
This is a first person shooter through and through, and while the combat mechanics feel tighter here than they did in Metro 2033, they are not the best part of this game. However, this is not a quick-twitch Call of Duty game. You have ample time to unload rounds of ammo from a variety of weapons, but the pacing of Metro is quite a bit slower than a lot of FPS. I love that it is done from the first person perspective. It reminds me a bit of the under-appreciated Condemned titles, which used that forced view perspective to keep you on your toes and add extra tension as a result.

Metro: Last Light is an often dreary game, but given the backdrop the story is set against, it is handled very well. Artyom's story appealed to me, but so did different aspects of gameplay that helped shape the story. Moving up to the surface and exploring was tense, exciting and often a rewarding experience. The interactions go deeper than just combat though - even the shop system reinforces the nature of survival in this world. Like the first Metro, ammo is again the currency of the land, though it is handled a bit differently as it is not all just drawn from one big pool - you find military-grade ammo that is of more value and therefore, something to be bartered with.

Another common complaint I have heard is that some people feel the game is too linear. It is accurate to say that while you have opportunities to look about and soak in the game's atmosphere, true exploration is somewhat lacking. I really did not mind though, because I felt the developers did an excellent job in maintaining the narrative's focus.
That said, Metro is not a terribly long game - it can be beaten in about a dozen hours or so, drawing some comparisons to Bioshock Infinite for creating a single-player experience that is entertaining, if somewhat on the short side.
- Nick H
Senior Journalist
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