gave no token, and the only word there spoken was the whispered word, “Metro”.

Metro: Last Light may be the most beautifully grim game I’ve experienced in quite a long time. I was a huge fan of the original, Metro 2033, for its gripping atmosphere, wonderfully created world, and heart-stopping horror. Last Light chose to continue this trend of terrifying me within an inch of my life by focussing on the darkness. Darkness is your ally, your comrade, and will always follow you. While the light may be more powerful, it can turn on you in any second and not only show you the way… but also your enemies.

Metro: Last Light may be the most beautifully grim game I’ve experienced in quite a long time.

For fans of Metro 2033: you’ll be pleased to hear that the combat system has been tightened, and the weapon system has had a small overhaul. You can now only carry three weapons, down from the previous four, but you can carry any assortment you choose. If you want three different assault weapons then you are free to do so, unlike the previous system of one slot per weapon calibre. Stealth has also been given a buff, as sneaking in Last Light is even more important than in 2033, so you now have a detection meter on your watch rather than relying on a rather unreliable crosshair icon.

There have also been smaller improvements to make the game feel a bit more fluid and clear. When you pick up weapons, either off bodies or from the ground, it clearly shows the upgrades on the weapon which you can then compare to your current arsenal. Ammo is now clearly distinct between calibres, as well as being clearly labelled when both purchasing and trading. You can also now finally, finally, wipe your gas mask off when it begins to mist up – a feature every former player of the franchise has been clamouring for.

The most intriguing part was the plot delivery. A vast amount of the plot is delivered through exposition and the environment. You’re free to discover as much or as little as you want through your own play style. Characters, both intrinsic and extrinsic to the main plot, will spout lines containing a variety of information to do with ambushes, other metro stations, key plot character’s backgrounds, and seemingly everything to do with Metro: Last Light’s world. Though you can also find pieces of information scattered around on papers, desks, posters, and objects placed throughout the game. I loved this delivery method, because it is how information and news would spread were this scenario real. Word of mouth would be dominant as their were no other true ways of communication. The English voice acting could still use some work, I’ll grant you, but if you throw it onto Russian voice with subtitles it’s a truly unique and fantastic way of delivering information to the player within the world.

It is exactly what I was hoping for from the franchise.

While I do wish to mound heaps of praise onto Last Light, there are some criticisms I must declare alongside it. Stealth, while imperative to the gameplay, can become slightly broken at times – sometimes being too difficult due to unclear lighting direction, and sometimes being too easy because a soldier will forget you exist because you turned your flashlight off. The voice acting, as mentioned above, can be a little bit flat if you’re playing in English (though I do recommend Russian for atmosphere’s sake). The weapon system and ammo labelling can somewhat take you out of the experience by pulling away from the Metro 2033 method of avoiding HUDs, but if you acquire ‘Ranger Mode’ then this does make it much harder and takes away these elements if you find them too overbearing.

I loved Metro: Last Light. I’m extremely happy that a game like this can, and does, exist in the market today. Yes it has its faults, and yes it does know it is not aiming at the broadest of audiences, but it is exactly what I was hoping for from the franchise. Dark, claustrophobic environments, rich and detailed plot that must be sought out to be truly appreciated, and a brilliant but hastily cobbled together arsenal of weapons to fight your way to continued survival in a post-apocalyptic world. Good luck, my friend. The night is dark and full of terrors.