I make no secret about being a post-apocalyptic genre fan. Back in March of 2010, Metro 2033 was released on Xbox 360 and Windows PC and became my first introduction to a harsh world based on Dmitry Glukhovsky’s novel of the same title. I remember the little things from that game where the setting was as big of a character as the soldiers and refugees of Russia themselves. Fast forward to 2013 and the second game in the Metro series, Last Light, a game that reaffirmed my appreciation of how harsh and brutal the franchise’s setting is. When I heard the games would be getting the remastered treatment for current-gen consoles, I was excited to see what changes would be made and if they would stay true to what I have come to enjoy about the series.
One of the biggest selling points of any game that is re-released on the newest generation of consoles is graphics, that’s no different here. Both games get the 1080 p and 60 frames per second treatment and they look stunning. Last Light sees a decent uptick in textures, and lighting, but 2033 is where the changes are most evident. Shadows feel like there is depth to them; the outside settings feel much more real while the underground metro sections seem much more alive and creepy.
While the graphics certainly received a boost, gameplay – especially for 2033 – received a plethora of upgrades and tweaks as well. From little things like bringing the ‘mask wipe’ from Last Light to 2033 to improving weapon handling. A.I. is drastically improved as well, they react more to what is happening and not so much predetermined paths. The stealth mechanic has also received a significant upgrade as well. Previously in 2033 sneaking around was an option only to certain points then it seems like no matter what you did there was always going to be a gun battle. Now, it’s possible to go through entire sections and quite possibly the entire game. Where Last Light built upon 2033 when it was released things have now come full circle in Redux with 2033 utilizing many of the things that made Last Light a great game.
There are a few changes to game modes as well. The first two choices are Spartan mode which is a more classic style. Challenging but more forgiving with the amount of ammo and supplies that can be found. Survival mode is where the difficulty ramps up. Resources become more scarce, swapping and reloading weapons takes a little bit longer and the enemy A.I. does not mess around. For those that wanted the most challenging experience possible Ranger mode makes its return completely eliminating the HUD display forcing the player to be ever aware of ammo and constantly checking your wrist watch to monitor your gas mask filter levels. Playing in Ranger mode on the Survival difficulty really challenges you to plan ahead and not fall into the normal FPS style of running in and gunning everything down. It’s a great change of pace.
For PlayStation fans who have never had the chance to experience Metro 2033 the Redux edition is worth it just for that alone. The Metro series is one that I think is very under rated and one many gamers passed on before, this is a perfect way to get up to speed with the series and experience the desolation and brutality of post-apocalyptic Russia. For those looking for a different take on the FPS genre with a little Fallout meets Resident Evil this is one that you should consider. This is one of those games that I am always happy to revisit from time to time.
