Game 28 - Metro Last Light - Week 17 - April 20

etro: Last Light had an interesting transition problem, as a continuation of a story that had two endings. I can understand why they made the 'bad' ending canon, to keep in line with the source material and maintain control of Artyom's journey for a more interesting arc. But on my second playthrough I had the good ending, sparing the Dark Ones. So it was jarring to go from that ending, to Metro Last Light picking up 1 year after the bad ending right away. Luckily on my first play through I witnessed the bad ending. So my I treated my first experience like canon and my second playthrough like a recurring dream from the dark ones, and Artyom reflecting on what could have been. Interestingly, this ending up being very relevant to the redemptive story of Last Light. 

Difficulty was confusing at first. I loved playing through Metro 2033 on ranger. In my post I mentioned it's the most immersive experience I've had in a game and wanted that to transition into LL as seamlessly as possible. I read up on it online and everything I read (including in-game) said "don't play ranger on your first playthrough. There's no UI and you can't see your filters or ammo". So I didn't. I went hardcore instead. As feared the UI was an abrupt change. I instantly turned the cross hair off. But the new hit markers remained, which were unbearable. After 2 hours of playing through I had to try ranger. To my pleasant surprise it was far far superior. Filters were easy, with a timer on your watch. In fact you could see how much you had spare on ranger normal and even your ammo (contrary to everything I read online). But there was a catch, you could only see your ammo in a safehouse or station. Maybe this was a change with the Redux. But in the end I felt this was even superior than the ranger mode in 2033, which was always visible on your journal. It makes sense that Artyom wouldn't be trapped in a tunnel, surrounded by enemies, under pressure from limited air filters and writing down his bullet tally with dwindling supplies. So for him to do that at base and then (me) remember how many bullets he shoots, counting them like a real SAS, Spetsnaz or post-apocalyptic warrior would be required to do.... that's the true ranger experience. In addition to limited UI, no clear indication of all your equipment, and items not glowing makes for an unparalleled scavenger survival experience - and it all just leads to holistic fucking awesomeness. I'm so glad I replayed the first 2 hours (which acted as a pseudo-tutorial in a way) to transition into this experience, as it lead to an even more immersive experience. Instead of a step down it one-upped Metro 2033. Just... just look at this....

Again, I'm unsure what came with Redux and what was the fault of the original, but there are two minor changes I would have made. Allowed an in game journal for writing notes (literally drawing on it with the cursor), so you can keep track of bullets, maintaining immersion by eliminating any need to do so external to the game. And include more immersion animations a kin to Far Cry 2. Such as using pliers to remove bullets when you're shot so you can 'regenerate' to full health. A lot of 'immersive animations' are in the game, but mostly around jump scares or cleaning your gas mask from various wasteland offspring ala sludge, bugs or flies. The latter of which is extremely well done and just ropes you further and further into their world. I only wish there was more to pull you even deeper in the wasteland. 

More animations like this please. 

Characters - I won't dig quite as deep here. As many character remained unchanged from their excellent performance and roles in 2033. This is simply the next chapter. However I have new found appreciation, replacing a big criticism I had for 2033. That's how bland and seamless the wasteland survivor felt, like homogeneous military. This is still somewhat true in the average Metro dweller. However I don't mind that as many would blur into the bleak reality of surviving this world. But for the standout characters, the makeover was well appreciated. The story though, like any great story, is told through its characters. And Metro's are always exceptional. 

Spartans - Now lead by Miller as they flock from Polis to D6, to protect the power within. The man leads with the same fiery passion as he does before. Protect the Spartans, protect the Metro, protect the people, protect Anna. If any of those fall, the next is in line and this is the purpose of a Spartan. Follow your orders and your loved ones live. So of course when rumours of a dark one surviving the D6 blast of their home is delivered by Khan; Miller tasks his best man, and his crack shot daughter with an attitude problem to track it down dead or alive. Khan contests; he feels what Artydom did was a mistake and this is his chance for redemption. Setting fourth the path of Last Light. Sound familiar? It is. Miller is Hunter and Khan is Alex. And yet again, Artyom must make a choice. 

The Big 3 - They're back here but with D6 on the block, any armistice with the Spartan's is soon to be broken as the Nazis and Reds seek to take it to tip the balance of power. Both factions are far more brutal here. Both rule with harsh order. 

Reds - Lesnitsky, Czeslav Korbut, Andrey and Maxim Moskvin. The reds are the main antagonist and pose the biggest threat to Spartan's peace and the Metro way of life. The former, a double agent seeks to viral bomb D6. Korbut is the head of intelligence and through a coup and his agents Pavel and Lesnitsky, seeks direct control of D6. Andrey and Maxim are the leader and right hand man to the Red Line. The former leader is poisoned and manipulated by his envious brother under Korbut's plan to take control of the Metro. 

Anna - Clearly disapproving of  'Rabbits' softness and vying for her father's attention, she has a bone to pick with you and something to prove. This is pushed to its limits on your mission to retrieve the dark one, when the legendary Spartan has so much trouble capturing it, Anna questions your loyalty screaming through the radio as she herself tries and fails to snipe it. Before you can capture it you're apprehended by Reich Stalkers. I love her journey. Naturally, as you go back and fourth saving each other from reds, reich and rogues alike, you bond and her respect grows for you. Because surprise surprise, you remind her of Miller, appealing to her deep seeded daddy issues (probably). This culminates after she's saved from the reds and Lesnitsky. All out war is on the horizon and he's about to leave for war she confides in Artyom the loneliness she feels akin to when her father use to range. They make love. 

Pavel - Not to be confused with the quartermaster from 2033. The friend of Artyom, helps him survive and escape the Reich similar to Bourbon. But is eventually revealed as a Red spy and his loyalty causes him to betray Artyom. He is the Garry to your Ash, the Dante to your Virgil, the Vegeta to your Goku. The endless story of paragon and adversary on the heroes journey. After many confrontations I chose to spare the man, lest he seek redemption as Artyom does for his sins. The visions the game has through the little dark one are just phenomenal, and add so much flair to the typical grey wasteland. Below for example you see Pavel, about to meet his end. This is as everyone sees it, however mirrored by the real world is the reflection of Pavel about to suffocate after the final confrontation and Artyom's choice to spare and send him to the Damned Souls. I saw this as all the souls Pavel tarnished, in his efforts to repeat the same mistakes that caused their suffering in the world ending event. 

The Dark Ones - the visions were vague and roughly explored in Metro 2033. And by the end you're left wondering if you made a mistake or not nuking the Dark Ones. Metro Last Light explores that. The child is the last known survivor of your genocide. And is the proxy for the race. He speaks to you and gets to know you. Even saving your life and those you love at times (such as Anna from Lesnitsky). Here is where the story is anchored and peaks. After you save the child from Reich captivity, it observes you and grows to trust you. You don't choose whether to silo the child or not, but rather your actions influence it and the final outcome. To complete the redemptive arc Artyom follows the path of Khan this time. As a result the child recognized that these humans have good in them and have a place in this world. Previously in a twisted turn of events it's revealed that the Dark Ones saved Artyom as a child. In turn years later he would send many of them to the damned souls, as the little dark one states all dead go. Artyom would redeem himself somewhat by saving a Dark Ones child this time. In the final confrontation you fend of wave and wave of Reds. Like the true Red Army the Spartans are washed over by a sea of blood, as one man dies the man behind him picks up his weapon. Alas, inevitably the swarm overwhelms your final phalanx.

As a last resort, Artyom prepares to denotate all of D6 as ordered by Miller, leaving Anna to raise his son alone. Instead Artyom is saved by the child and his fellow Dark Ones. Korbut and his guard are hypnotised into murdering each other, and their fearless leader is shown fear, torn to shreds by the little one. Unlike his typical pacifist kind, he has clearly taken on board the lessons of balancing enlightened peace, with survival of the fittest, as witnessed in his journey with Artyom. Uhlman and most of the Spartan's have died and Miller is in a wheelchair. The child leaves with his kind, saying it will be better for humans, but they will return one day. Khan follows in pursuit. It's clear the the humans are too fearful to learn from the Dark Ones, and until they are ready to remove fear from their hearts they cannot be helped. 

What can I say. It truly is Metro 2.0. I can see why some prefer 2033, carrying that old school shooter vibe reminiscent of STALKER and FEAR. While I noticed Last Light has made some concessions for console and casual shooters (especially on non-ranger difficulties ala hit markers), I feel this is negated by simply playing on ranger. Which excels even more so then 2033 at providing the apocalyptic ranger experience. Overall it is a better game and a worthy sequel.