Metro: Last Light is out now; here’s our Metro: Last Light review.
If you like your explorations in post-nuclear war Russia to be harder than hard nails, where there’s no HUD and enemies are that little bit more aggressive, well, you’re going to need to pony up for a pre-order of Metro: Last Light because it won’t be available in a standard copy of the game.
Koch Media, publisher of Metro: Last Light, say that “game content as a pre-order exclusive is a requirement by retail, and Ranger Mode seemed like the best choice since it was a mode for hardcore fans who would most likely pre-order the game”.
Koch Media’s global brand manager Huw Beynon revealed this nugget of news while speaking with PC Gamer. Ranger mode was originally added to Metro 2033 after launch following requests from players for a more difficult game mode. Beynon explained that it’s not a game mode for everyone: “We do not recommend Ranger Mode for a first playthrough, and this is made very clear both in-game. We expect Metro fans will want to try Ranger Mode for a subsequent playthrough, and we think that for this hardcore player, Ranger Mode offers a richer experience – but only once you’ve clocked the game at least once.”
For buyers who don’t receive this bonus mode, it will be available as a DLC for $5. Beynon claims that “We rejected requests to make story content or additional missions exclusive. We also rejected requests to make this a timed exclusive. […] We took all the steps we could to ensure that, while still offering retailers a pre-order incentive that met their needs, we did not force players to pre-order, or make them wait to get this content.”