Metro: Last Light

Metro 2033 which was released back in 2010 for Windows and Xbox 360 provided such a impact on scavenging type of gameplay that it became like a mother of all  the other games that started hitting the markets . Unlike other FPS games of its genre the game did not come with a effective melee system that you can fall back to when you run out of ammo . All you have got are some scavenged & not so good weapons and some bullets that may or may not stop your enemy in time . Add that to the dangerous Radioactive fumes that floats around the surface you have got a serious game that takes its toll upon you on each and every corner.

Metro 2033 was praised for its GPU and CPU demands and was used as a benchmark to test the newly released cards for a long time . Add that to a game that supported Direct X 11 long back then in 2010 this game was a leader in all aspects . The unique gameplay style was what made Metro such an unforgettable experience . Scavenging for ammo's and an enthralling story line , it packed a punch for all the hungry Gamers .

 Dark One

Now after 3 yrs of its release , Metro : Last Light ( formerly known as Metro 2034) hits the streets with much expectations and I have to say that it does not fail to impress.

Plot ::

Once again you take the role of Artyom who is now a part of Rangers in D6 facility . Metro 2033 offers two possible endings to the game , but this game picks of from the most possible ending that players would have chosen at the end of the first game . Artyom calls in the strike of Missiles on the Dark ones and thereby destroying them all .But later they come to know one of the dark one is still alive . Khan convinces Artyom that the Dark one is the key to surviving in this world . And its upto Artyom to unravel the mystery that surrounds the Dark ones using his weird connection to them .

Khan

Gameplay ::

Metro employs the same scavenging type of gameplay that it was quite famous for . But this time the player character gets all the guns he requires in the beginning of the game along with all the upgrades and ammunition . That does not mean you won t get access to new weapons as you progress, you will , but getting them with the money ( bullets ) on the other hand is a job that is left open only to the best explorer at hand .

Demon Attack

A new feature of throwing Knives and Melee kills has been introduced in this one that earns a quite likability as soon as you start executing them .On the other hand it does make one feel like they are playing a ordinary action game instead of The Metro . Artyom is more skilled now and he moves like a cat in the dark and pounces when the moment is ready . Just like all stealth games , you can make the  darkness your ally . You can remove the lights or hit the circuit breakers so that the area which was monitored a few minutes ago is completely swathed in darkness and you can slowly creep towards the Guard Patrols and slit their throats off silently .There are some silly and awkward moments where the guard right before wont even notice you and you will still be able to slice them up if you are quick enough.

Brutal Knife Kill ..

Gunfight has been upgraded to a whole new level . Whenever you come across a room filled with thugs you have both options of sneaking past them hidden in drainage passages or blast our way through with your guns blazing . Its all upto you and your patience . But whichever style you choose the end result is quite satisfying.

The mutants are back too , with a horrifying intro at some places . Most of the places you will come across a pack of hounds passing along . Stay hidden and let them pass or be foolish enough to antagonize one and bring the fury of the whole pack .You do get to face them in the confirmed corridors where the only option is to blast them away from your face . Not  to mention some epic boss fights where you could use the environment to your advantage instead of just wasting your bullets .

Damn scary scene !!

There is no Metro without the infamous Gas Masks . And they are back and its all about wiping your mask , changing your filter before you enter into a firefight and throwing in a occasional adrenaline surge with a shot from your med kit if you need to survive in this world .

Either blasting through waves of enemies or waves of Mutants , Gameplay never slows down not even for a single bit and is made quite interesting with some dramatic visuals and adrenaline pumping button mashing escapades .

Graphics ::

Metro was always a graphically demanding game . But not this time around . Say hello to Optimizing patch that was released as soon as the game was released which made running the game in a way that best suited your hardware  , especially for ATI card users . Since the game was designed with Nvidia cards in mind , people who ran a ATI card suffered from a lot of stuttering and lag in gameplay even if they had a high end GPU in ATI . Never fear said 4A Games and came up with amazing patch that fixed the issues with AMD cards and made the game butter smooth without a stutter . First time I saw a patch that actually worked wonders and that too which was discernible to the naked eye.

http://steamcommunity.com/app/43160/discussions/0/810924774395015649/

So once the patch was applied everyone could admire the beauty of post apocalyptic Moscow in its full glory . Though the game is not beautiful in its color palette as Bioshock Infinite was , it does radiate beauty in a melancholic sort of way . Game looks absolutely amazing both above ground or inside the Metro .

Guns and Weapons ::

You have the famous Assault rifle and Sniper Rifle along with a double barreled or rotating shotgun . Ammo is a commodity tats made available depending upon the difficulty level you choose . If you choose very easy,  ammo is abundant and is  easy to find while the exact vice versa happens if you select hard difficulty . But I have to say that the weapons have been made more effective now when compared to its older version .

New and Improved Assault rifle 

Weapon upgrades are not that abundant . You can either fit a scope to your assault rifle , Laser pointer , or night vision scope for better scouting ( Although this gets moot after you get the actual night vision goggles) .

The game does give a feel that it had been toned down in play-ability to better suit the needs of wide range of casual Gamers . Being in 2013 every game feels like that and Metro last light is another victim of exactly that .

Pro's :

1. Once again step int the boots of Artyom and travel along the post Apocalyptic world of Moscow .
2. Gameplay has its unique moments that just amazes and surprises you with its cinematic style feel
3. Weapons are a lot better than Metro 2033.
4. Game optimization works amazingly .

Con's ::

1. Some may find the repetitive parts of killing Thugs rooms after room as a chore rather than the fun it is .
2. Story slows down in pace after some time into the game .
3. Melee attacks in the dark gives the game totally a Un- Metro Like feel .

Overall :: A Amazing game that has to be experienced by each and every one of the Gamers .

Rating : 9.4 /10 ( Very Good )

Regards
Ram