Metro: 2033 will never win any points for its originality. 4A Games’ subterranean shooter wore its influences on its sleeve: Equal parts Fallout, STALKER, and Doom 3. What it did bring to the table however was a game that had great shooting mechanics, terrifying enemies, and one of the more immersive game worlds I’ve visited in a long time. This week at E3 Metro: Last Light, 4A Games’ follow-up, is being shown. Huw Beynon, 4A’s Head of Studio Communications, spoke about how the sequel improves on some of the original’s flaws and discusses its bold new direction.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqYGRN-XjRE[/youtube]
One of the things that Metro: 2033 did really well was evoke a sustained sense of tension and unease in the player. It’s heartening to see them playing to that strength by ramping up the survival aspects. There are a lot of potential gameplay and narrative possibilities in an environment where, as the Community Manager said, “everything is a commodity: Air, light, shelter, ammunition…” — particularly in Co-op and Multiplayer. Forget about hoarding health packs; imagine being ‘that guy’ who uses up all the air! Oh, the griefing possibilities…
Metro: Last Light is slated for release in Spring 2013.
