Metro: Last Light Says "Welcome to Moscow"

[Andy Chalk]

Metro: Last Light Says "Welcome to Moscow"

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Nothing feels like "coming home" like 13 minutes in the blasted ruins of Moscow in the year 2034.

THQ is teetering on the brink of oblivion. It's desperate, and desperation has a way of encouraging people to get "hands on" with things they have no business touching. That's why some gamers who really enjoyed Metro 2033 [http://www.amazon.com/METRO-2033-XBOX-360/dp/B002TOL4OQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1342547080&sr=8-2&keywords=Metro+2033] are just a wee bit worried about what it's in store in the sequel, Metro: Last Light. THQ needs Last Light to be a hit in the worst way possible. Will it trust its future, possibly its very existence, with the team at 4A Games?

Based on this 13-minute gameplay video, the answer is yes. "Welcome to Moscow" debuted at E3 and has now been unleashed on the world, and veterans of Metro 2033 should feel right at home as they watch Artyom and his new friend Pavel make their way to Theater Station. Pavel's constant talk feels forced - Artyom should rank among the best of the Rangers at this point - but newcomers will need some kind of introduction to the world and this is probably as good a way as any of going about it.

The important thing is that it looks and "feels" like Metro. Despite the greening of the blast zone, demons still prowl the skies, hiding from danger remains the best choice in most situations and the Bastard Gun is still the weapon of last resort. It looks tough, ugly and unpleasant - exactly what a Metro shooter should be. I don't know if it'll be enough to save THQ, but I'm sure looking forward to finding out.

Metro: Last Light [http://www.amazon.com/Metro-Last-Light-Pc/dp/B0053BSMPQ/ref=sr_1_1_title_2?s=videogames&ie=UTF8&qid=1342547180&sr=1-1&keywords=Metro+last+light] is currently scheduled to come out in early 2013 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii U and PC.


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[Orlake]

I'm an arachnaphobe..... uh oh D:

 

[Quiet Stranger]

The airplane scene really got me, man was that depressing. I can't wait for this game, it's day one purchase for me.

 

[Tahaneira]

Not bad, I'm really looking forward to this. I hope the actual game cuts down on companion chattiness; I'd like to think I could find out more about the world without the necessity of someone else narrating it 24/7.

 

[Andy Chalk]

I would guess that the chatty companion is strictly there to introduce the game world to people who didn't play the original. I would also guess that he dies fairly soon after getting to Theater Station.

 

[Sigmund Av Volsung]

Not bad, I'm really looking forward to this. I hope the actual game cuts down on companion chattiness; I'd like to think I could find out more about the world without the necessity of someone else narrating it 24/7.

On the contrary; I find that the chatty companion adds to the atmosphere, as some of my friends/acquaintances do chat a lot under pressure/whilst in stress, so (to me at least), the companion seems more human.

 

[Tahaneira]

Wait, Russia has Summer?

Not bad, I'm really looking forward to this. I hope the actual game cuts down on companion chattiness; I'd like to think I could find out more about the world without the necessity of someone else narrating it 24/7.

On the contrary; I find that the chatty companion adds to the atmosphere, as some of my friends/acquaintances do chat a lot under pressure/whilst in stress, so (to me at least), the companion seems more human.

I wouldn't mind so much if it wasn't a one way conversation by necessity.

Yeah, pretty much. I can deal with a silent protagonist until people start talking to them. Like the part with the demon; there wasn't a cry of "Get this thing off of me!" or even a panicked shout. Just some grunting. If there are regular points where Artyom actually speaks, then I can buy it.

I would guess that the chatty companion is strictly there to introduce the game world to people who didn't play the original. I would also guess that he dies fairly soon after getting to Theater Station.

Awww. It's not that I don't like the guy, I just wish that he would stop pointing out things like the fact that Artyom currently has a two hundred pound mutant rat/dog thing sitting on top of him and trying to rip out his throat. The background exposition I like; pointing out the painfully obvious is what I object to.

 

[Comic Sans]

And any doubts I had about the game are swiftly dashed. Looks fantastic, just like the first one. Day one purchase.

 

[vrbtny]

I'm liking how Last Light has kept enough features about Metro 2033 in to keep it recognizable, while changing enough to make it feel like a evolution of the first. Like the good 'ol noises of picking up ammo and gas mask; the Bastard gun making a return along with shotgun.

My only complaint is why did they replace the good analog watch with a digital one? Apart from the fact that i preferred the look and strange charm of the analog watch, it also made more sense the digital watch. What with the need for it to have batteries and such.

Wind-up watches, hell yeah!

Also.

Day One Purchase!

 

[lancar]

Looks really good so far
I'm not one for horror games, but for some strange reason I really like the original, and this one seems like a worthy sequel.

If I can afford it, it's an early purchase for sure.

captcha: save it
Yeah.. didn't know THQ was in deep shit. Guess we better do something, eh?

 

[Neofishie]

If there are regular points where Artyom actually speaks, then I can buy it.

Didn't they have Artyom narrating the loading screens of Metro 2033? If I didn't hallucinate that, why not give him a little bit of character during gameplay? I don't need or even want full conversations, just something a little more flavorful when shit hits the fan.

 

[Scorpid]

No no they're doing it all wrong. Not giant rats and dragon demon things but terrorists and certainly not Russians that don't speak english but americans with a needless amount of code words, also set it in New York or Washington. Why aren't they saying things like Bingo, scratch one, stay frosty, and why don't they have weird nicknames... We shall call the companion Sandman, and we'll be Toaster, those two heavy flamer guys can be Goblin, and the other Wizard.

-EA/Activision marketing department

 

[Saulkar]

Oh god this game has me pumped!

No no they're doing it all wrong.

-EA/Activision marketing department

I know right?

 

[Pepparollin]

That plane scene was something special. Certainly got me amped. All-in at this point

 

[Grimh]

It's looking very promising. I loved the first one so I'm hoping this'll be just as good or better.

Pavel being talkative was actually done specifically for the E3 demo to help people who were unfamiliar with the first game.
The fourth question down, just below the third image.

 

[Karelwolfpup]

oh man, getting me nostalgic for pant wetting terror in dark confined spaces... wait... :| XDD

chatty companion would probably get you killed quick on the surface, hope that isn't a perma feature. Nice to see the Nuclear winter is thawing though. Trippy flashbacks... nice ^w^