David MacDonald
Connector Staff

“Metro Last Light” is the sequel to “Metro 2033,” both of them being first person shooters set in a post apocalyptic Moscow Metro. In the world of Metro, 50,000 people have turned the many stations of the Moscow subway system into their home, the surface world still being too radioactive for humans to survive.

You take control of Artyom, a young man who was forced to fight the Dark Ones, a race of intelligent mutants that killed ten soldiers telepathically, and at the end of the game succeeded in nuking their nest. However, in doing so he learned that the Dark Ones may have only wanted peace, and his allies uncovered a lost bunker filled with super weapons. Every major faction in the Metro desires the contents of this bunker, which leads into the events of “Last Light.”

“Last Light” is a first person shooter that can be divided into two sections, surface and underground. On the surface, you constantly have to be swapping filters in your gas mask while fighting mutants who decided that you will make a fine meal, and underground where you can chose to either fight soldiers head on, or stealthily knock them out.

These experiences are highly immersive due to the in depth nature of them, such as manually changing your filters or wiping grime off of your gas mask. You will find yourself drawn in as you either sneak through tunnels, or run for your life on the surface.

The game concerns Artyom being sent out to destroy a lone Dark One who survived the destruction of their home, and becoming embroiled in the prelude to all out war in the Metro. This takes him on a long journey through the Metro, one that is deeply engrossing.

The inhabited sections of the Metro truly feel lived in, with the presence of shops, friends drinking, shadow puppet shows, even a theatre at one station. Artyom can even listen in on conversations to learn more about the world of the Metro, a truly engrossing experience that will have players stopping often in stations to hear the next chapter of this unwritten tale.

“Last Light” is not without its flaws. While the story is well written, the English voice actors’ attempts to emulate Russian accents is rather goofy at times. While initially difficult, the game can also become a little too easy once a player becomes used to the system and learns to conserve ammunition.

Despite all of this, it tells a gripping tale as Artyom tries to save the Metro from destruction, and atone for his sins. You will get lost in the experience as Artyom confronts his inner demons, with elements of the story, that are supernatural in nature, add to the experience, making you question what is real in the Metro, or if Artyom is just insane. Pack a map, you might get lost in the tunnels.