4 out of 5 stars.

Years ago, The critically acclaimed Metro series of novels reminded readers of the glories of Russian post-apoc sci-fi novels. Later, this series was translated from paper to video with Metro 2033, a videogame inspired by the lore and story of the novels.

Focusing on the main character, Artyom, Metro 2033 told a story of survivalism, desperation, and hope. The game spawned a sequel, Metro: Last Light, which improved upon the groundwork that 2033 had set.

Now both games are being remade for current-gen and PC releases.

Metro 2033 Redux is a remake of the first that aims to bring the now aged and gritty game right up to the level of its Last Light sequel in terms of graphics, framerate, and gameplay.

Metro 2033 Redux is not a new game, but rather a rehash of the original. Boasting enhanced framerates on the new consoles and updated graphics and HUD, the game feels just like Last Light. This isn’t entirely a bad thing, as the HUD was one of the best improvements Last Light made over 2033.

The story is relatively unchanged and looks better than ever, with several scenes that were choppy and dark in the first game now being saturated and realistic, enhancing the survival-horror feel of the game even more. Facial movements have been enhanced, which is good for such a dialogue-ridden game; the original was hard to take seriously at times due to the poor mouth movements of the characters. Gunplay, the keystone of the game’s mechanics, is enhanced and feels even better than Last Light, capitalizing on the underground focus that 2033 had over Last Light’s extensive time on the surface in comparison. The sensitivity is still a little lacking for some moments, but the framerate is smooth even in the most hectic of situations.

Several of the annoying bugs in the original 2033 are gone. Enemy path finding has been enhanced and enemy human AI feels must more responsive and daring, no longer spending hours behind cover, which makes gunfights intense on multiple levels.

The game inherited some negative aspects of Last Light, however; the game’s saving leaves much to be desired. Sometimes, dying in the middle of a fight will respawn characters out in the open, right in front of the enemies, which is a massive oversight for a game somewhat centered on stealth. The various market hubs also suffer from poor saves, which means that you sometimes may have to advance quite a bit just to make sure the game remembers that gun you bought.

Metro 2033 Redux is a great update for a game that needed a return to the limelight before Last Light’s redux steals the show once again. A gritty yet smooth revamp of the original’s tight corridors, disturbing mutants, and crumbling surface monuments, with enhancements to enemy AI, framerate, and path finding mean that the familiar Metro classic feels like a brand new game from start to finish.