Metro: Last Light Preview (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)

Shaping up to be one of next year's big titles...

Among the upcoming THQ releases that are sure to gather attention is Metro: Last Light, the follow-up to the sleeper first-person shooter hit Metro 2033.  The game was initially announced as Metro 2034, but, as we saw last year when it was first presented at E3, it’s since drifted in an original new direction, though its location and action appear to be on par with 4A Games’ previous effort.  If you like your shooters tense and realistic, get ready to bite your nails over this one.

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As with the previous game, Metro: Last Light follows a similar, harrowing story, one that received assistance from Metro novelist Dmitry Glukhovsky.  You’re a survivor in a post-nuclear warzone, needing to wear an oxygen mask just so you can survive walking from place to place.  You need to fight against a bunch of malicious creatures, some that have been created from the overwhelming nuclear presence within the area, using your old-school gun.  But you’ll need to use your ammunition sparingly, because going trigger-happy could leave you high and dry when it comes to severe combat situations.  And you will run into these, mostly in closed, confined quarters where these creatures are settling in.

During the demo we saw behind closed doors this year at E3, THQ showed us just how intense the action gets in Metro: Last Light.  We ran into several creatures that wouldn’t go down without a fight, getting all up in your face until you shove them off and manage to nail them with a crucial bullet.  Luckily, more ammunition is spread out around the grounds, so you can pick it up and keep your gun handy.

What’s more, you actually need to do manual stuff to keep your soldier, tagging along with his partner Artyom, from losing crucial necessities.  For instance, you have to pump your flashlight on occasion to keep the power from going out on it.  In addition, you’re also going to need your visor clean of blood and soot.  To do this, you simply need to wipe away any debris that is blocking your vision.  During the heat of battle, this can be quite difficult, but you’ll thank us later when you have a clear view on your target.

Along with the thrilling action that comes with Metro: Last Light, 4A Games also wanted to present an emotional side of the picture, and we saw that midway through the gameplay demo.  During one point of the game, you and Artyom come across a downed plane, and, as you walk through it, you begin to see flashbacks of what was happening on-board, between the passengers that were riding it (including kids) and a view from the cockpit.  You learn just what happened to the flight, as some sort of explosion jars it off course, forcing the captains to initiate a crash landing.  It’s a fantastic sight, and just one more aspect that makes Metro: Last Light stand out from other shooters of this kind.

Though the demo wasn’t hands-on (the developer walked us through it), it does demonstrate the kind of power 4A Games is trying to put into it.  Like Metro 2033, it’s more important to converse your firepower and energy rather than waste it mindlessly by shooting at nothing, as survival is everything in a game such as this.  That intensity will definitely enthrall fans of the first game, as well as those seeking something different from a first-person shooter.  This is definitely different.

And yet, the production values, from what we’ve seen thus far, are magnificent.  4A Games has done a wonderful job recreating a post-nuclear Russia, both deep within the confines of the caves and outside, where buildings are collapsed and monsters are on the prowl.  The frame rate remains very steady, especially during the combat situations, which are wild and sometimes unpredictable.  What’s more, the voice acting, especially coming from Artyom, is magnificent, really lending to the atmosphere instead of sounding all off.  The music is slow-moving as well, not really heightening unless the situation calls for it.  And even then, the orchestration team doesn’t go over the top with it.  It’s subtle, just as it needs to be.

Metro: Last Light is still a ways off from release – the game isn’t even due out till 2013 – but if anything can show that THQ still “has it” when it comes to creating overwhelmingly good gaming situations, it’s this game.  We can’t wait to give it a go.

 


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Prima Games Staff
The staff at Prima Games.