Featuring one of the earliest and at the time best implementations of ray-tracing, for those with a 20-series NVIDIA GPU it was transformative and pointed towards the future not only of AAA games, but of the real-time graphics industry as a whole.

But now developer 4A Games have outdone themselves with an entirely re-worked Enhanced Edition of the game, with an entirely new lighting system and upgrades to the Metro Exodus’ implementation of NVIDIA’s DLSS upscaling technology.

Free for owners of the original game, I had the opportunity to check it out on PC, though the Enhanced Edition will also be coming to console versions of the game in June this year.

For my testing I ran the Enhanced Edition on an Intel i7-8700K, 32GB DDR4 3200MHz RAM and an NVIDIA RTX 3070. With this combination, ray-tracing was set to Ultra and DLSS was set to Quality mode with a final output resolution of 3440 by 1440.

Due to the dramatic changes to the fundamental technology stack of the game, Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition is the first game to require a ray-tracing capable GPU, so unless you have a NVIDIA 20 or 30 series GPU, or one of the new AMD 6000 series cards, you won’t be able to run this at all.

While this may be disappointing for some, it is forward-looking and points towards the importance of ray-tracing hardware as the future basis for all gaming technology.

While the enhanced edition contains a number of improvements and bug fixes across the board, the most transformative addition is the totally revamped implementation of Ray-Traced Global Illumination.

As Digital Foundry explains, what this means is a much more natural looking environment, lit through ray-tracing by all sources of light, not just the sun. This is particularly noticeable in enclosed environments where the sun is obscured.

Take, for example, the opening sequence of the game as Artyom fights with some Watchmen enemies. Together with the addition of ray-traced emissive lights, mushrooms now light up decayed subway tracks with their green light, Artyom’s cigarette lighter now casts realistic light and shadows, and flickering tube lights now disperse their hard light more accurately across each scene.

Lit surfaces can now colour other parts of the scene too, which is one of those things that you don’t think about until you see it.

These simulations of how real light works, how it bounces around rooms rather and interacts with the environment and everything in it is vastly more believable than traditional rasterization techniques. It puts the mind at ease, and the suspension of disbelief required to play modern 3D games is dramatically lessened.

But what about performance? While I can only speak to the system I am testing it on, with the settings mentioned above I am sitting comfortable above 60FPS, my minimum standard for these sorts of games.

As usual, cranking up the ray-tracing accuracy will greatly reduce your overall framerate. That said, NVIDIA’s DLSS upscaling technique is vastly improved in Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition with the upgrade to the 2.0 version of the technology.

For my personal tastes, there is no real reason not to enable it, at least at the “quality” level, for an almost imperceptible trade-off in image quality. Unfortunately, AMD ray-tracing capable cards will not be able to take advantage of this performance boost, so may need to lower ray-tracing settings to find a more playable framerate.

It is hard to find a developer so committed to forward-facing technologies that they would go back and re-engineer their entire game, but that is exactly what 4A Games have done. Now, their game engine is ready for the future and the next title they develop, Metro-related or otherwise. And it is even rarer that these upgrades come free of charge to everyone who has bought the original release.

If you have a ray-tracing GPU and already own the game, then it is well-worth a new playthrough to appreciate exactly what 4A have done here – the improvements are hard to express in simple words and still images. And if you held off on the game, now is an excellent time to try it, with some of the best image quality in gaming today – and if the Metro-series’ difficulty has put you off, the ‘reader’ difficulty level will be exactly what you are looking for.

I have always been a fan of the Metro series, starting with the source material books by Dmitry Glukhovsky, and this new release of Metro Exodus continues this commitment to excellence.

A must for new and old players as a glimpse of the future here and now, I for one welcome our ray-tracing gods.

The post Metro Exodus: Enhanced Edition (PC) Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Whilst massive publishers, with development studios all around the world, and with budgets larger than the GDP of Tonga, release limp, buggy offerings to the gaming public, once again, Ukrainian outfit 4A Games, have produced a thing of wonder.

Metro Exodus is the third game based on the post-apocalyptic fiction novel by Russian author Dmitry Glukhovsky, Metro 2033. As before the game follows the adventures of Artyom, who grew up in the make-shift underground city that was once the Moscow metro system.

Having fought mutants, monsters and neo-Nazi both in the tunnels and on the irradiated surface, this new game opens the world up as Artyom and the crew of the locomotive Aurora, venture forth into world that they never knew still existed.

The previous games, Metro 2033 and Metro: Last Light were both visual showcases, on release, bringing even the most spectacular PCs to their knees. Those with the most elite PC builds were able to enjoy gaming visuals the like of which console owners would have to wait an entire new generation for. And they did. Both Metro 2033 and Metro: Last Light got a graphical overhaul with the Metro Redux package for PS4 and Xbox One.

With Metro Exodus, once again 4A Games have raised the bar. Whilst console owners can enjoy 4K visuals, PC owners are in for a visual treat, especially those with PC sporting one of Nvidia’s Geforce RTX 20-series GPUs.

Metro Exodus makes use of the real-time raytracing functions of the Nvidia’s RTX cards to increase the realism of the lighting model. Ray-traced global illumination and ambient occlusion, two attributed of lighting that are, for rendered animations, renowned resource hogs, are both handled on-the-fly. The result is a graphical marvel. Well-heeled gamers with top-of-the-range RTX2080ti GPUs should have no problem maintaining a stable framerate with all the game’s bells and whistles maxed out.

Gamers with one of Nvidia’s more budget-friendly RTX 2060 or 2070 cards, or 2080ti owners wanting and ever faster frame-rate / 4K maxed-out visuals, will be pleased to know that the game also implements DLSS. Deep Learning Super-Sampling allows RTX cards to use their advanced AI architecture, based on training algorithms generated on Nvidia’s super-computers, to “fill in the gaps” rendering each frame faster than conventional GPUs. This can result in jaggy-free images with a 40% increase in performance. It’s not to be sneezed at. There is a slight, noticeable, drop in visual fidelity, which RTX 2060 and 2070 owners will have not qualms about, but for the small performance increase with a 2080ti running 1440p, I could take it or leave it for the most part.

If PC gaming isn’t your bag, Metro Exodus looks the business on consoles as well, especially on the Xbox One. The game is Xbox One Enhanced, offering console gamers 4K, HDR gameplay very close to that of the PC visuals.

And what visuals they are. Metro Exodus is the best-looking game of the year (and possibly last year as well). Whilst Metro and Last Light both looked the business, the visuals were somewhat held back by the bleak post-apocalyptic Moscow-based setting. With more diverse environments, 4A Games have really been able to show off their mastery of graphical fidelity. No static image can really do the game visuals justice. Each frame is full of detail. The wide, open vistas are breathtaking, whereas the monster attacks, whilst visually astounding, are absolutely chilling.

Why has it taken Arytom and his band of Spartans until now to leave the Moscow underground? As the game opens our hero, Artyom, has a habit of going to the surface, searching for other survivors. It’s during one of these expeditions that Artyom and his wife, Anna, observe a locomotive travelling on the surface. As they investigate, they discover that the war is, apparently, not over. In order to protect the residents of the Metro, radio jammers have isolated them from the outside world. On discovering this, Artyom and his wife seize the opportunity to find out just what’s out there.

In a change from previous games, Metro Exodus opts for a more open-world style of gameplay. Instead of tightly curated routes though underground tunnels and surface paths, Artyon is free to roam as he chooses.

In saying that, you don’t have free run over the whole game environment. As the Aurora chugs across the Soviet post-nuclear wasteland, the train makes stops (or is stopped), along the way. This gives Artyom the opportunity to stretch his legs and go for a wander in the post-apocalyptic wasteland.

As the Aurora continues on its journey, additional carriages are added to the train. During his adventures, Artyom comes across a cobbled together car. The additional thrill of making enemies and mutants into roadkill adds some giggles to the game.

As with previous entries in the series, ammo is in short supply, so scavenging is key to survival. Landscapes are peppered with bandit camp ripe for the taking. One night in particular, I stumbled on an encampment in an old service station. With zero ammo it was kill with stealth or be killed. By slowly picking off the enemy one-by-one not only was it an exciting bit of gameplay, I also replenished by ammo and salvaged some neat parts for my weapons.

Guns and equipment can be upgraded using parts found in the field. There are also special upgrades, like night vision google and a motion-detector which, once found, are game changers.

Crafting and looking after your equipment is a big part of the game. Guns need cleaning and ammo, first aid kits and gas mask filters need crafting. Whilst the outside environments don’t need the constant (and tiresome) maintenance of your gas mask situation as in previous games, there are times when contaminated areas require you to put your mask on.

The game still has many spooky enclosed spaces and abandoned (or not so abandoned) subterranean installations to explore. The level of detail in the underground bunkers is extraordinary. With some of the sinister creatures lurking in the shadows, you are pretty-much guaranteed a fright at some point.

As well as the bandits, cultists and other denizens of post-apocalyptic Russia, there are plenty of mutants out there, especially at night. Public enemy number one are the humanoid mutants that have nasty habit of hiding and taking you by surprise. With the motion sensor equipped, these guys up the ante to a new level of scary as it enables you to spot them, lurking, sleeping and waiting up against walls, laying in the shadows even propped up against the body of some other, poor unfortunate soul.

If I had to level any criticism on the game it would be that some of the areas can be a bit tricky to navigate. A few times I found myself going around and around, completely missing the right path or the right level to pull. Maybe I’m just used to being spoon-fed in other open-world games that feature unsubtle visual cues highlighting the way.

The game caters for a range of player skill levels. You can play the game in a watered-down, virtually story only mode, with very easy opponents and plentiful supplies, right up to an unforgiving nightmare-level difficulty whereby every bullet counts.

Regardless of how you choose to play the game, Metro Exodus is a joy to behold with fantastic gameplay and a riveting story. For this third outing the developers have really hit their stride. In a similar way to CD Projekt RED with The Witcher 3, 4A Games have improved upon the two previous games to give us their masterpiece.

The post Metro Exodus (PC / Xbox) One Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

What a year it has been for Xbox gamers.

Getting lost in the open ocean with Sea of Thieves, burning rubber in Forza Motorsport 7 and the added subscription based service of Games Pass which allows exclusive Triple AAA titles to be downloaded and played for free. Xbox also did a honourable nod to gamers with special needs with their Adaptive Controller.

With the next year just around the corner, let’s see what’s in store for the world’s most powerful games console as it leads us in to 2019.

Anthem is a shared-world action-RPG, where Freelancers challenge the wilds past the wall, exploring a vast world filled with savage beasts and ruthless marauders, but also teeming with amazing technology and forgotten treasures. Players will be able to join with their friends to unravel the world’s mysteries and defeat the forces plotting to conquer humanity. Throughout their journeys, players can outfit their Freelancers with powerful Javelin exosuits, each of which are equipped with unique weapons and abilities.

Freelancers can customize their Javelin with gear they earn and craft throughout the adventure, and leave a lasting mark on the world. Anthem is due for release from EA Games in 2019.

From the creators of ARK: Survival Evolved comes ATLAS – a massively multiplayer first-and-third-person fantasy pirate adventure. “ATLAS” will host up to 40,000 players exploring the same Globe simultaneously, with an unprecedented scale of cooperation and conflict. Join an endless adventure of piracy & sailing, exploration & combat, roleplaying & progression, settlement & civilization-building, in one of the largest game worlds ever! Explore, Build, Conquer!

This coming February experience the next gen of Crackdown. It’s time to step up your boom and stop crime as a super-powered Agent in Crackdown 3’s sandbox of cooperative mayhem and destruction, plus an all-new multiplayer mode where destruction is your ultimate weapon. “Crackdown 3” is available at launch on February 15^th with Xbox Game Pass and globally on Xbox One and Windows 10.

One of the hotly anticipated games on my list for 2019 is Devil May Cry 5 from Capcom.  brand-new entry in the legendary over-the-top action series comes to Xbox One in spring 2019, complete with its signature blend of high-octane stylized action and otherworldly and original characters the series is known for. Years have passed since the legions of hell have set foot in this world, but now a new demonic invasion has begun, and humanity’s last hope will rest in the hands of three lone demon hunters, each offering a radically different play style. United by fate and a thirst for vengeance, these demon hunters will have to face their demons if they hope to survive.

Also, Ubisoft will have you diving into a transformed vibrant post apocalyptic Hope County, Montana, 17 years after a global nuclear catastrophe in Far Cry New Dawn. Join fellow survivors from Hope County and lead the fight against the dangerous new threat known as the Highwaymen, and their ruthless leaders The Twins, as they seek to destroy and take over the last remaining resources by any means necessary.

Perhaps one of the more intriguing is the expected 2019 release of Gears of War 5, with Gears of War 4 still one of my go to games, having completed it several times over.

As Kait, journey across the biggest, most beautiful Gears world ever created. Play solo or with a friend in local split-screen co-op, or online co-op and experience every mode in 4K Ultra HD resolution with stunning HDR at a smooth 60 frames per second. Called Gears 5 it will be coming to Xbox One and Windows 10 in 2019 and will be available day and date to Xbox Game Pass members.

Keeping in tune with Gears 5 – perhaps the lighter and weirder announcement from Microsoft Studios is their upcoming Gears Pop, a new Arena Brawler mobile game that brings together iconic Gears characters in the distinctive Funko Pop! style. The game is being developed in partnership with Funko and inspired by the Gears of War vinyl collectible figures. It’s the perfect slice of mobile mayhem, available on iOS and Android in 2019.

Jump Force, which we have covered in a news piece before is slated, also for a 2019 release. This BandaiNamco title sees the greatest heroes and villains from the 50-year history of Shueisha’s influential Japanese Weekly Jump manga will battle against each other across iconic locations across Earth in this anime fan’s dream come true! Featuring the world’s most popular and classic manga and anime franchises including DRAGON BALL Z, ONE PIECE, NARUTO, and many others, players will be able to compete in hyper-stylish arena brawls set against familiar backdrops of famous landmarks around the world, including New York City’s Times Square and the Matterhorn.

Then – we have the juggernaut of fantasy cross-over titles; Kingdom Hearts III. Set in a vast array of Disney worlds, Kingdom Hearts follows the journey of Sora, a young boy and unknowing heir to a spectacular power. Sora is joined by Donald and Goofy to stop an evil force known as the Heartless from invading and overtaking the universe. Through the power of positivity and friendship, Sora, Donald and Goofy unite with iconic Disney-Pixar characters old and new to overcome tremendous challenges and persevere against the darkness threatening their worlds.

Next year is also going to see a reprise of the Metro series. Metro Exodus is an epic, story-driven first person shooter from 4A Games that blends deadly combat and stealth with exploration and survival horror in one of the most immersive game worlds ever created. Explore the Russian wilderness across vast, nonlinear Levels and follow a thrilling storyline that spans an entire year through spring, summer and autumn to the depths of nuclear winter. Inspired by the novels of Dmitry Glukhovsky, Metro Exodus continues Artyom’s story in the greatest Metro adventure yet.

If all of the above is not to your liking, there’s always Minecraft.

Minecraft: Dungeons is an action adventure game in the classic dungeon crawler style, where up to four players can fight together to defeat a relentless swarm of new mobs in a quest to save the villagers and take down the evil Arch-Illager. As an all new passion project for PC from a small, dedicated team at Mojang, Minecraft: Dungeons will be the first new title in the Minecraft universe when it releases in 2019.

Another one I am excited for, having loved the first Ori, is Ori and the Will of the Wisps. From the creators of Ori and the Blind Forest, winner of over 50 awards and nominations, comes the highly anticipated sequel, Ori and the Will of the Wisps. Embark on an adventure with all-new combat and customization options while exploring a vast and exotic world, encountering larger-than-life enemies and challenging puzzles on your path to unravel Ori’s true destiny. “Ori and the Will of the Wisps” will be launching exclusively on Xbox One and Windows 10 PCs in 2019 and will be available day and date to Xbox Game Pass members.

The oceans of Sea of Thieves will continue to wash over the Xbox gaming landscape in 2019. Sea of Thieves is changing in a big way with its fifth free content update since launch, ‘The Arena.’ Releasing in early 2019, ‘The Arena’ is an all-new competitive game mode that allows players to test their pirating skills in fast-paced matches against rival crews. Each match is a fun, frenetic and action-packed race to find treasure that brings together all the most exciting elements of “Sea of Thieves” – on demand. “Sea of Thieves” is available with Xbox Game Pass and globally on Xbox One and Windows 10 as an Xbox Play Anywhere title.

The Artful Escape of Francis Vendetti is a video game about great expectations, famous folk singers, lingering shadows, space Gods, hallucinogens, individuality, reptile shops, and wild imaginations. It’s an action, adventure, exploration, narrative driven, musical-laser-light-battle kind of game and is the debut release from BEETHOVEN & DINOSAUR.

Kick in some sci-fi action, The Outer Worlds is a new single-player first-person RPG from Obsidian Entertainment and Private Division. Lost in transit while on a colonist ship bound for the furthest edge of the galaxy, you awake decades later only to find yourself in the midst of a deep conspiracy threatening to destroy the Halcyon colony. As you explore the furthest reaches of space and encounter various factions, all vying for power, the character you decide to become will determine how this player-driven story unfolds. In the corporate equation for the colony, you are the unplanned variable.

Tom Clancy’s: The Division 2 will explode in to 2019. Developed by Ubisoft Massive and the same teams that brought you Tom Clancy’s The Division, Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 is an online open-world, action-shooter RPG experience set in a collapsing and fractured Washington, D.C. This rich new setting combines a wide variety of beautiful, iconic and realistic environments where the player will experience the series’ trademark for authenticity in world- building, rich RPG systems, and fast-paced action like never before. Play solo or co-op with a team of up to four players to complete a wide range of activities, from the main campaign and adversarial PvP matches to the Dark Zone — where anything can happen.

Throwing a bit of indie goodness in, Tunic from devs Finji is an isometric action adventure about a tiny fox in a big world. Embark on an adventuresome quest-about set in that place just beyond the farthest you’ve ever been! Explore ancient ruins, fight monsters and uncover mysterious secrets. The world is big and scary — so be brave, little one!

And finally in this 2019 Xbox round up is from the creators of Wasteland 2 and Torment: Tides of Numenera comes Wasteland 3! Following the critically acclaimed releases of 2014’s Wasteland 2 and 2015’s Wasteland 2: Director’s Cut, fans have been clamoring for a direct sequel.

Wasteland 3 will feature a deep and engaging story utilizing a newly-revamped dialog tree system from the celebrated writers of Torment: Tides of Numenera, along with a renewed focus on our trademark complex story reactivity and strategic combat that evolves on Wasteland 2’s deep tactical turn-based combat and unique encounter design. Play by yourself or with a friend in story-driven synchronous or asynchronous multiplayer to face difficult moral choices and make sacrifices that will change the game world.

So there we have it Xbox One gamers – here’s what’s in store for the next 12 months from Xbox. A couple of first party surprises and alot of third party goodness to welcome in another year.

The post Xbox to take you in to 2019 appeared first on Shane the Gamer.