After the summer break, we can finally look forward to new games for our PlayStation 4, which, due to a rather long drought of new releases, has been gathering dust in the corner. With "Metro Redux," the development studios 4A Games and Deep Silver are sticking with the tried-and-tested remake formula, reviving the former titles "Metro 2033" and the recently released "Metro: Last Light" on next-gen consoles. For €40, fans get plenty of gameplay extras and polished graphics. Find out in our review whether the new look is enough to justify a purchase.
Artyom, get the vodka out!
Not much needs to be said about the story of "Metro: 2033" and "Metro: Last Light"—there are no innovations in this area; the developers have primarily focused on gameplay and graphics. Nevertheless, the plot is unique, having already been introduced last year. convince was and is definitely worth playing again, especially since it was based on the dystopian novel by the Russian author Dmitri Glukhovsky.
The story follows the survivor Artyom in a post-apocalyptic world largely confined to the Moscow Metro. The outside world is contaminated and controlled by humanoid monsters known as demons or "Dark Ones." Humans struggle for survival, fighting not only against these alien beings but also against each other. Artyom's unique ability lies in his capacity to interact with these creatures.
The post-apocalyptic story takes a significantly different path than a comparatively different one. Shooter as a browser game The story continues to be told in a very exciting way, and the fantastic presentation creates a dark atmosphere that is perfectly captured not only in the novel but also in the game. We become attached to the believable characters and experience many battles and moments with them that make it clear just how hopeless Artyom's world truly is.
Unofficial Collector's Edition?
As mentioned above, the gameplay innovations offer the biggest reason to buy for both newcomers and series veterans, because with Metro: Last Light, buyers get all previous DLCs and the famous "Ranger Mode." This mode, with its extremely high difficulty and the absence of a HUD, delivers an incredibly intense survival horror experience.
If some of you aren't fans of survival horror, that's no problem, as the two games offer two distinct gameplay styles. You can choose between "Survival" and "Spartan" modes – the latter mitigates ammunition scarcity and is generally more action-oriented than stealth-focused. In contrast, the Survival mode forces you to contend with dwindling ammo supplies and incredibly powerful enemies.
Even in the details, many changes can be observed – the AI in "Metro: 2033" no longer seems as helpless as in its predecessor, making it more fun to sneak up on enemies from behind and silently eliminate them. Yes, you read that right – "Metro: 2033" finally offers acceptable stealth sections.
Throughout the game, we must travel from one metro station to another, restocking our weapons and equipment from the vendors there. This ensures we're always well-armed in the dark tunnels should a fight break out. The currency in "Metro: 2033" is ammunition, which means that using up ammo can be a disadvantage for the player in many ways. Therefore, the game forces you to operate in the shadows, sneaking undetected through the tunnels of Moscow to avoid encountering the enemy. Occasionally, an escalation with the enemy is unavoidable, making a high hit rate and a large supply of medicine crucial for Artyom.
Next-gen polish
Visually, both titles have undergone significant changes, though I must say the alterations in "Metro: 2033" are more pronounced than in the already highly praised "Metro: Last Light." But let's start with "Last Light," which, in my opinion, has received the fewest visual changes. As in the PS3 version, we have a breathtaking setting with a very dark aesthetic, which is complemented by the surface missions, providing plenty of variety. The character design also receives sharper textures and very precise 3D modeling, although some animations might be a bit odd here and there. While the improvements are noticeable, we still wonder if this "remake" even makes sense, especially since remakes of games have so far been limited to retro titles and classics.
The remake of "Metro: 2033" was admittedly necessary, as the previous version suffered from numerous graphical glitches. But let's start with the positive aspects. Like its predecessor, "Last Light," "Metro: 2033" creates a very dark and post-apocalyptic atmosphere. The metro stations, teeming with refugees and vodka-swilling soldiers, feel remarkably authentic. We witness a starving old man emptying his last bottle to the rustling of an old radio. Many starving children cry and beg for the last of their bread so their younger siblings can survive. Here, too, the animations are generally fluid, and the character designs are believable, allowing players to truly feel the suffering of the people around them.
German language skills in Moscow – a very bad idea
What "Metro: 2033" was definitely known for was its poor dubbing and artificial accents, which led to many negative reviews in the previous version. This time around, we have the same problem, although I must honestly say that after being disappointed by the German voice acting, I continued playing with the Russian dub, which I really enjoyed. We also have another issue with the dialogue: the uncoordinated distance.
That's what it means – when we approach the speaking character, they speak at a normal volume, but as soon as we turn the camera slightly to the side, the volume drops, and the NPC is then usually difficult to understand. Occasionally, you even have to wait a few seconds to hear the dialogue after you've reached the speaker. Musically, however, we have no complaints, especially since the game benefits from the horror atmosphere and impressively underscores certain moments with sound, creating a tremendous amount of tension.
Developer: 4A Games
Publisher: Deep Silver
Release: August 29, 2014
Official homepage: www.enterthemetro.com
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