Metro: Last Light Redux (PlayStation 4) Review

Metro: Last Light Redux begins with a recap of the final moments of Metro: 2033 and then immediately follows with a sequence that will set a tone for the rest of the game and that will distinguish itself from its predecessor. Like with Metro: 2033 Redux, the redux edition of Metro: Last Light gains a fidelity bump compared to its PS3 and Xbox 360 counterparts. Liquid-fluid 60 frames per second and a retina-scorching 1080p has the PS4 version looking fantastic. The same artistry that 4A Games displayed in Metro: 2033 Redux is in full force and then some, since the team has grown more experienced and has implemented all kinds of dazzling new effects that effectively draw the player into this dark and horrible world. Artyom, no longer a scrub, is a full-on ranger with a mission. On this mission, he encounters a wide variety of opponents from Soviets and Nazis, to ferocious mutants that stalk the metros and surface, and - just maybe - he might even find a little love along the way. The story of Last Light Redux is a rich and complex one with strange underpinnings of mysticism and Christian imagery with interesting characters that have stories with a real emotional core to them. There is far more plot in Metro: Last Light Redux than Metro: 2033 Redux, which allows for a wider variety of locations, from cathedrals to a Venice-like underground city.

Ways that this version surpasses its predecessor is how it rectifies some of the design choices established in the first game. For example, the long scripted story chapters are less frequent and are briefer, as well as the game offering much longer chunks of gameplay where has more options for creative gameplay. This not only makes the fewer scripted story sequences more enjoyable, but they also serve as a moderate pacing break from the constant tension filled sequences that Metro: Last Light Redux excels at. Players are going to be able to savour the laid-back locations where they are free to explore a floating shanty town in the underground where they can partake in a side-quest or just restock on supplies. While Metro: Last Light Redux does improve on almost every possible way from Metro: 2033 Redux, it still carries some of its technical issues with the AI and graphical hiccups, like clipping models and some unnatural animation or lifeless expressions.

Once again, the crew at 4A Games has masterfully rendered Dmitry Glukhovsky's world perfectly, but for some niggling flaws. Despite the few and far between graphical inconsistencies, though, Metro: Last Light Redux is an excellent looking game. Does it fully utilise all that the PlayStation 4 has to offer? No, but this is still a work of art and undoubtedly looks the way the art director intended it to (for the most part). The sheer density of geometry is staggering in this game, with so many individual objects and pieces of set dressing that paint each environment. If there was one visual flourish that was always on point with no noticeable flaws, it would be the lighting - the lighting in Metro: Last Light Redux is impeccable.

The best moments of Metro: 2033 Redux are amplified in Metro: Last Light Redux, with more creative and varied levels than ever before. The environments, on the surface, are especially worthy of mention, where the series finally embraces survival horror and drives it home with some of the most harrowing tension experienced on a PS4 since P.T. The survival mechanics are just as strong as ever in Ranger Mode and this is still the definitive way to play through the game. The sheer amount of desperation felt when in search of a fresh air filter is emphasised by Artyom's desperate gasps for air. The core mechanics are as tight as ever, and with a whole bunch of new toys at Artyom's disposal, there are more ways than ever to engage the enemy - especially now that players have the option to lay down mines. Just like in 2033 Redux, the load times are extremely fast and respawning from death encourages experimentation and creative play from users. The expediency of these load times truly does enhance the game's ebb and flow, keeping gamers in almost constant control. Spartan Mode is still present and serves as an option for those who rather have a forgiving and more bombastic shooter play style. Sped up animation for the weapon handling and reloading, this mode reflects the sensibility of most modern military shooters on the market. While not as much of a drag like in Metro: 2033 Redux due to the more nuanced pacing, varied locations and less frequent scripted events, Spartan Mode is not the definitive method to get the most out of Metro: Last Light Redux.