Metro Redux

Metro 2033 Redux is a remake of the popular video game Metro 2033 and is sold standalone & boxed alongside Metro: Last Light Redux. As it is sold separately and is a game in its own right, this review will only cover Metro 2033 Redux.

Metro is at its best when you're crawling around dark, dank tunnels in hope of scrounging ammo or gas mask filters whilst being kept on your toes by the human enemies patrolling the tunnels; when you have the freedom to explore in a semi-linear fashion and the level design gives you a glimpse of a more open experience. As it stands Metro is a very linear horror/sci-fi themed post-apocalyptic first-person shooter set in Moscow. You assume the role of Artyom as you make your way across Moscow to find the mysterious 'Dark Ones' that seem to threaten your home. The plot is pretty straightforward but the atmosphere elevates it, especially in the metro stations which are cramped and impoverished but where the men, women and children can feel safe from the dark tunnels and cold wasteland. Believe me, the sense of relief when you reach the safe haven of a station is palpable. There's little new from a design standpoint as it has you follow a straight path through the metro alongside comrades or going it alone with a few opportunities for lesser areas to be explored. The areas with a little more exploration and freedom do whet your appetite for a more open experience but the reality is this isn't it, for better or for worse.

The structure of stealthily (or loudly) taking out enemies and searching for loot is broken up with 'Call of Duty-esque' turret and 'follow the leader' segments but it's the journeys to the surface that provide a much needed gameplay and colour palette change. These sequences are tense and frantic as monsters attack aggressively and you must keep a keen eye on your gas mask filter level ticking down. The only problem I had with these areas is that it is all too easy to 'fuck yourself' (especially earlier in the game) by running out of air before the end of the level (maybe my own fault as I'm exhaustively thorough and explore bloody everywhere).

However the moment to moment gameplay is affected by the difficulty setting you choose which can make the game either a straight shooter with plenty of ammo and health for both sides, or an intense, stealthy cat and mouse game with a limited HUD, scarce resources and with both you and the enemy dying in a couple of shots. The latter I found to be the most satisfying way to play this game as it was far more immersive having to worry about resources and sneakily take out enemies (a joy with the improved AI). In addition to the human threat, the monster design must be applauded, not just aesthetically but behaviour wise as each species encounter is different. Dog like Nosalis hound you endlessly whist flying Demons make you duck for cover and you mustn't break eye contact with the notorious 'Librarians' or they will strike. Bear in mind, the shooting is not very responsive (though improved over 2033 vanilla) and it isn't the longest game in the world (clocking in at 12 hours for my ranger hardcore mode playthrough) making it hard to recommend a 'run n' gun' approach.

Metro 2033 oozes atmosphere, helped no end by the Redux engine overhaul and it's phenomenal lighting effects which transform a potentially dull metro tunnel into a work of art. Along with many of the other improvements like enemy AI not knowing telepathically where you are and the addition of weapon upgrade systems from Last Light, this is by far the definitive version of this game. It has its fare share of quirks and is a bit linear but by gum does it draw you into it's world, perhaps aided by its literary roots. It achieves what others such as Half-Life 2 have in creating a compelling and well-crafted world.