Metro Redux (PlayStation 4)

Last year’s Metro: Last Light stood out for its impressive graphics and frantic gameplay, though the franchise got off to a rocky start with 2010’s Metro 2033. The first game did not benefit from the same level of polish as the sequel, which meant it went mostly under the radar when it came out. Publisher Deep Silver is hoping to give the two games a second lease of life with upgraded ports for PlayStation 4.

Back to the tunnels

The Metro games are set in the Moscow Metro of a post-apocalyptic future. Mankind has fled underground and found shelter in the underground transport tunnels, while mutant monsters roam the now uninhabitable surface. You take the role of an underground survivor, Artyom, who explores the dangerous tunnels while searching for answers to the mysteries of the dilapidated world.

At their core, Metro 2033 and Metro: Last Light are first person shooter titles, though not all of the action is limited to fire fights with hoards of mutants. The games also require you to sneak around in some parts to avoid running into overtly dangerous situations. Venturing out to the polluted surface is particularly fraught with risk, as all you can rely on is your outdated gas mask and the limited out of air filters you are carrying.

A visual upgrade

Out of the two games in the collection, Metro 2033 has received the biggest update. The game looked a bit rough around the edges when it came out in 2010, though the updated version now sports new character models and improved environmental lighting. The overall presentation of the game has also been modernised, with new menus and screens that incorporate the functionality from the sequel.

Metro: Last Light does not benefit from such a dramatic update, though it is only one year old and was impressive when it came released. The game’s graphics have been tweaked in places, so the improvements do not stand out as much as in the first game. The resolution of both games has been increased from 720p to 1080p, so the graphics look noticeably crisper than before.

For the fans

The original version of Metro 2033 not only felt unpolished, but it was also notoriously difficult. The updated version in the Redux collection not only improves the graphics, but also some of the more unforgiving sections of the game have been tweaked to eliminate difficultly spikes. Those who never tried Metro 2033 or gave up playing it will be pleased to rediscover this updated edition.

Metro: Last Light will likely only appeal to those who did not play the original release from last year, or dedicated fans who are keen to replay it. The game was visually impressive and well-balanced when it originally came out, so not much else could have been done to improve the enjoyable experience. It serves more as a bonus to the impressive remake of Metro 2033.