Expand Your Journey Through the Metro with the Faction Pack

For fans of the haunting, post-apocalyptic tunnels of 4A Games' acclaimed shooter, the Metro: Last Light - Faction Pack offers a brief but varied diversion from Artyom’s main story. This DLC expansion allows players to step out of the boots of the protagonist and inhabit the perspectives of different factions clashing for survival within the Moscow Metro. While it does not significantly expand the overarching lore or the physical world of the base game, it provides three distinct missions that showcase gameplay styles ranging from heavy-duty combat to stealthy reconnaissance and high-stakes scavenging.

Three Chapters, Three Perspectives

The Faction Pack is structured into three unrelated chapters that can be tackled in any order. Each mission places you in control of a different soldier, complete with unique objectives and weaponry:

  • The Third Reich: This mission puts you in the shoes of Hans, a heavy weapons expert for the Reich army. Set during the intense battle for D6, this chapter focuses on wave-based combat. Players must utilize new arsenal additions—including a powerful Gatling gun and a grenade launcher—to defend against onslaughts of Red Army enemies.
  • Red Army Sniper: Shifting gears toward a more cerebral approach, this mission tasks you with clearing a German outpost from the perspective of a Red Army sniper. This chapter emphasizes stealth and precision; players are equipped with silenced firearms and must avoid triggering alarms to ensure mission success, offering a "cloak and dagger" challenge for fans of tactical gameplay.
  • The Polis Scavenger: Widely considered the standout experience of the pack, this mission follows a Polis fighter venturing into the legendary Moscow Library—a location familiar to veterans of Metro 2033. This mode introduces a survival-loop mechanic where players must scavenge for precious artifacts while managing limited resources like ammunition and air filters. The tension builds as you weigh the risk of pushing deeper into mutant-infested sewers against the necessity of returning to base to upgrade gear and sell your finds.

New Arsenal and Gameplay Mechanics

To complement these new perspectives, the Faction Pack introduces several new weapons to the Metro roster. The addition of a Gatling gun provides a solution for overwhelming enemy numbers, while a grenade launcher offers much-needed utility against armored threats like tanks. Additionally, players can interact with specialized gear such as a rail gun sniper, which maintains the unique aesthetic of the series' pneumatic weaponry.

In the scavenging mission, gameplay mechanics shift toward resource management and risk-vs-reward decision-making. The necessity of upgrading suits, pistols, and submachine guns creates a sense of progression, even within these shorter, standalone sessions. However, players should be prepared for intense moments where running out of filters or ammo can turn a routine excursion into a frantic dash for survival.

Who Is This Pack For?

The Metro: Last Light - Faction Pack is an ideal purchase for players looking for an inexpensive way to revisit the Metro universe. It appeals strongly to fans of tactical shooters who enjoy stealth mechanics and those who crave the atmospheric, high-tension scavenging gameplay found in the Library mission. While the content is relatively brief and some missions may feel like repetitions of existing combat encounters, the variety of gameplay styles and the low price point make it a "steal" for anyone looking to experience the Metro's various factions from the inside.

Platform Availability

The Faction Pack is available on PC and PlayStation 3. Note that players on certain platforms may encounter varying difficulty settings, with some missions presenting a significant challenge if played on Hardcore or Ranger modes.