Spec Ops: The Line

While most war games out there tend to glorify the violence, this game (it's hard to call it a game when it isn't exactly fun and it's so narrative-focused) shows the player the reality of war in all of its horror. In fact, it may even be safe to say that this could be considered a horror game by definition. After going through the campaign on this game, I found myself more appreciative of what our men and women on the frontlines go through every day, because this game, as I said, shows you the reality of war and not its glorified state like in so many others such as Call of Duty and Battlefield. How? It removes the "hero" aspect. This time you're not killing Nazis, Al-Qaeda, or aliens; you're going into the beautiful Middle-Eastern city of Dubai to help evacuate its refugees from the worst sandstorm in recorded history. I won't spoil who the enemy turns out to be. While that does sound well-intentioned, the way the plot unfolds takes Captain Walker and crew into an extremely brutal fight for survival. Unique to video games, there's also non-linear storytelling in the game as well when the player is forced to make some remarkably unpleasant decisions. One may even argue that some of these said decisions are things that real soldiers must make from time to time, just to be called war criminals for doing what they HAD TO DO. There needs to be more (not games) interactive experiences like this.

Spec Ops: The Line is a third-person military shooter that, despite its appearance, is a game that has never been done in the video game medium, or at least to this affect.

You become Captain Martin Walker. That's right, you don't just play as him, you become him. The game is so well done in the way it makes you and Walker merge into one figure. His problems become your problems, which isn't the best thing since the troubles he faces are quite heartbreaking.

The game focuses on Walker as he and two of his men are sent to Dubai, six months after a deadly sandstorm practically crushed the city. Dubai was thought to be dead until a message was picked up two weeks prior to Walker's mission. It was from Colonel John Konrad, presumed K.I.A after risking his life to save the citizens of Dubai. The transmission, short but distressing, was as follows:

"This is Colonel John Konrad, United States Army. Attempted evacuation of Dubai ended in complete failure. Death toll...too many."

Walker and his team have orders to find civilian life and call it in, then they get to go home. But as the game so accurately states "You can leave Dubai, but Dubai can't leave you."

Once you and your comrades reach the border of the city, it becomes quite clear that something has gone horribly wrong. And one gunfight leads to another and now your main mission has gone way of course, all thanks to Captain Walker.

Now, to be blunt, this is one of the best stories to be put in the video game medium and one of my favorite stories ever. It's based on the book 'hearts of Darkness' by John Conrad and the argument could be made that this game is superior to both that book and Apocalypse Now, since for those two you were just a witness, but in this game, it is very much all your fault.

The story is a very, very affecting wake up call. It has moments that have not been matched and I doubt they will for a while. The journey you take is so unique that nothing has been made that's close to it. Think of the most disturbing movie you've seen I almost guarantee this game will be even more so. But, even though this game is the fuel for night terrors, it is so, so well written, directed, acted and told that it's an experience I'll guarantee you'll keep and want to keep forever. I cannot put into words my feelings for this story, I guess it is just too good for words.

Now from the strongest part of the game to the weakest: the movement and combat system. It is basically frustrating as hell. We've seen all these mechanics before in such games as COD and Gears of War, but here it isn't as smooth. It's horrible when you want to advance in the story as quickly as possible but you can't since the controls are so clumsy. But, this game isn't about the guns or the controls, so that is a small problem (unless you play on hard, then you'll be throwing any objects at your TV).

The visuals of the game are stunning. I won't say beautiful since there are lot of disturbing sights in this game, but it is certainly stunning.

The voice acting is something that has never been matched. I might be exaggerating a bit (I don't think so though) but I think Nolan North's (the voice of Captain Walker) voice acting is some of the best vocal work I've heard. An important thing to point out is the progression of the player. He starts with the proper war talk "Enemy down" or "target is neutralized." But as the game goes on and you and your character get more devastated and broken, Walker's dialogue turns to "Kill is f***ing confirmed!" and "Got the f***er!." But alongside North are his two comrades, Lugo and Adams, both voiced brilliantly from Omid Abtahi and Christopher Reid respectively. Jake Busey is another voice that is brilliantly used as the character called 'the radioman.' This character along with Konrad has some of the best lines. Besides North and Busey, I think the standout in the cast would be Bruce Boxleitner who voices Konrad. Konrad is given so many excellent lines and Boxleitner delivers them perfectly. It's rare to find a game with this caliber of voice acting.

The soundtrack is one that really makes you feel like a hero, which you'll find, is something very important to the story. Old classics are mixed with new songs to create a perfect and thumping soundtrack. A couple of standout moments where the soundtrack adds another layer of greatness is when you're talking to a guy called 'the radioman' who's got you trapped. He then plays "Nowhere to run" over the speakers. Another standout is when you're racing to a convoy of trucks and you're fighting your way to the middle of a stadium. You can use stealth to get in there, but if that fails, then the enemy will turn on the radio with the song "Gladgow Mega Snake" by Mongwai (To alert other troops). With the inclusion of the song blaring around the stadium and enemies trying to viscously kill you, it make for one of the most tense moments I've witnessed in recent memory.

If only Spec Ops had an at least solid control system, then the game would have been absolutely flawless, but still, Spec Ops: The Line has one of the best stories in video games and it is one one of my favorite stories ever. It shoves so many disturbing things in you face and is saying "Do you feel like a hero yet? I hope you're proud of your work."

Spec Ops: The Line is quite possibly the most mature and definitely my favorite game of all time, never has a game hit me and blew me away as strong as this. I even knew about the 'expectation' side of the game. Imagine if I didn't now about it's true identity! (By the way this review is going to be a bit short, due to its 'surprise'. I feel like the game should be experienced with the right expectation. But since I have already mentioned it, you can guess what the surprise is! Is it trippy? Does it have good gameplay? Is it so bad it's good by intention? Is it Funny? Is it so original that people love it? Is it as polished as the great salt lakes? You decide, Either way it's pretty emotional. The ending can also leave people satisfied, because it's ambiguity is intentional!

By this point of the review, you might be wondering 'What aboot the gameplay?!' It's nothing special. But that's intentional! You know what everything in this game is intentional. That was all I needed to say to avoid your suspicion. Anyway this game is so damn fantastic. When you beat it, if you buy this game PLEASE play it in FUBAR! It is way more metaphorical in it's message. So that's it, tenoutaten.

Speaking freely, this is the only game that has ever made me feel truly uncomfortable while playing it. I've played hundreds of games and have laughed, cried, felt guilty or even despressed while playing but with this... I felt like throwing up. I felt like crap. I felt like a monster - I even felt a bit like blowing my brains out (but in a good way).

Bottom line, the jokingly dubbed "PTSD" Simulator lived up to what everyone said it would, surprisingly.

9/10. Only misses the 10 due to weak gameplay mechanics and laggy controls.

My only regret is not playing this sooner.

This game is /intentionally/ marketed as a generic arcade shooter, but will in fact take you through an emotional and psychological horror experience.

DO NOT play this game like you play any other arcade shooter, pay attention to the characters' mental state, the details in the environment around them, the dialogue, all that. This game will deliver a different message to everyone, depending on one's personal philosophy, what details one picks up and how one perceives the game's story.

Gameplay-wise, cover system is clunky and gunplay is too arcadey for my taste but it isn't worse enough to affect how you experience the game.

Very, very, very underrated. Hope there would be more similar games in the future.