SET in and below post nuclear apocalyptic Moscow, Metro combines the acclaimed Metro 2033 (2010) and Metro Last Light (2013).

While both are highly exploratory story telling affairs, the two original games gave two fairly different experiences.

The original 2033 offered up an almost survival horror experience, where ammo was scarce and powerful military grade ammo actually doubles as currency, forcing players to think carefully about which fights they engaged in.

The sequel, Last Light, was a more action orientated affair with more polished gameplay mechanics and more forgiving action.

What Redux does really well is it offers gamers a choice as to how they want to play both games.

Prefer a straight gunfight to all that sneaking around? Choose Spartan mode. Want a more intense experience with less resources and a greater empthasis on stealth? Survival mode's probably your thing.

The more refined control scheme of Last Light is present in both versions replacing the originals less responsive quirks, and the AI is a lot more consistent in Redux, allowing for more enjoyable stealth action.

This may be the latest of several game franchises given the spit and polish treatment on the next generation platforms, Metro Redux however offers far more than a graphical upgrade.

Sure, the locales and characters sport more polygons than before, but it's the game play tweaks that make this package worth revisiting for Metro series veterans, or a must play for newcomers to the series.

DAVID HETHERINGTON