Musings on "Spec Ops: The Line" and the Power of In-game Choice
Channel: GrannyGoddy
Date: 02/01/2013

** WARNING **  There will be spoilers in this video, and this description, for the game 'Spec Ops: The Line', and a bit of a spoiler in this video for 'BioShock'. ** WARNING **


This is a sequel, of sorts, to a video that I made some time ago:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQA2cM2CYEo


Now, I want to make it as clear as possible that 'Spec Ops' is by no means a bad game.  In fact, simply on the strength of the story, it's probably the best I played last year, and one of the best full stop.

My one gripe, which I try to explain at length in this video, is the... almost preachy nature of the game's message.  I fully appreciate that it is taking a pop at the style of modern military shooter that can be summed up as 'Call of Duty', and that it is not meant to be a heroic power trip for da yoof.

But please, game, do NOT smugly tell me that there was a choice, when (as far as advancing the narrative was concerned) there was not.

Especially if you take in to consideration one interpretation, being that after the 'in media res' opening, everything is Walker advancing through his own personal purgatory.