Will the suspense and grit of this short taste of Spec Ops: The Line remain consistent from start to finish? Do the rest of its decision-scenes hold the same gravity as this lone execution example? We'll find out in early 2012. They might be wearing your uniform but they're now enemies. Spec Ops: The Line provides evidence of the renegade American battalion's crimes, but the twisted visual still feels wrong. Over-the-top violence is easier to stomach when there's a clear enemy with purpose, but when jamming the butt of a rifle into the face of an American soldier there's certain horror that comes with it. This contrast turns stark when utilizing "executions" on stunned enemies during general combat. The early enemies are hostile refugees trying to survive, but before long Walker and Delta are killing soldiers in American uniforms – former comrades. Once Walker and Delta realize Dubai isn't deserted, things get ugly. Whether Delta hides from a sandstorm inside an abandoned pipe, or step cautiously through the remains of massacred citizens, the heavy tone of Spec Ops: The Line permeates beyond just the unsettling choices placed in players' laps.ĭubai is huge. They venture on and discover, to their horror, the bunker was full of forty-seven civilians awaiting evacuation, Walker realizes the lengths Konrad is willing to go and promises revenge. With sink holes, sandstorms, and the ability to drown enemies in sand, the world of Spec Ops: The Line adds more to the experience than the gunplay. Delta reaches the Gate, a heavily fortified area, Walker authorizes the use of white phosphorus mortars to clear the enemy and a bunker. Its mechanics play out in a familiar manner, so it's the original aspects of the experience that lingered after the demo wrapped up. This direction remains consistent with the state of The Line today. When we saw Spec Ops: The Line eighteen months ago, we compared its dark tone to the likes of Apocalypse Now and Heart of Darkness. The fate of the 33rd and the state of the ruined city is the setup for Spec Ops: The Line's dark tale. The 33rd is led by Colonel John Konrad, Captain Walker's hero who once saved his life. You control Captain Walker, one of three Delta Operatives sent into the city to search for survivors and discover the fate of the 33rd – the original army brigade sent in to evacuate Dubai when the storms hit. Spec Ops: The Line takes place in sandstorm-ravaged Dubai - this isn't a sci-fi future, it's an alternate version of present day. From a ninety minute demo the gameplay wasn't memorable, the setting and story were. Hide your head from snipers, pop out to kill soldiers, and leap over cover to continue the mission. In this regard it doesn't reinvent the wheel. Spec Ops: The Line is a cover-based, third-person shooter. At that point I realized these aren't gaming choices, these are human choices. The only tangible effect was that I felt mildly sick to my stomach, especially after realizing the scene could have played out several other ways and I didn't actually have to kill anyone. There's no morality meter, the text didn't change to blue or red, I wasn't rewarded with new weapons or gear, and the world kept on turning. After a long pause I put a bullet in the soldier on the left and moved on with no fanfare, no repercussions.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |