Theories on the Game (Lotsa Spoilers)

[Donjo]

Okay, so hopefully anyone reading this thread has played and finished the game and all that good stuff. There are massive spoilers below for those who haven't.

We've learned that Walker hallucinated a great many things throughout the game, particularly late in his journey. So, how much of what happened in the game actually happened? Are there entire portions of the game that technically didn't happen at all?

Well, my theory is that following the helicopter crash we see in the prologue, Walker has died. For his "sins", he is going through the purgatory of endlessly repeating his time in Dubai. Endlessly repeating it... until he gets it "right". Every time he "dies" in this purgatory, he begins again. Until he accepts what he has done and finally finds peace. Here are some of the points of evidence I'd like to present toward this opinion.

-The signs are subtle, but Walker is not all there, even in the very first chapter of the game. In the very first conversation with the insurgents, Lugo starts speaking Farsi. This is kind of odd, considering that Farsi is not the official language of the UAE. Arabic is the official language of the UAE. Farsi is an official language of... Afghanistan. The same Afghanistan Kabul is located in. I have a feeling that Lugo was never speaking Farsi.

-In the very first chapter, there is at least one billboard which proudly displays John Conrad's face. Isn't that odd, considering that Walker doesn't point it out and state that Conrad's face is right there?

-Not long before the White Phosphorus Incident, you pass by a tree. It seems pretty lively and vibrant, until you pass it. Turn around, and it's suddenly as dead as the rest of Dubai. Kind of like how sudden Walker may have died in that helicopter crash.

-Attempt to avoid firing the White Phosphorus, and you'll be assaulted with an endless barrage of soldiers until you run out of ammo. Walker's purgatory is flat out not allowing him to avoid this major transgression. He must continue doing it until he fully accepts that this is his fault.

-At the beginning of Chapter 9, while you're rappelling down the building, look at the windows to your left. There is a very odd reflection in the glass. A reflection of Lugo, after he has been hung by the lynch mob! Why would an event that technically hasn't happened yet appear so accurately in a hallucination... unless Walker has already experienced it one or more times?

-At the beginning of the helicopter segment, Walker exclaims that he's done it before. You can either accept that he's just crazy and rambling, which is probably true. Or, you can accept the additional possible truth that he is, in fact, telling the truth. He has done this before. Several times!

-Following the helicopter crash, Walker's hallucinations become much more obvious and all encompassing. He sees images of Dubai in flames more than once. He sees the Lugo Heavy. He sees the tower in a vibrant state when he reaches it, when the reality is anything but. The remnants of the 33rd he encounters in the tower are very likely not real. The discovery that he's been hallucinating Conrad ever since the White Phosphorus Incident is just icing on the cake. I believe that the hallucinations are markedly worse here because there is no longer a "reality" of what previously happened to ground Walker in his purgatory. What follows the crash is being made up as he goes along, until he reaches the "confrontation" with Conrad that he believed he would face.

-After all that Delta Squad has been through, it isn't until after the helicopter crash that members of the squad actually begin dying. One would think that, if Walker is creating his own Dubai has he stumbles along after the point of his death, his squad wouldn't die. They'd be with him the whole way. However, we must remember the reason for Walker's rampage through Dubai. He wanted to be a hero. And, what better way to be a hero than to be the sole survivor of something truly terrible? The events in his purgatory align themselves to kill Lugo and Adams specifically to create what Walker believes is an ideal situation for him to triumph.

Now, let's analyze the endings. First, remember that the game uses scene transitions that either Fate to White or Fade to Black. Fading to Black indicates that what just happened is exactly as it appeared. Fading to White indicates that Walker is actively hallucinating or otherwise decieving himself. This is been confirmed by the developers.

Ending 1: Commit Suicide by allowing "Conrad" to shoot Walker. This ending shows that Walker cannot cope with what he's done. He realizes that he has committed grave sins, but he takes the "easy" way out. This is no peace. The game Fades to White. He starts over.

Ending 2: Commit Suicide by American Soldiers. This ending shows the same things as the previous one. Walker feels that he should die, but he's already dead. This is not the correct way to find peace. The game Fades to White. He starts over.

Ending 3: Defeat the American Squad. In this ending, Walker embraces that he has become something evil. This is the exact opposite of what this purgatory is attempting to foster in him. The game Fades to White. He starts over.

Ending 4: Lay Down Your Weapon and go Home. In this ending, Walker finally accepts what he has done and finally decides to go home and face his crimes. In the vehicle, a soldier asks him how he survived. He says "Who says I did?"... and closes his eyes. This is the only ending in the game that Fades to Black. In achieving this end, Walker finally finds peace in his own death. The mission no longer must be repeated. He finally rests.

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Well, that's what I think about the events of Spec Ops: The Line. What about you? Do you agree with this sentiment, or do you have other ideas regarding the game's events? The game is rife with material to discuss in such manners :)

[CannonballKraut]

I really enjoyed your post and it gives much to think about.
One thing though, I just replayed the end for a different scenario (where you kill the American squad) and it faded to black for me...
I'll have to play the whole thing again now and pay more attention to all the details you layed out. Looking forward to it. I'm a little upset that I didn't notice anything weird until the game was pretty much almost over. I guess that lack of attention on my end comes from playing so much CoD and related titels which have about as much depth as a kiddie pool...
Thanks for the insights.

[TheJackal501]

At first, I disagree with this theory since your view is similar to how the developers view of the story; but with the amount of evidence you put here, I see there's a possibility that this theory could fit into this game story. But I think in the end, the story open up for many interpretation.

[Ita]

I picked this game up during the past holiday sale and just finished it last night. It's such a good game

I like your theory in that Cpt Walker may already be dead and is now in Purgatory.

I feel like I caught most of the hints in the game creating my own theory, with the exception of seeing Ssg Lugo lynched while you are repelling.
One thing that kind of gave away what might be happening was a tip in the loading screen after I had died. It hinted at the fact if anything was actually real or happening at all, a minor spoiler I thought while you're playing through the game for the first time.

My theory and what I thought was going to happen at the end of the game, was that Cpt Walker would wake up or come to at the end of the game. In a normal real life scenario such as shopping for groceries with his family, or getting caught up by his friends and fellow soldiers noticing he had been starting off into space too long.
Suggesting that everything did happen in one way shape or form, though Cpt Walker doesn't remember everything as it actually happend, but his PTSD has him constantly re living the events of his past.

[+]3D[+NuclearRodent]

that still doesn't explain the juggernaughts you fight as well as why lugo didn't relieve him

[Anderson]

Imho, "the truth" is somewhat snobbish.
The theory is great. Hard to deny it.
The topic of where the line between good and bad is drawn was well done in the movie "The Hurt Locker".
I believe even using phosphorus doesn't mean Walker is evil. What matters for a man is to think and not be a zombie fanatic or one in self denial. Cogito ergo sum.

The problem of the game is that the gameplay messes with the "no ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥" approach to human feelings, trauma. The attempt to sarcasm Saving Private Ryan and all action war products of American culture that came after conflicts with a real, serious message on the topic.
It's awesome to have Spec Ops do it though. I'm optimistically looking to the future of this message progress further.
It would also be interesting to hear arguments pro-war too. Again, a lot of weak points in the general anti war message with wide generalisation.

Take care.

[AstroCat]

Relaly enjoyed the game and wondered some of this myself so I went digging around. Found tihs articale which reveals a lot of the developers intent. http://www.1up.com/features/horror-mysteries-spec-ops-the-line?pager.offset=2

[Shum Pulp]

Only problem is that Farsi is the official language Iran. Not afghanistan. Afghanistan's official language is Arabic.

[Anderson]

Originally posted by Cyka:

Only problem is that Farsi is the official language Iran. Not afghanistan. Afghanistan's official language is Arabic.

No it is. Dari farsi as a variety of Persian farsi is spoken in Afghanistan.

Some article points out how the ending where Walker goes home is also about him going to purgatory again. I think that the topic is a little overblown though in the sense that there still isn't much continuity for the guilt feel. I would love not just a nihilistic sarcasm of American culture but a valid solution if there is any.
Because we all know that American police order making around the world is the only righteous thing to do. And sometimes that means sacrifice. Therefore a huge thank you to all who served within the US army or NATO to make this world safer.

[Heat]

Did you copy it from a video? It's very Similiar, also this is the sole reason I came here.

Duck man, I love stories about pain and peace, why is the best art always about pain?

[Anderson]

Originally posted by Pappa:

Did you copy it from a video? It's very Similiar, also this is the sole reason I came here.

Duck man, I love stories about pain and peace, why is the best art always about pain?

Try The Void.