Title: Spec Ops: The LineFormat: PS3, Xbox 360
Release Date: June 26, 2012
Publisher: 2K Games
Developer: Yager Development
Price: $59.99
ESRB Rating: M
There has been an abundance of military shooters getting released in the past few years, and in order to catch people's eyes, including mine, you have to be doing something right. Thats where I stand currently when it comes to Spec Ops: The Line.
Presentation and Story:The biggest selling point by the developers of the game, was the intricate and deep story that hadn't been seen before in any military shooter before. Seeing how much hype was surrounding the narrative, I came in expecting to see J.K. Rowling's name in the credits. You play as Captain Martin Walker, and you lead your Delta Squad into the belly of Dubai. You are on a long and treacherous journey to find Colonel John Konrad who presumably went rogue. The city is a barren wasteland filled with danger lurking around every corner. The city of Dubai offers up one of the most beautiful vistas I have ever seen in a video game to date. The game is smooth and crisp all around, including highly detailed player models. The blinding lighting offers another level of authenticity as the bright sun will sometimes blind you as you gaze across the horizon. Nolan North lends his talents to Captain Walker, fans of Uncharted might be a little thrown when they hear Nathan Drake giving out military commands. Music helps round out the stellar voice acting to create a unique atmosphere.
Core Gameplay and Multiplayer:When it comes down to the gameplay, Spec Ops sticks to the traditional third person shooter conventions. The cover system is solid providing smooth transitions in and out of cover. Your squadmates, Lugo and Adams do a good job of actually killing enemies in the game. I can't say this about a lot of other third person shooters with a squad at your side. There are a lot of dark moments that get incorporated with the morality system in the game. The choices you make are never as black and white as an inFamous. Your teammates will offer up there opinions when you reach a certain morality points in the game. The campaign offers up around 8 hours of gut wrenching tension that offers a lot of replay value. The multiplayer on the other hand, feels a little tacked on. It offers all of your basic modes like Team Deathmatch, with a your standard fare of progression systems. You unlock more guns, armor, and perks as you spend more time in the online portion of the game, The detraction from the progression, is that the online itself, isn't very fun.
Final Thoughts:Spec Ops: The Line is a great game, with a superb narrative to go along with it. Its a smooth and sometimes even emotional ride all the way through. If you're not sure about this one, don't be, you should definitely give this one your precious time.
S&S Rating: 8.5/10
