Spec Ops: The Line (Spoilers)

[lisalover1]

It's no secret that I have a particular dislike for military shooters. I have pretty much stayed away from the genre as much as I possibly can. So, when I saw Spec Ops: The Line being released, I payed it absolutely zero attention. It wasn't until a few weeks later that Extra Credits did an analysis of the game, and I was shocked that it actually looked interesting. The premise of the game is to act as a scathing indictment of military shooters, contrasting the atrocities one is able to commit in any other such game with the moral background of actual military operations. It's dark and grim without being juvenile and stupid, and has one of the most horrifying moments I have ever seen in a game. One of the things I found most fascinating about the game is that for pretty much the entire first half (or two thirds, possibly), the game's mechanics tell a completely different story than the actual plot, creating a jarring dissonance that builds up to some twists later on. I love it when this medium's storytelling potential is used to its fullest in this way. As the game progresses, you begin to actually hate playing as the main character, as he loses more and more of his sanity. It makes the last few chapters of the game incredibly surreal to play through. I loved how this game handled its story, and how it did so in a meaningful way. Most of all, I loved how it cleverly subverts so many of the tropes that make up military shooters. Finally, I have to mention the loading screens. After you get most of the way through the game, you start to see some very unsettling loading screen messages. Instead of helpful hints that were seen in the early hours of the game, the messages now start to insult you. No, not insult the protagonist, messages that insult YOU. The player. The game holds the person behind the screen accountable for their actions in the game, and it is downright chilling. If anyone is interested, I took screenshots of some of the loading screens, and uploaded them online.



Who else has played this game? I just beat it today.

[Pulsar_t]

I did start a thread in Other Genres attempting to promote this game. My only gripe is that the gameplay is bare-bones compared to contemporary TPS titles, but it is worth experiencing for the story especially if you can nab it for a good price. Definitely one of my top picks so far this year.

[Pulsar_t]

http://www.gamerevolution.com/news/buy- ... edit-16321