Spec Ops: The Line Reviews

  • FlyingmopdogFlyingmopdog129,829
    08 Oct 2013 09 Oct 2013
    8 0 6
    Spec Ops: The Line is a rare gem in the overly saturated landscape of military shooters. Its gameplay is largely generic and its world is predominantly brown yet it remains unique and compelling. What sets this game apart from others in the genre is its story driven campaign. Spec Ops does have a multiplayer mode that is a perfectly acceptable and playable experience but if you are looking for a top class multiplayer game then you will find better elsewhere. If however you are looking for a single player game which breaks away from the traditional action packed heroism of the main shooter franchises then this could be the game for you.

    STORY
    You play Captain Martin Walker, as he makes his way through a ruined Dubai. The city is still being plagued by the sandstorms that have caused its collapse. Followed by your squadmates, Lugo and Adams, you go in search of survivors, hoping to find your former comrade John Konrad and his 33rd Squadron. The mission soon deteriorates and you struggle to survive the wastes of a buried Dubai, all the while learning the truth about what has happened to the 33rd. It is in the story that Spec Ops excels. Any failings of the game are forgotten as you find yourself confronted with well executed moral choices that will affect your like no other game before it. It is difficult not to be swayed by emotion as you are confronted with true dilemmas. There is no right or wrong, you are left in a perpetual grey area, forced to live with the repercussions of your actions. As the game progresses it changes from being an average generic war game to become a true emotional experience that will test your basic moral fiber and leave you reeling. The tale is intricate and subtle and will continue to draw you back time and time again, provided you have the stomach for it.

    PRESENTATION
    You could be forgiven for believing that a game set in a city that has been buried by a raging sandstorm might be drab but Spec Ops manages to create a plethora of environments to make your way through. The desert itself is redeemed with beautiful lighting and fantastic skyboxes while the game is careful to make sure you don't grow too accustomed to them. You will often find yourself making your way through many of the buildings that populate the ruined landscape as you take shelter from vicious sandstorms. You'll get to witness the former opulence of the city first hand as you work your way through hotels and shopping malls with magnificent aquariums and dining halls before being dragged back to reality by the gore and violence of the war you have become ensnared in. That said, while the visuals are varied and well designed some gamers may find themselves frustrated by texture popping. An excellent soundtrack and some great voice performances, particularly from Nolan North will provide the icing on the cake.

    GAMEPLAY
    Frustrating controls, generic gunplay and poor allied AI are issues that will most likely come to the attentions of anybody who plays Spec Ops for any length of time. You may often find yourself meleeing a chest high wall as you desperately try to vault over it in the midst of a hail of gunfire due to what can only be described as a baffling decision in design to assign the two moves to the same button. Early on in the game you may find yourself struggling to maintain interest as the combat is standard fare third person cover based shooting. You'll come across the usual variety of weapons (pistol, assault rifle, smg, lmg, sniper, rpg). The experience is livened up a little by your ability to issue simple commands to your squadmates. If an enemy in the distance has you locked down then Lugo can most likely pick him off, if a group are entrenched in cover nearby Adams will always have a grenade handy. On the easier difficulties this can prove both useful and entertaining. On harder difficulties it becomes a nightmare as your squadmates eagerly rush out of cover to put a bullet in your chosen target leaving you to risk life and limb to pick them up and get them back in the fight.

    TROPHIES
    Spec Ops boasts a good variety in its trophy list and bar difficulty based trophies shouldn't cause any alarm to platinum hunters. As can be expected with the game focusing on single player the trophies echo this with no specific multiplayer challenges in sight. It follows some fairly traditional lines and gamers will need to make varied use of weapons and utilise all aspects of gameplay to finish out their list. Collectible intel accounts for two trophies, but is a relatively pain free experience with the player rarely needing to stray too far to find the information. The game will require a minimum of two playthroughs too complete the story and difficulty based trophies. Difficulty trophies do stack, however, you must complete Suicide in order to unlock FUBAR. This provides the greatest challenge on the trophy list but given time and patience should be easily in reach of any dedicated player.

    VERDICT
    Spec Ops is a game that any military shooter fan should play. Not only will you get to experience one of the greatest stories the genre has to offer but you will almost certainly learn something about yourself along the way. It is a beautiful, horrifying, thought provoking experience. I say experience because frankly it is a more fitting title than that of 'game'. Minor graphical hitches and generic gameplay may hinder you early on but if you choose to overlook those issues you will be taken on a journey like no other game has taken you on. The game is a masterpiece of storytelling and anybody who gives this game the time it deserves will find themselves very willing to forgive it its imperfections.
    4.0
    Showing all 6 comments.
    Prem-aka-PrinceThank you for the review. I think I will play this sometime because I love unique things in games. Unfortunately I spoiled the ending but I still look forward to seeing the journey and presentation. smile
    What about the trophies? Will it be difficult to platinum? Are there any multiplayer trophies, and if so are they boostable?

    p.s. find and replace it's -> its. All of them
    Posted by Prem-aka-Prince on 09 Oct 13 at 11:56
    FlyingmopdogOld grammar habits die hard, thanks for the heads up.

    Added a trophy section to the review as well but to sum up; No multiplayer trophies and a relatively achievable platinum if you don't object to playing on the hardest setting.
    Posted by Flyingmopdog on 09 Oct 13 at 17:27
    Prem-aka-PrinceExcellent, thank you for the detailed addition. Couldn't ask for more from this review, you covered everything I wanted to know and in a well worded way. Thumbs up toast
    Posted by Prem-aka-Prince on 09 Oct 13 at 17:56
    MLSxGHOSTGood review! Gonna pick this up soon! :)
    Posted by MLSxGHOST on 14 Nov 13 at 11:12
    Wookiekiller247Fantastic game, best free game on PS+.
    Posted by Wookiekiller247 on 19 Nov 13 at 14:00
    rabidpanda513Great review, now I'm tempted to add this to my wishlist!
    Posted by rabidpanda513 on 22 Dec 13 at 14:28
Hide ads