Rollin’ Back the Week’s Best Tips – Metro: Last Light (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)

Welcome back to another edition of Rollin’ Back the Week’s Best Tips, where we provide some quick pointers on all the new releases that dropped within the past seven days.  For this week, we’re heading into deadly territory with 4A Games’ long-awaited Metro: Last Light, a game that will knock you for a loop if you aren’t prepared for it.  The game is certainly is challenging, especially if you tackle the additional Ranger Mode that’s included with the Limited Edition of the game.

We’ve got you covered with some key advice that will get you through some of the tougher parts of the game.  Here are the best tips we can provide…

Don’t Skimp On the Masks and Filters Unless You Feel Like Suffocating

There are some points in the game where you’ll have no choice but to put on an oxygen mask, because roaming around on a nuclear radiated surface is a big no-no otherwise.  Take the time and strap one on your face either when you’re instructed or if you think it’s appropriate, and don’t dawdle when it comes to getting through the area.  You’ll also need to keep your visor clean, as blood and dirt can easily fog your vision.  It just takes a split second to issue the command to wipe it off, and it makes all the difference when you’ve got an enemy in your sights.

Also make sure you got plenty of fresh masks and filters on hand.  On the easier difficulty settings, you can find them with ease or buy them at the store.  Keeping filters around lets you breathe a little easier on the surface.  Otherwise, you’ll be running like crazy to get to a “clean” area before you fatally succumb to your injuries.  Just stay quick on your feet and keep supplies on hand, you’ll be fine.

Save the Better Bullets For the Big Boys

In Metro: Last Light, bullets can be your friends in one of two situations.  You can use higher-quality bullets to buy new supplies from certain people or you can use them to do more damage to larger enemies in the game, like mutated wolves that won’t hesitate to turn you into a tasty snack.

Having heavy ammunition on hand for close encounters is ideal, but keep in mind that you can use cheaper bullets to take on enemies that don’t require heavy damage like soldiers that are on patrol.  You can drop them with a good head shot if you aim properly enough or run up and do some damage with a knock-out or melee kill.  This ammunition will make all the difference in Ranger Mode, so do yourself a favor and don’t waste it.

You’ll find plenty of ammo lying around on easier settings, but it will become scarce the harder the game gets.  Tread this ground carefully, because one missed shot could easily be your last.

Light Can Be Your Friend or Foe, Depending on the Circumstances

There are times that the light can be a real savior for you and other times when it’s a pain in the neck.  In the beginning part of Metro: Last Light, you’ll find that stepping out into the light during the prison stage can alert the guards very easily, forcing them to drop poison gas and end you in a hurry.  Stay out of lit areas and sneak up on the guards to avoid the fatal drop, and work your way deeper into the inner workings of the Reich.

Light can also be your greatest ally, so make sure you properly know how to use your flashlight as well as your charger.  Some of these mutant creatures in the game hate the light to the point that it actually melts them when you keep it pointed for a prolonged period of time, making them easy prey for a bullet.  At the same time, your flashlight will lose energy, so you’ll need to use your charger in order to amp it back up again.  Make sure you’re in a secure area when you do this because otherwise you’ll be easy pickings in dark caves or other areas where the enemy can have the drop on you.  Maybe have an ally nearby to watch your back.

We hope these tips help you out, because this game is worth experiencing.  Keep your gun loaded and your wits about you!

Metro: Last Light is available now for PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.