Spec Ops : The Line

'Sand'

Developer: Yager
Publisher: 2K Games
Release Date: June 26, 2012
Platform(s): PS3, X360, PC
Genre: Shooter

 

 

 

The Spec Ops series once went on a mission to innovate console shooters; to offer a more tactical approach to the genre and blend it with strategy titles like Commandos. Flash forward to the future that is the present and Spec Ops: The Line still tries to do the same, but in the narrow confines of the generic shooter genre of today. It does try to give us something novel, but it may just be a little spit shine.

The Line is set in Dubai, but it isn’t the paradise everyone envisions in their head; quite the contrary. This tropical destination has been ravaged by sand to such extent that there is barely anything left but a brownish wasteland. Perhaps the developers were reaching for a reason to justify yet another reason to create a monochrome post-apocalyptic shooter, but the fact remains that this title will include about enough color swatches to count on all digits. As a redeeming factor, locales still have a vivid touch, as wind sweeps through ragged cloths, sand gushes by and fixtures teeter towards oblivion. That also means that The Line will be rich in destructible environments. If Dubai wasn’t screwed quite enough, it will be possible to shoot and explode it into even more broken pieces and watch mountains of sand come crashing down on anyone unlucky enough to be in the trajectory.

 

 

So, you’ve probably guessed it by now: Sand is the big game changer in The Line. Don’t like a part of the scenery? Why not blow everything it has going down with a few metric tons of the earth’s dandruff? Blow out windows and watch the grit pour out, explode a weight bearing beam and watch an entire construction crumble underneath the pressure; the possibilities are vast and a nice way of messing with the enemy. Whether or not it will stay as fun and versatile in the full release is speculation, but it sure is fun the first few times, in that awe-striking way of seeing everything get obliterated instantly by good old Mother Nature.

The game will require some regular shooting too though. If we all just waited for nature to do the dirty work, we’d be civil beings. There’s little fancy here: Shooting, aiming, 2 different weapons, throwing explosives, regenerative health and so on.  However, the cover mechanism seems to be a tad more refined than its peers, as players can sprint and have the game calculate a proper distance in which it slides into cover naturally. Combine that with leaping over cover and the game’s pace can sometimes get little boosts during shooting galleries. By simply waiting for the proper opening it’s possible to vault over cover, sprint to a better or closer position and hide in a flash. It’s not perfect, as sprinting has a certain angle in which it will work, but it’s competent enough in most level designs so far.

On that note, The Line also offers multiple positions during each gallery, though the scripted nature of the game doesn’t really open up these possibilities. Since enemies spawn from certain points and only reposition later, some vantage points are more available as a whimsical tryout than a tactical approach. Also, foes plop and drop fairly easy in the standard setting, even with leg shots, so there’s no real need for any of it. A simple straight forward position next to the team will do to pick off any obstacle.

 

Sand.

 

Should some baddies locate properly and apply a pin however, it’s also possible to give the team a few simple commands, such as disturbing the current scene or prioritizing dangerous targets such as snipers or top level grunts. This poses problem number one: Team mates can and will handle most situations without help required. Unless there’s a swarm of enemies moving in at once, it’s possible to simply sit back and let the bro’s do their killing. They’ll even blow up the scenery, reposition and use a tactical approach. It’s commendable that the artificial intelligence (AI) of both the enemy and the team is so well up to snuff, but without a lot of incentive to act, why should anyone play the game? The only interaction needed is when they get incapacitated and the player must rush to heal them, only to stay stuck in animation and get pelted with fire, often followed by death.

The fact that these super men also don’t wait for anything poses a problem given the game’s linear nature. Though the overall look might give a sense of freedom, The Line in reality does its name justice by providing one huge linear corridor. The small exceptions to this are obviously ‘hidden’ spots to recover intel that offers a bit more insight on the game’s dark and controversial story.

You see, stuff has been going down in Dubai and now evil people have overrun the desolate landscape. Quite quickly, the game will offer an uncompromising cruel reality to this notion and players will get treated to some gruesome scenes. It won’t be anything out of the ordinary, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be gut-wrenching at times. The Line doesn’t hold back on that part.

Additionally, some pieces get accompanied by some musical grooves that add a cinematic feel to it all. It’s more subtly leaning towards Vietnam-era music than the power rock of the present and that makes it that tad more theatrical.

Still, if that’s all The Line is going to do to leap away from the pack, it will need to step its game up. Yes, there are zip lines and rappelling, but it’s nothing more than a way to get from point A to point B and is hardly innovating. Additionally, quite like the cheap execution segments that kick wounded foes to death, the animations for rappels are all over the place. Both implementations certainly need a touchup.

 

Not sand.

 

It’s hard to see whether or not Spec Ops: The Line is going to follow through fully on the ideas in which it distances itself from others. In its own merit, it will probably be a competent enough shooting gallery with dark undertones. Still, if sand and gruesome acts are the only thing it offers expertly, it’s questionable whether the game will have enough to succeed to its full potential; certainly given it doesn’t require an active participation.

Daav Valentaten, NoobFeed. (@Daavpuke)