Metro: Last Light now up for pre-order on Steam

Metro: Last Light, a post-apocalyptic FPS with survival-horror elements, is up for pre-order on digital distribution platform Steam. You can pre-order the game for $49.99 (approx. Rs 2,734), and you’ll be able to download and play the game from May 17. Pre-ordering the game gets you a bunch of goodies too.

The main pull for pre-ordering the game is that it automatically upgrades you to the Limited Edition. This version gives you an extra difficulty setting called the Ranger Mode, a modified Russian rifle, extra military-grade bullets, and a digital comic based on the game by series creator, Dmitry Glukhovsky.

Ranger mode seems to be the highest difficulty available in the game. It lacks a HUD and gives you less bullets to work with. The modified Russian rifle has been modified to work better in tight, claustrophobic areas. The military-grade bullets will come in handy too, as besides being used to kill people, bullets are also used as currency in the game, and military-grade ones are the most valuable.

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Everyone loves flamethrowers

In December, developer 4A Games released some screenshots that show off the game engine’s impressive lighting effects rendering capabilities. The screenshots also offer a glimpse of one of the interior zones in the game, with (presumably) friendly NPCs. WE can also see how messed up the world has become in the wake of World War III, and some flamethrowers.

Metro: Last Light takes place several months after the first game. All the major factions of the underground Metro system are preparing to fight over the D6 bunker. Last Light is set to be a direct sequel to 2033 and will be released on the Xbox 360, the PlayStation 3 and the PC in March 2013.

The Metro series is set in post-apocalyptic Moscow. The first game was notable for being highly atmospheric and having a unique economy where bullets were the currency. This opened up questions to the player about whether bullets are more useful when being shot or when being traded for either a few better bullets, or a lot of worse bullets.

The sequel was originally set to be released in March, but was postponed. The game was also originally going to be released by THQ, but since the company went under, Techland has taken up the license and will be publishing it.