Developer/Publisher: Yager Development/2K Games Released: June 2012
Played on: PS3 (also available on 360, PC, Mac)
Spec Ops: The Line loosely adapts Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness via Apocalypse Now. This third-person shooter puts you in the role of Captain Martin Walker who arrives in a future post-catastrophe Dubai to discover an earlier American military relief unit, led by the elusive Konrad, having potentially established a more militaristic stance than one of aid.
Mechanically the game is a solid shooter that eventually gets quite repetitive and suffers from some dodgy graphical models and glitches. Despite that, the design of a storm-ruined Dubai is outstanding with the city’s sprawling skyscrapers now hollowed and collapsed. The contrast of pristine buildings and furnishings now bullet ridden and slowly being swallowed by sand is striking and an appropriate metaphor for Captain Walker’s frame of mind.
Despite slight gameplay shortcomings, The Line presents a refreshingly subversive take on the military shooter genre. The consequences of violence take a gradual and believable toll on the game’s lead characters and the ending is bold and thoroughly satisfying.
If you’re a fan of shooters but want something that undermines the jingoistic mould of modern military games – Spec Ops: The Line might be for you.
Verdict: A serviceable shooter elevated by a harrowing setting and a focus on the psychological impact of military violence.
Should Bradley play this: It is certainly a worthwhile game, but not an essential one. Stronger or more varied gameplay might have served it better. Got this free on PS+
Elias Rambles 
This is one of my favourite Gears-alikes. There are a few frustrating parts, and the enemies get a bit samey, but the story is pretty strong. I played through it three times in the end, and I’m keen for another go-round one day. Would’ve benefited from a co-op partner gameplay wise, but I guess the story is a very personal one for the main character. It’s really interesting how that particular moment (you know the one) seems quite rote having played games of this ilk a million times before, but it turns out to be the point of no return for our “hero”. Great game, I give it 44 civilian casualties out of 50.
cool! I think you liked playing it a lot more than I did. I enjoyed it, but wouldn’t want to play through it again.
Co-op would’ve been interesting, but what would that do to the story?
I think they got a lot out of what was probably a fairly restrictive budget.