Ranger or normal?

[Banjorama Banjolini]

I've just bought the Metro games on the recent sale and was wondering: Should I start my first playthrough in 2033 at the hardcore "Ranger" mode or normal? I don't like it when a first person shoother literally shoves ammo down your throat at every oppertunity given. Making ammo scarce, makes the game more tense and forces you to the whole arsenal of weapons, like in S.T.A.L.K.E.R, Dead Space and BioShock. So I read that the Ranger mode provided this, but is it really a good idea for the #1 playthrough? Does it make the game so difficult that it may ruin some of the excperience?
Also heard that Last Light had one, but, after what I've heard, it isn't that good.

Appreciate answers.

[Timkat1994]

In my experience, ammo is scarce even on normal. I can't imagine what it would be like on Ranger. I had to restart after I ran out of ammo in my first playthrough on normal.

[Magmascan™]

Well, the developers had this to say about Last light, which in my opinion is easier than 2033. "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."

Source: http://www.pcgamer.com/2013/05/10/if-metro-last-light-ranger-mode-is-the-way-it-was-meant-to-be-played-why-isnt-it-included-for-all-players-we-ask-koch/

[Banjorama Banjolini]

Yeah, I have read that article. Also heard that the Ranger mode in Last Light removes many essential HUD elements like how many air cans you have left which sounds a bit too much too me ;). So I'm probably sticking with Normal in Last Light. But for 2033 I'm not so sure. But if it's like you say Timkart, it sounds challenging enough on normal too.

I have just regretted my decitions about difficulty in games like BioShock Infinite and Far Cry which were a little easy on normal.
But thanks for the replies guys. Think I'll go for normal on this one

[temet nosce]

i would say ranger hardcore- i played through about 16 hours of last light on ps3 a while back, it isn't too bad- on metro 2033 it is very difficult; yet i do wish for an accurate replication of post-apocalyptic environs.

i found that on ranger hardcore, it literally became terrifying at times, with the low/no ammo: it put much pressure on headshots, or general accuracy and made the creatures around pose a very serious threat-

there were some wonderful moments of knife flailing in a terrified foetal state towards the end of some levels, i am not even that accurate and the ammo didn't run out too fast- just remember to buy as much as possible just before the next mission- or rather, when you are near a shop

[temet nosce]

the hud isn't much of an issue, with gas mask filters, you will start choking and then it will automatically change, there are a goodly amount of filters about- ammo is the real issue, and as i said; buy as much as possible in the shops; don't purchase custom weapons, if you hunt around sufficiently they usually show up on the next few missions- i.e. revolver extended barrel

[Andysan]

I recently beat metro 2033 on my first playthrough on ranger hardcore mode, it was rough but not too bad because I'm pretty good at sneaking/assassinations. The enemies die in 1-3 shots so its not that bad honestly. I never ran outta ammo for my guns also, good scavenging and conservation will win you the day.

[Dusty]

I'd recommend hard for a first time playthrough if you're a skilled player. The only reason I don't say to go ahead and start in ranger is so you can get used to the controls and get the tips and such. The amount of ammo you find and the time on filters is dependent on the difficulty, but there is always enough to make it through. Even in hardcore, if you aren't wasteful, if you keep your eyes open and scavenge, you will always have enough, and you don't need to buy anything from vendors. Each zone requiring a gasmask has an associated time. If you have more filter time available than the zone requires the filters will be locked and you can't pick them up. If you can pick them up (due to needing the filter time for that zone) the time provided changes with the difficulty. On easy you can get up to 10 minutes per filter, in hardcore it's 6, but those are the maximums, in other zones you can get 3 minutes on easy and 1 minute in hardcore. Ammo carry has no limit, but save ammo. You will need a lot towards the end.

[Banjorama Banjolini]

Hmm. Ranger don't seem so bad, after all. I had just read a forum thread about Last Light where they weren't too fond of it. Probably just a console peasant complaining :P

Anyways, thanks again. Nice too hear your excperiences with Ranger. It sounds fun, think I'm chosing it instead. Really excited for these games. They look great.

[temet nosce]

Originally posted by Saurischia:

Hmm. Ranger don't seem so bad, after all. I had just read a forum thread about Last Light where they weren't too fond of it. Probably just a console peasant complaining :P

Anyways, thanks again. Nice too hear your excperiences with Ranger. It sounds fun, think I'm chosing it instead. Really excited for these games. They look great.

good : ] i hope you enjoy the level of terror i experienced, lol- meh, last light isn't that bad, a lot more human enemies though- metro 2033 is quite an ordeal for me, lol- on liek chapter 12 or something with little to no ammo, due to not purchasing at vendor. doh. many large enemy monster things coming at me, such terror

[jV]

I did the easier Ranger mode first and found that it was the perfect difficulty since I was still learning how to use a mouse and keyboard and went back and played halfway through the game on Ranger Hardcore and found it not that much more difficult. I quit playing because they announced redux a few days after I started my second playthrough so I figured I'd wait for that to come out.

[Wasted_46]

Check this playlist a bit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXU0qMOC2Cw&list=PLE7DlYarj-Dd14RIUt_NSp_B2J06eqgk-
The guy started a blind walkthrough on ranger hard, without knowing anything about the game. He still managed to finish it.

The game is not that hard, but the emphasis is much greater on stealth. The game plays more like a first person stealth/action mix than an FPS. ammo is much rares so you cannot really go guns blazing on the enemies all the time. You can stealth around the humans, but it is not an option on the monster levels so you gotta have a stealth weapon and one with stopping power.

The only reason I wouldnt recommend playing on ranger first is that the game has a bunch of quirky mechanics that are not apparent and you wont get any tutorial hints explaining them on ranger. So if you decide to go on ranger first, then here are some gameplay tips:


- You can shoot the two barrels of the double barrel shotgun individually by left or right clicking
- You can use the universal charger to charge up the batteries of your flashlight or your nightvision goggles. Hold the flashlight key down to go into charge mode.
- The military- grade ammo is the in-game money that you can use when shopping. There is no way to tell which ammo is which, but the MGR is accounted separately from the rest on your journal screen. Sometimes it is worth to use MGR because it does much more damage, but be careful not to use your MGR carelessly.
- There are some weapons in the game that requires charging them up before shooting. Hold the reload key down and you will go into charge mode.
- you can turn the nightvision on/off by pressing the hotkey. Holding the hotkey down will take the goggles off.

[temet nosce]

thanks @CC.W45T3D- i was perplexed about the charging, couldn't find it in the controls, good tips on the shotgun- i assume right click first? when i left-clicked it emptied both barrels

[Banjorama Banjolini]

Thanks for the tips, CC. It was a bit hard to figure out the controls without hints. But I figured some of it myself ;)
Haven't had too much trouble with the difficulty yet. My biggest failure being the hooker in the second lever... stole everything i had

Don't think left click empties both barrels. After what I've excperienced it just fires the left one. Would have been useful to be able to use aim-down-sights on it, as you have no crosshair.

iacton_qruze: Terrifying it is :P

[temet nosce]

Originally posted by Saurischia:

Thanks for the tips, CC. It was a bit hard to figure out the controls without hints. But I figured some of it myself ;)
Haven't had too much trouble with the difficulty yet. My biggest failure being the hooker in the second lever... stole everything i had

Don't think left click empties both barrels. After what I've excperienced it just fires the left one. Would have been useful to be able to use aim-down-sights on it, as you have no crosshair.

iacton_qruze: Terrifying it is :P

; ]

also, hooker ??

[Dusty]

Hooker at Riga station. You can miss her if you don't go exploring after meeting Bourbon. You have to go up and talk to her (click or select or whatever) and the option to give her money will then show up.