"It's only a war crime if you end up losing". Not a quote extracted from this title, but it most certainly fits the bill and there will be plenty of similar adages taking you on a veritable guilt trip. Spec Ops: The Line is without the shadow of doubt the main anti-war video game within a special niche that is drizzled in irony, since this is a third person shooter as well.

Believe it or not, this is the final entry in a series that has been mostly console exclusive (5th generation). Not to mention that the predecessors were conventional in terms of approaching modern warfare, no underlying messages and just a straightforward narrative. Simpler times, eh? Co-publishers 2K and Missing Link took a one-time gamble by reviving Spec Ops and I'm almost certain it wasn't a financial success. Such a pity.

A sleeper hit it was not, yet I still consider The Line to be developer's YAGER finest creation and it pains me that they have shifted their focus on F2P detritus in the eleven years since Spec Ops (re)launched. Yes, it was a 2012 project which treated very serious topics with social commentary rarely seen before or after in its genre. And it is most importantly, an experience you can enjoy in single player. No bros needed, imagine that!

The 1899 novella "Heart of Darkness" by Joeseph Conrad served as inspiration to both this game and to the cinematic masterpiece known as Francis Ford Coppola's "Apocalypse Now" from 1979. It goes without saying that you should read the source material and watch that movie as soon as you can, if the hardly digestible topics in Spec Ops: The Line have piqued your interest.

It cannot be boiled down to just the human condition being heavily influenced by the horrors of war. “Good. Bad. I'm the guy with the gun” as Ash Williams from Army of Darkness so eloquently puts it. You probably knew war is hell even with all the constant propaganda being shoveled daily by all forms of media. But you are rarely shown just how easy it is for seemingly good-natured individuals to cross the titular line towards irrational violence.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=782360075

Is it the separation between good and evil? Is such a distinction even possible when we're talking about horrendous acts commited with the excuse of self-preservation? I'm not here to judge you, but Spec Ops most certainly will. In such a subtle manner that you won't even understand the implications of your actions until you're halfway through the story.

A rescue mission gone wrong. A city buried under constant sandstorms. Anarchy reigns supreme and what follows can only be summarized as steep descent into madness. You still won't be prepared for the final twist. And if you weren't already acquainted with the devastating effects of white phosporus, Spec Ops shall indulge that morbid curiosity as well. Overall, this is a tale you will remember for all the right reasons. The are lessons to be learned.

Among the first Steam titles to "nurture" my predilection for screenshots, I wasn't yet disabling HUDs in 2016. Alas, Spec Ops has aged like fine wine, testament to the prowess of Unreal Engine 3 even on its final legs. There are so many epic set pieces in this title. Numerous occasions to just stop and stare after the guns have gone deathly silent.

Attention to detail is quite obvious, from clever stencils and grafitti and down to the ever-changing Main Menu showcasing to some extent, your in-game actions. Few games go that extra mile, especially ones which can be pretty much spedrun in a single sitting, if you're commited to the story. I took my sweet time to explore, so my initial 10 hours from start to finish don't reflect average playthroughs. There's no reason to rush it, let it all sink in.

It ran maxed out in 4K back when that resolution was mostly a pipe dream in terms of PC gaming (circa 2016). No technical issues to report, it was a smooth ride though the topics themselves made it stand out and ended up playing in short sessions. Not the sort of "bro shooter" where you can turn off your brain for some mindless fun. Do no mistake Spec Ops: The Line for a Gears of War clone, to keep its subgenre intact or far worse, compare it to some Call of Duty strain.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=782360439

No guilt trip would be complete without some very eloquent voice actors. Of course there's Nolan North in the cast. It was either hiring him or Troy Baker when you wanted a solid lead for your upcoming video game. No complaints from me. The soundtrack features some true rock classics which are put to good use during specific scenes, amplifying their impact. In a contemporary music world relying on autotuned covers from sheer lack of creativity, it's far better to return to the originals instead.

Cover-based shooting against waves upon waves of nondescript foes. Tango down, mission accomplished. It's not that simple after you take a few good looks at the carnage you leave behind in a quicker or slower succession of levels. The game railroads most of your choices, perhaps trying to mock the illusion of choice to some extent. "I was just a soldier following orders, I am not to blame". You still had a choice, but disobeying your superiors in a combat scenario has very finite consequences, right?

Self-preservation works both ways. Perhaps that's a lesson best learned while you're mowing down those desperate people trying to survive. How you justify that in the end, Spec Ops: The Line leaves at least that small amount of ambiguity up to the players. The core gameplay follows a familiar path, yet its the narrative structure that shall put the former element in a difficult spot. It most certainly wasn't the constant need to shoot from one safe spot to another, the memorable aspect to this otherwise fascinating journey. Willie Pete below.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/LK82rjh8E80

Come to think of it, the gunplay was passable and yet I was always more interested in the scripted sequences between those literal shooting galleries. Playing The Line for the first time and going in without any expectations at all, is probably the best way to approach it. Let it slowly punch you in the gut. Then press on, towards the inevitable conclusion. A lingering objective since level one still needs to be crossed off your to-do list. Will it bring closure?

Only one way to find out. Sadly, there's little replay value here for me, I'm obviously not interested in that dead in the water MP mode that's void of the SP's defining substance. Still a haunting adventure. I'd say it's a mandatory task for hardcore fans of military shooters. Might not open your eyes, you might not even like it and yet war has to be examined from all angles until you're free from its carefully tailored image by state media and various mouthpieces on a payroll.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=821336400

The time for my second playthrough, draws ever near. As for the story, it was not a popular opinion but it stands unique through its indirect preaching. Spec Ops: The Line has no direct competitors and we are living in an age in which World Peace is still an unachievable goal. I was never optimistic enough to believe in it though. Humanity will always find a pretext for War. Casus belli. It's hardcoded in our very nature. You can't truly fight that.

+ Steam Achievements.
+ Unique story in gaming.
+ Beautiful graphics and sounds.

- No Steam Trading Cards.
- Almost no replay value.

This article was submitted for Imperial Reviews. Following my Curator Page, will help me keep publishing new reviews as soon as I can. Thank you for your support!