Spec Ops: The Line

 PC
User Score
8.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1814 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,370 out of 1814
  2. Mixed: 363 out of 1814
  3. Negative: 81 out of 1814
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  1. IrradiatedNun
    Oct 2, 2016
    6
    If you want to feel smart without the effort, and also blab about how underated this vastly overated turd is, then by all means play this game. But I can sum it up for you pretty quickly, killing is bad and will hurt the poor little soldiers feelings.
  2. birdman3
    Dec 11, 2013
    7
    Spec Ops is simultaneously a breath of fresh air into the 3rd person shooter genre and a exposition of what's wrong with the genre. The heavy, mental story is very appropriate and well delivered. There were a few times in the middle that I wasn't sure about what was going on, but once I got to the end, I felt satisfied by the characters and their performance. The gameplay was fairly solid,Spec Ops is simultaneously a breath of fresh air into the 3rd person shooter genre and a exposition of what's wrong with the genre. The heavy, mental story is very appropriate and well delivered. There were a few times in the middle that I wasn't sure about what was going on, but once I got to the end, I felt satisfied by the characters and their performance. The gameplay was fairly solid, although the AI was sometimes outright stupid and the controls weren't perfect. There are plenty of other reviews that can emphasize these points as well. I never played the multiplayer, so I can't comment on that. I would suggest that this game try to include more customization of characters so that the redundant levels are more fun to navigate. As it is, there's really no reason to replay the game at all, considering that the entire story is available on a Wiki.… Expand
  3. Trokur
    Jan 15, 2013
    6
    I'm changing my review because I pulled a rookie move. If you are like me and have an xbox controller plugged into the PC, the game controls & tutorial want to focus on that controller, not keyboard settings. I play only certain types of games with a controller. FPS is not one of them. Even if you tell it to not use a controller in the options, it still does the entire tutorial withI'm changing my review because I pulled a rookie move. If you are like me and have an xbox controller plugged into the PC, the game controls & tutorial want to focus on that controller, not keyboard settings. I play only certain types of games with a controller. FPS is not one of them. Even if you tell it to not use a controller in the options, it still does the entire tutorial with controller bindings. So it stinks that you have to remove the controller in order for the game to talk to you in PC speak (WASD)... so to speak.… Expand
  4. Potitoman
    Aug 3, 2014
    9
    This game hit me like a ton of bricks. It should be called the anti-Call of Duty. You question the morality of what you're doing and the consequences of your actions. This isn't some laughable morality system like in Bio-Shock, this is a game that shocks and forces you to contemplate what you're doing.
    The gameplay is ok in a Gears of War kind of way and graphics are very console, but the    This game hit me like a ton of bricks. It should be called the anti-Call of Duty. You question the morality of what you're doing and the consequences of your actions. This isn't some laughable morality system like in Bio-Shock, this is a game that shocks and forces you to contemplate what you're doing.
    The gameplay is ok in a Gears of War kind of way and graphics are very console, but the story, Jesus, the story. I'm still thinking about it. Christ, the ending has got to be one of the best I've seen.

    I can't give the story away but you can see touches of Apocalypse Now every now and then. There is no ham-fisted message about war being bad. There is no sentimental manipulation. It's all presented as matter of fact and you'll feel it in your stomach.

    Recomended as a rare experience in gaming. There's no jingoism of flag waving here.
    No other game shaken me like this and the ending, man, the ending... I need a hug.    … Expand
  5. SeanMartinRevw
    Dec 25, 2012
    7
    Spec Ops The Line is a perfect example of the 'opposite' of what games normally are today. Typically there would be great game play with an average story in the shooter market. Spec Ops boasts an incredible story which is immersive and... well that's all I can say without spoilers. Just know your going to get your moneys worth especially off steam when it comes to singleplayer. MultiplayerSpec Ops The Line is a perfect example of the 'opposite' of what games normally are today. Typically there would be great game play with an average story in the shooter market. Spec Ops boasts an incredible story which is immersive and... well that's all I can say without spoilers. Just know your going to get your moneys worth especially off steam when it comes to singleplayer. Multiplayer at the current date (26/12/2012 AUS) is dead but it is worth noting that Spec Ops has been selling quite well on steam as of late. Unfortunately I haven't gotten a fair go with it so I cant say much. Technically this game looks spectacular and is possible to run on lower end systems. Control wise Spec ops falters a little with clunky sprinting and cover mechanics both being things you will be doing a lot in the game. Shooting however does work well just remember to adjust your sensitivity. Overall I can't say I regret buying spec ops. The singleplayer while very short (4.2 hours for me) was worth the admission. In fact its so good I may play it again! If you can get it for less that $15AU then do it! I'm giving Spec Ops The Line a 7/10… Expand
  6. mckw
    Oct 10, 2013
    7
    A brilliant story and a visual treat, only to be hampered by linear not very great gallery shooting riddled with clunky mechanics such as cover system and problematic AI. Could be a greater experience if it was slightly more diverse and flexible and smoother overall features. None the less a decent experience.
  7. crazyboy1234
    May 6, 2013
    7
    Incredible game, I had heard awful things before buying on steam for $8, but this game has blown me away. The story locked me in from the very beginning. Stories really cannot be more under rated now-a-days as most gameplay seems to be discarded for graphics and dlc
  8. Ukropgreen
    Jun 4, 2020
    9
    Настоящая классика. Один из лучших образчиков жанра. Качественный пример того, как надо подавать сложную тему "серой морали" и ужасов войны. Spec Ops: The Line – это поистине гремучая смесь из хорошего геймплея, отличной музыки, великолепного арт-дирекшена и по-настоящему захватывающей истории, которая приведёт вас в самое сердце тьмы города Дубай.Настоящая классика. Один из лучших образчиков жанра. Качественный пример того, как надо подавать сложную тему "серой морали" и ужасов войны. Spec Ops: The Line – это поистине гремучая смесь из хорошего геймплея, отличной музыки, великолепного арт-дирекшена и по-настоящему захватывающей истории, которая приведёт вас в самое сердце тьмы города Дубай.
  9. Malefic
    Aug 28, 2013
    4
    What can I say about this game. The gameplay was ok, though nothing we haven't seen in countless other shooters. What is super annoying however is the "America vs. the world" garbage found in so many games and movies nowadays. Right down to the guitar solo playing during the main menu I mean seriously, how cliché is that.

    What a joke. Even for a free game, I'm still left feeling    What can I say about this game. The gameplay was ok, though nothing we haven't seen in countless other shooters. What is super annoying however is the "America vs. the world" garbage found in so many games and movies nowadays. Right down to the guitar solo playing during the main menu I mean seriously, how cliché is that.

    What a joke. Even for a free game, I'm still left feeling somehow ripped off.    … Expand
  10. nima1990
    Aug 25, 2014
    9
    Positive:
    1. Great story
    2. Stunning visuals
    3. Competent character design and characterization
    4. Solid voice acting
    5. Perfect endings
    6. Finishes right where it should without becoming a drag

    Negative:
    1. Very buggy and lots of technical issues
    2. The combat is mediocre at best
  11. Wilf_Tarquin
    Sep 7, 2013
    5
    I played the PC version. Standard third person 100% shooter where you're led by the nose between set pieces. You've seen it a hundred times before: you can take dozens of hits, the world consists of rows of waist-high cover, your health regenerates in seconds, the enemy respawns endlessly, yada yada yada. The graphics are par for the course, controls are awful, the story ridiculous.

    If    I played the PC version. Standard third person 100% shooter where you're led by the nose between set pieces. You've seen it a hundred times before: you can take dozens of hits, the world consists of rows of waist-high cover, your health regenerates in seconds, the enemy respawns endlessly, yada yada yada. The graphics are par for the course, controls are awful, the story ridiculous.

    If you like this type of game... well, shame on you, you're the reason PC games suck so badly nowadays.    … Expand
  12. kharnevil
    Nov 18, 2013
    3
    While it's mediocre third person action fest albeit with some gorgeous set pieces with a soundtrack of Alice in Chains. Björk The Black Angels, Black Mountain, Deep Purple, Inner Circle's, Jimi Hendrix, Martha and the Vandellas Mogwai, Nine Inch Nails and Giuseppe Verdi helps a lot to compensate
  13. TheWaffle
    Jan 31, 2016
    6
    More than anything, Spec Ops shows the power of a good narrative and good voice acting. But beyond that, and some pretty scenery, there's not much there. The gunplay and mechanics feel like a dumbed down version of Rainbow Six Vegas. And worst of all, the developers seem to have overlooked the most basic, fundamental part of a shooter, the mouse. The mouse control is ridiculously sensitiveMore than anything, Spec Ops shows the power of a good narrative and good voice acting. But beyond that, and some pretty scenery, there's not much there. The gunplay and mechanics feel like a dumbed down version of Rainbow Six Vegas. And worst of all, the developers seem to have overlooked the most basic, fundamental part of a shooter, the mouse. The mouse control is ridiculously sensitive and yet somehow also unresponsive. This wouldn't be a problem except that you need to change the settings before starting your game or they won't take effect, and if you alter anything in game, it goes back to being hypersensitive.

    I just don't get the obsession with this game. Fundamentally broken mechanics will ruin any shooter.    … Expand
  14. prozium83
    May 13, 2014
    8
    Game is awesome. Playing the game, soon or later you are asking yourself: Is it all necessary? IMO One of the best shooter I've ever played. Very good game
  15. cristiadu
    Sep 26, 2014
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I don't see the reason why this game didn't get a rate higher than 80, for me at least is one of the most enjoyable games that I ever played. There's a lot of enemies, the control (over the PC, not console) is pretty good, and the graphics are not the top of the line, but are really good. The choices within the game are fun, and sometimes you don't even realize that you did a choice before your teammates say something like "wow, why did you kill him?".

    It's really worthy playing.    … Expand
  16. telerabies
    Jul 10, 2014
    8
    Finally I get to play this controversial game (because I want to read the book "killing is harmless" solely written on this game).

    It is a short game, I finished it (at least the majority of the narrative) in 5 hours. But the gameplay, to be honest, is mediocre if not horrible. Plus Multiplayer is dead. Graphics, let's say, mediocre again because it is really not impressive. The whole    Finally I get to play this controversial game (because I want to read the book "killing is harmless" solely written on this game).

    It is a short game, I finished it (at least the majority of the narrative) in 5 hours. But the gameplay, to be honest, is mediocre if not horrible. Plus Multiplayer is dead. Graphics, let's say, mediocre again because it is really not impressive. The whole weight of the game goes to the narrative. It is really a anti-FPS shooter game. I even doubt if they actually made the other aspects of the game deliberately awful so as the player can focus on the "shock" of the narrative. Thus it is most fun to play this game with the expectation that this is just another shooter like GoW etc.

    The choices (and how impotent they are) the player are asked to make reminded me of Mass Effect series particularly 3 and its ending. The psychological manipulation and guilt-driven portrayal of war all aims at making the player uncomfortable (possibly contemplating). The hero is the villain. It is not the usual "there is no clear cut between hero and villain" rehtorics, but the entire dichotomy is destroyed. There is no justice in a war and it does not matter which side you choose. When the soldier is bodily on the battlefield, the gore and brutality does permanent damage to him. It affects the protagonist to its core while the he strives to maintain his legitimacy through construction of himself as the hero regardless of what he had done to many lives.

    Now I am going to read that whole book, if I ever got the time.    … Expand
  17. Longshots
    Aug 7, 2014
    9
    Story:
    almost as amazing as The Last Of Us

    Gameplay:
    Gunfire: takes a long while getting used to
    Covor: averadge at best

    Graphics: fine

    overall it is one of the best games ive ever played. it proudly stands at the top of the War games along side Modern Warfare 2
  18. epicfuzz45
    Jul 13, 2014
    4
    I played this game for a few hours and I have no motivation to continue. I have heard that the story is fantastic and really brings up the horrid nature of war and survival, but so far all it did was wimp out of a chance of really making the player feel uncomfortable about what there doing by having all the enemies be terrible evil people rather than just folks trying to survive. When youI played this game for a few hours and I have no motivation to continue. I have heard that the story is fantastic and really brings up the horrid nature of war and survival, but so far all it did was wimp out of a chance of really making the player feel uncomfortable about what there doing by having all the enemies be terrible evil people rather than just folks trying to survive. When you take that away all you have is the gameplay, and this is the most painfully generic third person shooter I have ever played, I mean it, It brings absolutely nothing to the table. I was disappointed. The good parts of it are that the visuals are really cool and there are some amazingly creative and awe striking levels that really show the power of nature and really try and convey the desperation of the dead city, voice acting and characters are enjoyable too. But the GAME part of the game is so painfully generic that Its no fun to play. I quit when the main character fell of a **** building for no reason and survived, I normally would not focus on this s much if the game was not trying to be realistic and gritty.… Expand
  19. Binarygeek
    Sep 1, 2014
    4
    First off the early story of the game is quite interesting, though they never explain what exactly happened with Dubai. Then it goes preachy. This isn't the subtle "war is bad" moral quandary one might expect with a few moral choices, every chance it gets, it beats over the head with the message. Even during loading screens where it asks "do you feel like a hero yet?" or "how manyFirst off the early story of the game is quite interesting, though they never explain what exactly happened with Dubai. Then it goes preachy. This isn't the subtle "war is bad" moral quandary one might expect with a few moral choices, every chance it gets, it beats over the head with the message. Even during loading screens where it asks "do you feel like a hero yet?" or "how many Americans have you killed today?" There are some upsides to the game, plenty of weapons to choose from to kill enemies with (hint: those would be Americans), a great soundtrack featuring some cool classic rock songs. One firefight that was cool was in a tower in Dubai (most of them are actually) and they had nowhere to run, nowhere to hide by Martha And The Vandellas, all while hunting down enemy forces. Now to the truly awful. The mechanics. It seems the designers were sick during that section of development and just phoned it in. I honestly want to know what genius decided to map the sprint, cover and action to the same button. The AI is basic, and that goes for both sides. The collision detection is a joke, I managed to get shot through cover almost constantly. The game had potential, I've played bad games simply for the story. If a story drags me in then I can suffer through mechanics that were designed by a team of four year olds. What I can't suffer is when I pay for a game and the dev team gets preachy and bashes me over the head with the same message for every level for 8+ levels. Eventually I stopped playing because of that simple fact. I would recommend avoiding the game and finding a game worth your money. I cannot fathom who the target market is for this game, unless there's a demographic that likes being told that they're evil and disturbed individuals every time they load the game. Honestly, avoid this one folks, even if you see it in the bargain bin. It's just not worth it.… Expand
  20. PrincessRose
    Apr 29, 2019
    7
    I enjoyed this game a lot, good, gripping story that doesn't sugar coat anything, wont say anything else as don't want to spoil it for others.
    It's very exciting and action packed, I never feel bored playing this game. It's quite a challenging game.

    I'd recommend as it has good game play as well as story.
  21. TonyKontana
    May 17, 2015
    10
    Один из лучших сюжетов в игровой индустрии. Подражание "Апокалипсис Сегодня" и "Сердце Тьмы", отличная концовка, отличный сеттинг (Дубаи после катастрофы), музыкальная составляющая без лишних слов прекрасна.
  22. Jodle
    Dec 1, 2015
    8
    awesome gameplay and story but to short . .
  23. Wachin
    Oct 29, 2017
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Review salvaje en español ha aparecido *Emoji riendo* *Emoji Riendo*, bueno su historia es exelente con personajes bien llevados con un desarrollo bueno y no forzado. con las muertes de Lugo y Adams se nota esto por que duelen encerio. Quisas se vuelva un poco repetitiva esa secuencia de matar y ver la destruccion sin sentido causada, Los antagonistas (Kornad y Walker) cumplen muy bien su rol (Tanto Kornad segun la "ilusion") y Walker en la realidad… Expand
  24. CenkAlp
    Jan 3, 2018
    8
    Hikaye = 9
    Oynanış = 8
    Grafikler = 8
    Sesler = 7
    Keyif = 7
    Atmosfer = 8
    Süre = 7
  25. EptaEpt
    Sep 13, 2022
    1
    Sorry, but positive feedback is not available in your region. At least until your leadership changes the two-faced policy in their actions and statements.
    Sorry, but positive feedback is not available in your region. At least until your leadership changes the two-faced policy in their actions and statements.
  26. RazorSamurai
    Jan 10, 2019
    7
    хай кста
    вообщем не буду сильно вытягивать свой обзор и вкратце расскажу что со мной происходило за 5-6 часов геймплея
    прошел игру на самой сложной сложности которая была доступна в начале потому что я не еб.учий казуальщик меня бесило управление потому что видно что она сделана для консолей, топорное управление, вечно персонаж идет не туда, прячется не там, зае.бало честно говоря,    хай кста
    вообщем не буду сильно вытягивать свой обзор и вкратце расскажу что со мной происходило за 5-6 часов геймплея
    прошел игру на самой сложной сложности которая была доступна в начале потому что я не еб.учий казуальщик
    меня бесило управление потому что видно что она сделана для консолей, топорное управление, вечно персонаж идет не туда, прячется не там, зае.бало
    честно говоря, сюжет не плохой но и не гениальный, скорее всего в игре есть еще другие концовки или ньюансы сюжета но я же не фанат файв найтс ат фреди чтобы всех их искать или находить, че я еб.у дал что ли
    стрельба в принципе несложная но иногда заставляет попотеть, радуют разные виды типов врагов но враг с ножом меня дико расмешил. представьте вы на войне и на вас челик на поле боя бежит с ножиком
    а еще баги с сенсой, оно то прибавляется то убавляется
    графика не плохоая но и не хорошая, иногда прям по глазам бьет эти ребристые текстурки
    вообщем 7/10    … Expand
  27. RigbyTheMad
    Oct 11, 2020
    0
    I bought it in 2020 for real money and after 3 hours of play time the game crashes due to a critical error. The story doesn't go on. It can never work. I don't get my money back! It's worth nothing! Disgusting!

    Ryzen 2600x
    Gtx 1070ti
    16 gb ddr4
    512 gb kingston ssd
  28. ErhanCeylan123
    Jul 17, 2020
    9
    Do you feel like a hero yet? A game that shows the real face of the war.It is worth to experience.
  29. ave
    Feb 3, 2018
    9
    "You brought this on yourself" - Truth is, I wouldn't have played Spec Ops: The Line if I hadn't heard about what makes it unique in the shooter realm.

    In a nutshell, it's a third-person shooter set in Dubaï that starts as your everday-shooter... and ends up being a political, social and cultural commentary on war, heroism and videogames - and this last one is the strongest achievement    "You brought this on yourself" - Truth is, I wouldn't have played Spec Ops: The Line if I hadn't heard about what makes it unique in the shooter realm.

    In a nutshell, it's a third-person shooter set in Dubaï that starts as your everday-shooter... and ends up being a political, social and cultural commentary on war, heroism and videogames - and this last one is the strongest achievement of Spec Ops: The Line.

    Both the gameplay and the story are in service of the theme of the game, obviously borrowed from Hearts of Darkness.

    Aside of the super-obvious sequences that puts the theme "in your face", I invite you to appreciate the more subtle work on the verticality of level design, the writing of the lines, and also the evolution of certains ingame mechanics.

    Can't really say more without spoiling too much of it.    … Expand
  30. Resplendent
    Jan 5, 2014
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Do not play this expecting anything great. Repetitive, tedious gameplay is a series of tightly enclosed shooting arenas strung together by a story that at least tries to be different from your average COD-BF-War-Campaign. That said, inconsistencies in how it is presented gave me a headache. Do my choices matter? Do I actually even have choices? The answer to both of those questions is unfortunately- No. Giving players the illusion of choice is frankly annoying, especially when the character I play is then berated for going through with what the writers forced him to do anyway. The main character/anti-hero seems to be completely incompetent at his job, and his lack of imagination is constantly demonstrated by his rationalizing at his supposed lack of options, which are rigidly enforced as we, the players, sit through as he bumbles his way through massacring what seems to be the majority of Dubai. I really have a hard time understanding why this is a story one would want to tell. There are plenty of situations where people are forced to make terrible choices, and war is an obvious way to highlight that. Unfortunately, the way that is presented here is both incredibly contrived, and frankly a bit silly. You're also left in the dark as to what exactly is happening here. What's going on with all of the sand? Why did the 33rd go crazy? Why is there no backup? Why is there suddenly tons of water at the end when we were told we'd destroyed the last of it in that long truck escape? Maybe I missed some explanation somewhere, but there's a bit too much mystery left here.

    tl;dr If you like sand, this is your game.    … Expand
  31. Dvoraak
    Jan 18, 2016
    9
    The story I got wasn't at all what I expected. This game deserves an 8 for no other reason than trying their hardest to give a great single player campaign experience.... something far too rare in FPS games. My only regret is waiting so long to play it, but a Steam sale finally convinced me.
  32. ReubenIsAGod
    Apr 29, 2020
    8
    'Spec ops: the line' is an effective psychological third-person shooter that perfectly asks 'you' the player if your actions of carnage truly justify the means.

    The game looks deeply at 'madness', 'violence' and really captures that feeling of disgust as you move through the crumbling city of Dubi, killing all that stands in your way to saving the civlilians, and evacuate the city? Your    'Spec ops: the line' is an effective psychological third-person shooter that perfectly asks 'you' the player if your actions of carnage truly justify the means.

    The game looks deeply at 'madness', 'violence' and really captures that feeling of disgust as you move through the crumbling city of Dubi, killing all that stands in your way to saving the civlilians, and evacuate the city? Your many objective isnt clear clear until the games final moments, where it the TWIST really saves what, very much on the surface, seemed like a very mediocre shooter.

    The saving grace of this game is it's Story and characters. The question it asks 'you' the player, how it makes you really question the importance of war and violence.

    Otherwise, the actual gameplay is like any Third-Person tactical shooter. It's not very unique or intresting honestly. You really are ONLY hear for the narritive.

    For it's price, and it's rather short length. Spec ops the line is defintely worth buying and playing. It's really nice and contained...its replay value is weak...but the story really sticks with you, and the visual display is also quite impressive. The setting is quite gorgeous.

    Yeah, pick it up on sale.    … Expand
  33. Aeryx
    Jun 2, 2014
    10
    The biggest positive mindphuck I have experienced in all of my years gaming. This game early on does an excellent job of pretending to be just another shooter with the mediocre story then later, immediately grabs you and jumps into hyperspace to give you the darkest, most evil gripping story ever. War is hell--- and no amount of trying to do the right thing will redeem your burned soul.
  34. Klewer
    Apr 10, 2017
    8
    The overall story arch and decisions this game forces you to make are brilliant. This is a great experience and it keeps you going through out. Couple of drawbacks, the game on PC is a fairly straight console port and that causes a few issues with controls and graphics. Gameplay is generic enough, enjoyable at times but nothing special. Still well worth it for the story.
  35. Forum15LTJ
    Dec 7, 2016
    10
    I just had to say that the depth in strory telling of this game is amazing. The reveals are the best i have seen even if the game play is so so. It is worth a quick play through just for the experiance as a whole. Watch a youtube video about the hidden meaning and it will blow your mind away!!! JUST DO IT!!!!!!
  36. DemonicSoul
    Jul 10, 2014
    9
    Story:
    Captain Walker, Lieutenant Adams, and Staff Sergeant Lugo, a 3-man delta squad, are sent to traverse a storm wall through to the outskirts of a mostly-buried Dubai on foot. Their goal: To find info on whether or not a missing infantry unit is still alive. The events that follow will soon take a much more darker tone than what I expected. I love this game's narrative for going    Story:
    Captain Walker, Lieutenant Adams, and Staff Sergeant Lugo, a 3-man delta squad, are sent to traverse a storm wall through to the outskirts of a mostly-buried Dubai on foot. Their goal: To find info on whether or not a missing infantry unit is still alive. The events that follow will soon take a much more darker tone than what I expected. I love this game's narrative for going beyond the average military shooter cliches and going for a more realistic and darker tone. There were moments where I was disgusted by what I saw, and that's a good thing. The acting and dialogue here is A+ worthy and it's interesting and engaging to see our 3-man squad adapt and evolve as they go through the events of the game. Sgt. Walker is a complex character because of how his mental health throughout the game interferes with his desire to complete his mission, and all of it comes to a close in what are a set of interesting endings to choose from, and none of them were predictable. All of them are interesting in their own way. The story here is a prime example of video games being capable of telling engrossing and fantastic stories at a level greater than or equal to movies and books. 10/10

    Gameplay:
    Unfortunately, the gameplay can't live up to the near perfect story since the gameplay follows 3rd-person shooter cliches. I enjoyed the shooting, cover system, and vehicle sections of the game, but that's about it. The squad A.I. isn't really smart, and both Adams and Lugo would often struggle with hitting 1 enemy, even when I'd mark him for them. I also didn't like how scarce ammo was in this game for some guns, especially since it contradicts the game. And to make things worse, you can only carry 2 guns at a time. You would often run out of ammo in the middle of a firefight, and since the game has a habit of throwing 20+ enemies at you, you'll often have to resort to picking up their weapons and restocking from their dead bodies. I also think that on normal mode, you would die with too little shots required. One second you're fine, the next second your screen's grey. The level design is also pretty straightforward with no additional passageways to take in missions. As a whole, including deaths, I completed the game in about 5 hours, which is more on the short side. It's clear that this is one game where story is what drives the player to complete it, not gameplay. 7/10

    Graphics:
    The graphics still look great on PC at max settings. Despite being in a desert, the game uses a variety of colors and mission settings to keep the game looking fresh. The bloom is great here (even if it gets overused in some sequences), the textures still look good to this day, and the character models look gritty and fit the game's dark tone well. The lip-syncing here is also perfect as even in gameplay, the character's lips move in-sync to their dialogue. My only gripe here is that some of the cut-scenes don't look all that great. But visually, the game still looks stunning. 8/10

    Sound:
    The score here is filled with some great Rock tracks that play while in combat. The orchestral score also does a fine job here at building up emotion while playing. The gun sounds are good, and overall, the sound design here is great. 9/10

    Multiplayer:
    The multiplayer is dead here on PC, and I'm willing to bet it's also dead on consoles. So don't buy this game for its multiplayer. And from what I've heard, the games's multiplayer sucks.

    Verdict:
    Spec Ops: The Line features probably one of the best stories I've ever seen from not only military shooters, but in my whole gaming career. If only the gameplay could live up to the story though. The visuals and sound are both great, and the multiplayer is dead. I'll say for its $30 cost, it's well worth the purchase if you don't mind having to only play the single player portion.

    Rating: 9/10    … Expand
  37. charrudeboy
    Oct 9, 2014
    9
    A game every gamer should play. Average gameplay with amazing story and characters.

    After it was over I sat in front of my PC and just repeated "the horror"
  38. Fuht
    Mar 20, 2022
    9
    Unexpected masterpiece. Yea... gameplay may be slightly rough, but story is... wow.
  39. busbfran
    Aug 18, 2014
    7
    Spec Ops: The line begins with a breath of fresh air, although its apparent that the boring lackluster game play and technological issue are evident after the first battle cry. Yes it does effect the game. Especially the cover system. Just shocking at times and will lead you to frustration. This does take you away from the interesting story, which is the driving force of the game. AlthoughSpec Ops: The line begins with a breath of fresh air, although its apparent that the boring lackluster game play and technological issue are evident after the first battle cry. Yes it does effect the game. Especially the cover system. Just shocking at times and will lead you to frustration. This does take you away from the interesting story, which is the driving force of the game. Although its you'r average first person shooter at times the atmosphere is on point. Character and dialogue are extremely satisfying and the redeeming conclusion will make the frustrating times some what fade. All in all the game becomes tiresome and more like a chore, however if you find the game on sale go for it!… Expand
  40. Gormph
    Nov 12, 2015
    10
    omg ok when i started this game i thought the gameplay is ass how could it be any good but without trying to give to much away gameplay almost doesn't matter for this title and when it does you are rewarded heavily for thinking outside the box and ignoring what your told to do the story of this game is awesome and anyone who complains this game sucked because C.O.D. plays or looks betteromg ok when i started this game i thought the gameplay is ass how could it be any good but without trying to give to much away gameplay almost doesn't matter for this title and when it does you are rewarded heavily for thinking outside the box and ignoring what your told to do the story of this game is awesome and anyone who complains this game sucked because C.O.D. plays or looks better just doesn't get the point and should never have played it in the first place. One of my all time favorite games, blew me out of the water I don't have enough good to say about it 20 out of 10… Expand
  41. iddqd4
    Mar 19, 2018
    8
    Фактически игровая версия кинофильма Апокалипсис сегодня, Копполы. Сюжет на высоте, стрельба стандартная. Декорации отличные.
  42. beerlord
    Jul 29, 2014
    10
    This is one of the best story driven games I have ever played. It makes Call of Duty and Battlefield look as deep as Sunday morning Marmaduke cartoon writing compared to All quite on the Western Front. This is the story of Martin Walker and his descent into the reality of war when he and his Delta team go into Dubai.

    This is a story told in a cover based modern shooter game, not a    This is one of the best story driven games I have ever played. It makes Call of Duty and Battlefield look as deep as Sunday morning Marmaduke cartoon writing compared to All quite on the Western Front. This is the story of Martin Walker and his descent into the reality of war when he and his Delta team go into Dubai.

    This is a story told in a cover based modern shooter game, not a modern shooter game with a story to pass the time when the internet is out and you can't get in a quick match.

    Buy this game. Play this game. Read all quite on the Western front.    … Expand
  43. mijxero
    Sep 5, 2015
    9
    I had heard about this game and tried not to have it spoiled for me. Once I finally sat down and started playing it I couldn't stop. The story drove me and the action kept it fun and fast paced. The story is much deeper than a lot of military shooters and it really left me thinking, something few games do once they are completed.
  44. Galaroth
    Dec 2, 2014
    8
    The story is awesome, and well structured. It is probably the main attraction of the game. The gameplay is alright, there is not really anything new or ground breaking about it. Just plain and simple cover and shoot (it is however very satisfying to get a headshot and see your enemies' heads explode in slow motion.) The graphics as well as the level design is ok, but nothing breath taking.The story is awesome, and well structured. It is probably the main attraction of the game. The gameplay is alright, there is not really anything new or ground breaking about it. Just plain and simple cover and shoot (it is however very satisfying to get a headshot and see your enemies' heads explode in slow motion.) The graphics as well as the level design is ok, but nothing breath taking. It does not take a long time to finish the game, it can be done in 5-6 hours on the hardest difficulty available at your first playthrough. Overall a good game, which is easy to enjoy and a good experience. I can recommend it for anyone interested in 3rd person shooters and a good story.… Expand
  45. BountyCritic
    Jul 22, 2014
    9
    A 9/10 because of the gameplay, which is pretty standard. But don't play it because of the gameplay, play it for the story, which is downright amazing, I won't spoil anything, but just take me by my word. If you play it on normal difficulty, it should only take you about 5-6 hours to beat, but you'll probably play it again just to understand the story better.
  46. Turnip67
    Nov 25, 2014
    6
    The story is excellent, however it is let down by the complete crap that is the game mechanics and enemies. The amount of times i was left banging my head against a wall because the run and cover system didn't work properly! Every single mission is the same, you kill wave after endless wave of enemies, before something interesting happens in a cut scene to progress the story. The story isThe story is excellent, however it is let down by the complete crap that is the game mechanics and enemies. The amount of times i was left banging my head against a wall because the run and cover system didn't work properly! Every single mission is the same, you kill wave after endless wave of enemies, before something interesting happens in a cut scene to progress the story. The story is so good too! It gets a 6/10 because of the story, if there was even a shred of better gameplay the score would be much higher.… Expand
  47. Renwicke
    Dec 21, 2013
    9
    This game was a pleasant surprise. The story, gameplay, character development, graphics, and decision making are great. Another hit from 2K. Highly recommend.
  48. kreig9
    Dec 26, 2013
    10
    Just finished playing this game. I must say, it is one of the best games I have ever played. Graphics wise, can't complain. I have seen better as well as worse.

    The storyline is just, it touching. Having family members that have gone through PTSD, and having played this game after I was done with it gave it the high praise for "hitting home" to the player. With some scenes being really    Just finished playing this game. I must say, it is one of the best games I have ever played. Graphics wise, can't complain. I have seen better as well as worse.

    The storyline is just, it touching. Having family members that have gone through PTSD, and having played this game after I was done with it gave it the high praise for "hitting home" to the player. With some scenes being really graphic, tied in with the intense firefights, makes this game, in my books, one of the best games of the year.

    The cover mechanics are a little wonky, and takes some getting used to but once you have been broken in, they will come second hand to you.

    Spec Ops: The Line is a game I would definitely recommend to my friends/family.    … Expand
  49. rohithzr
    Dec 28, 2013
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It was a great experience, the story is great, i am not a hardcore gamer but i can say it is a good game.
    Spoilers: all the 4 endings are good, my first ending was to go home after epilogue, and the next was freedom to do anything. these were awesome.    … Expand
  50. riikcarvalho
    Jan 24, 2014
    9
    Story: 10 (or more)
    Gameplay: 9,5
    Graphics: 9,5.

    It's a general FPS gameplay, but the story it is the best that I've seen. Deserves a higher score.
  51. RodionMalkov
    Feb 4, 2014
    10
    Пожалуй самый лучший шутер в который я играл. Прошёл игру за 7 часов с 2 подходов.

    + Графика
    + Геймплей
    + СЮЖЕТ!
    + Дубай
    + Нет минусов за который можно зацепится

    Советую всем поиграть, не пожалеете
    Ставлю: 10/10
  52. chix
    Sep 18, 2014
    6
    The goodness about Spec ops is that its got excellent graphics and visuals, the dialogue is good , there is a good variety of weapons although some are more rare to find and the story for this game is just one of a kind and doesn't need to be changed.
    The bad parts though are that the controls are just clunky and sometimes very frustrating when the game is set at to a higher difficulty    The goodness about Spec ops is that its got excellent graphics and visuals, the dialogue is good , there is a good variety of weapons although some are more rare to find and the story for this game is just one of a kind and doesn't need to be changed.
    The bad parts though are that the controls are just clunky and sometimes very frustrating when the game is set at to a higher difficulty and somehow restrict the feeling of freedom when battling enemies. What this game needs is probably Uncharted's mechanics to make it more free and fluid and because it really needs Uncharted's mechanic for throwing away live enemy grenades. One more disadvantage is explosive items such as gas tanks, most are badly placed around areas and are not properly highlighted thus you can't see them properly from a distance and its a shame because they could have been a huge advantage.
    My verdict is this game has an excellent story but controls need work.    … Expand
  53. araut
    May 16, 2015
    9
    Very interesting game. Not your ordinary FPS game, surely no evil vs good kinda game. More like hard decisions to make "ish" kinda FPS. But it's good, oh it's good. Don't believe on those negative reviews. They are from teenagers who believed they would be playing Medal of Honor or such. This is a FPS for adults. No easy choice. Step aside, kiddos.
  54. BenGold10
    Aug 12, 2014
    10
    Best game ever, very addicting. my favorite mission is the fist one of chapter six. you should get it bout it on sale for 5.99, and there are no bugs.
  55. sharma0712
    Apr 12, 2014
    9
    nice story with ultimate graphics...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
  56. Give_em_hell
    May 5, 2019
    8
    It's a good full action shooter. Until the half it seems like an uninteresting story but after that it gets darker and darker, the artistic creativity gets better rand better, sometimes nearing a masterpiece. The apocalyptic desert setting is quite original actually. The gameplay is easy to learn but some fights are very difficult, there are lots of weapons.
  57. PazoeZoe
    Jun 1, 2014
    7
    Awesome game long demo everything great (could play on mac) but then the end. I was very disappointed i thought the end will be better. i would give the game 9.5/10 but the end was very bad.
  58. Tomle1202
    Jul 20, 2017
    7
    Spec Ops: The Line questions the morality in the battlefield with haunting moments superbly presented in a skillfully written story. Unfortunately, that is also its only outstanding aspect.
  59. BrettT
    Jun 8, 2014
    9
    This game has the fell of Apocalypse Now when you go into it. similar plot and plot design, it is basically Apocalypse Now in Dubai in a modern day setting without a man how thinks he's a god in it. This game's plot is great, with decent characters. The multiplayer is bland and dull, as is the game's asking price on Steam. $30 for a good game that only lasts for about 5 hours is not worthThis game has the fell of Apocalypse Now when you go into it. similar plot and plot design, it is basically Apocalypse Now in Dubai in a modern day setting without a man how thinks he's a god in it. This game's plot is great, with decent characters. The multiplayer is bland and dull, as is the game's asking price on Steam. $30 for a good game that only lasts for about 5 hours is not worth it to me. Wait like I did until a sale when it's at a reasonable price, then you should defiantly not hesitate in purchasing it.… Expand
  60. runner
    Dec 9, 2014
    9
    I definitly recommend this game, if you're into something meaningful and not *just* pure entertainment. In short:

    The good stuff - *Great story, make you face the true horrors of war *Amazingly done soundtrack *Nice graphics *Finally a shooter with some depth *Moral choices throughout the game *This game has a really good chance of invoking many sorts of feeling in you The bad    I definitly recommend this game, if you're into something meaningful and not *just* pure entertainment. In short:

    The good stuff -
    *Great story, make you face the true horrors of war
    *Amazingly done soundtrack
    *Nice graphics
    *Finally a shooter with some depth
    *Moral choices throughout the game
    *This game has a really good chance of invoking many sorts of feeling in you

    The bad stuff -
    *Gameplay is (a bit) too usual, does get (a little) repetitive
    *Minor and not-too-frequent technical buggies (and a loading screen which takes its time)
    *By any means, this is no light experience, so if you're looking for pure fun without much around, this might be somewhat heavy for you.

    I got really curious about this game after reading other reviews.
    When I started playing I thought at first that it's just another regular shooter and didn't get the fuss, but as I advanced I found out I was partly wrong.
    In terms of gameplay, this is mostly just a regular shooter, but in terms of story and atmosphere, I've never seen anything like that!
    Unlike many other shooters and war-games in general, this game doesn't try to make war look like 'fun' or anything heroic. For the first time (as far as I know) a video game tries to deliver the true meaning of military conflicts, as much as a video game can.
    You get to feel the impact on the people and how devastating it can be, for both the civillians and the soldiers themselves.

    If you're looking for simple 'fun' with shooting and killing, this game isn't necessarily good for you, as it explores the darker sides of war and has quite a few moment which could make you feel sadness, anger, and such things.. But not fun.

    Unfortunately the gameplay doesn't bring anything new and innovative to the genre, and I even found it boring at times. You get to play with one main character which can, at times, command other two soldiers, so there's a little tactical thinking through it all, but mostly it's just a regular shooter.
    The story completely compensates for it, though, and throughout the game you'll have to make a few difficult moral choices.
    At first I was a little disappointed when I found out they have no actual effect on the story, but I realized that they're there for the psychological impact, and that's what the game is based on.

    So, in short, gameplay is mehh and it does get a little repetitive - but for the sake of story it's worth it

    But that's not all of course.
    The soundtrack is absolutely amazing, as it's masterfully integrated into the game.
    The original soundtack for the game is mostly made up of rockish-style tracks - which is very refreshing for the genre and for video game music in general, and also some licensed soundtrack (couple of tracks from different artists such as Jimi Hendrix and Bjork) which greatly contributes to the game and as I said, the music is involved in the game amazingly.
    If you're of the type who pays attention to the music in the background, you're going to enjoy this one!

    The graphics didn't get much praise generally, but I liked them. There were vast environments in the game and they were all designed beautifully in my opinion, some looked darker and some were colorful and alive (graphically), and I really enjoyed just wandering around and exploring (at least when you're not being shot at)

    Technically the game was almost perfect, it worked without many issues. Happened to me twice in the game that after switching guns I couldn't pick up my former gun.. which was really annoying, and also there were sudden moments where the textures quality got really ugly for some reasons, and after dying or reloading it got fine.
    Also, the loading screens were an annoying issue, as it took the game about 10 seconds to reload a checkpoint, which isn't that bad but on tough parts when I died over and over again it got on my nerves.

    That's it though, and eventually, these things are fully forgiven, as this game gave me a strong and interesting experience, and left a very good impression on me.
    Seems to me like the devs really worked with their heart and soul on this one, and I hope they'd work on more things like that.    … Expand
  61. OHIC
    Jul 17, 2014
    9
    Firstly, ignore the title. This is not the 'Merica Eff Yeah game that you might imagine it to be. It is not a simplistic machismo party. This is the war shooter for people who hate war shooters... me, really.

    This is exactly the kind of game that many PC fundamentalists hate for being "consolised". It's built for the XBox gamepad, and I strongly recommend you play it that way. The    Firstly, ignore the title. This is not the 'Merica Eff Yeah game that you might imagine it to be. It is not a simplistic machismo party. This is the war shooter for people who hate war shooters... me, really.

    This is exactly the kind of game that many PC fundamentalists hate for being "consolised". It's built for the XBox gamepad, and I strongly recommend you play it that way. The graphics are nice enough, but they're not refined for PC at all; with a GTX770 4GB, I'm still seeing stripy shadows across characters' skin.

    It's a shame to crucify this game over technical points though. I'm scoring it so highly because it's a rare war shooter that has a truly interesting story. Of course, every army game out there tries to inject sophistication into its story, usually by adding betrayal. This game does something different that genuinely stands up as more than just "a good story for a game". It begins with the "Heart of Darkness" stylings of Apocalypse Now, and then runs off with them in a different direction. If you can overlook the fact that you're palpably playing a console game via your PC, give it a try.    … Expand
  62. Papa6
    Aug 4, 2014
    10
    I really see all the great in the game,the gameplay,the story the weapons everything is amazing!
    Highly recommended and I want to say that this story can relly have shocking ending if you play it right!
  63. Vzhik
    May 29, 2016
    7
    Неожиданно всё хорошо. Подача сюжета, боёвка, атмосфера. Очень способствует погружению внутриигровое обсуждение сложных выборов игрока, музыка, постоянная пустыня. Давно в шутеры не играл, а тут такой подарочек. Не ожидал, что в шутере можно так в сюжет и атмосферу погрузиться.Неожиданно всё хорошо. Подача сюжета, боёвка, атмосфера. Очень способствует погружению внутриигровое обсуждение сложных выборов игрока, музыка, постоянная пустыня. Давно в шутеры не играл, а тут такой подарочек. Не ожидал, что в шутере можно так в сюжет и атмосферу погрузиться.
  64. Baseballllls
    Mar 12, 2015
    9
    After finishing this game, I must say... The characters in this, will DEFINITELY have some PTSD. Extremely fun video game, plenty of action, the only negative I can say about it.. The game goes on continuously without stopping, so there is no customization, upgrading weapons, or anything. This game aside from that, is awesome. I enjoyed it alot more than call of duty.

    This game is kind    After finishing this game, I must say... The characters in this, will DEFINITELY have some PTSD. Extremely fun video game, plenty of action, the only negative I can say about it.. The game goes on continuously without stopping, so there is no customization, upgrading weapons, or anything. This game aside from that, is awesome. I enjoyed it alot more than call of duty.

    This game is kind of short as well. If it's $19.99 and below, I say pick it up! If it costs anymore than that, wait for it to get a little cheaper.. Doesn't seem like it'd have much replay value, unless it has online play    … Expand
  65. pratikgorasia
    Dec 6, 2015
    10
    wow !!
    beautiful
    brutal
    thriller
    amazing story
    great shooter
    tremendous gameplay
    cinematic experience
    yager please develop more games
    eagerly waiting for dreadnought
  66. WillPlayForFood
    Jul 7, 2015
    7
    Do yourself a favor, play this game on the easiest setting possible. Enjoy the great story, the great dialogues both from your mates and the enemy soldiers. Enjoy the desperate and sorrow desert swallowing soldiers whole like meat. Enjoy the fun moments, when your not concerned about war.
    Because when it comes to gameplay it's depressingly lacking. The run/cover system is really clunky    Do yourself a favor, play this game on the easiest setting possible. Enjoy the great story, the great dialogues both from your mates and the enemy soldiers. Enjoy the desperate and sorrow desert swallowing soldiers whole like meat. Enjoy the fun moments, when your not concerned about war.
    Because when it comes to gameplay it's depressingly lacking. The run/cover system is really clunky and unoptimized. But you can get over everything except the AI, your teammates are constantly in suicide mode. They will go under enemy fire without cover and surrounded by enemies dying like flies for no reason, they won't be able to cover your back, EVER, not even from a single enemy.
    Just play it safe, in the retarded setting, just enjoy it as a movie where you sometimes have to mash buttons to proceed.    … Expand
  67. VadiatioDuelli
    Sep 10, 2015
    9
    Finishing the campaign in Spec Ops: The Line, was something that I wanted to do because the game always made me want to come back for more, to find out what happens next in the story. However, as you progress, the plot becomes darker and darker. Set backs and utter tragedies experienced by your character increase in both frequency and gravity as the story unwinds.

    I kept thinking that    Finishing the campaign in Spec Ops: The Line, was something that I wanted to do because the game always made me want to come back for more, to find out what happens next in the story. However, as you progress, the plot becomes darker and darker. Set backs and utter tragedies experienced by your character increase in both frequency and gravity as the story unwinds.

    I kept thinking that there would be some sort of victory at the conclusion of the campaign -- alas, no. Almost everyone is dead, and your character is torn to **** mentally. The game does a good job of demonstrating a couple of eternal truths: (1) war is utterly horrible, and (2) "the road to hell is paved with good intentions."

    Despite some of the depressing plot elements, I did very much enjoy playing this game. 9/10.    … Expand
  68. TheBabyBuster
    Feb 5, 2018
    8
    It's been nearly six entire years since the release of this game, I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with it, I don't blame myself or anyone for looking past this game, this game came out when there was a flood of modern shooters with generic story lines.

    Something that keeps Spec Ops fresh is the twists and turns the main character goes through, and the questions he's asking himself and    It's been nearly six entire years since the release of this game, I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with it, I don't blame myself or anyone for looking past this game, this game came out when there was a flood of modern shooters with generic story lines.

    Something that keeps Spec Ops fresh is the twists and turns the main character goes through, and the questions he's asking himself and you inevitably will be asking yourself nearing the twelfth chapter.

    The story is told through the perspective of a captain leading his squad of three on a rescue mission that quickly gets thrown off course and sets the mood for the rest of the game. The banter between the three characters is never really repetitive or annoying, but it gets to the point where you'd just like them to not have to comment on everything.

    The weapon selection isn't the greatest but I never found myself deviating far from the M4, as it was the most reliable (not that it would have really mattered), but if you do find yourself getting tired of using the same gun over and over, there is definitely a replacement just around the next corner, or checkpoint.

    The game play while not the best does a very stand up job keeping you satisfied with every click of the mouse, and every stroke of the keys (the key mapping was kind of terrible), I never once had trouble with the camera looking where I didn't want it, or my character going a way I didn't intend for him to go.

    while this game is short coming in with a whopping fifteen chapters, each being about twenty to forty minutes in length, this game is perfect for the price you'll find on steam during one of the many sales.    … Expand
  69. Wiebe
    Feb 26, 2020
    6
    Gameplay was alright, but the story sucked. How do people find this to be a good story? There was almost nothing there, just a 'mystery' and a obvious 'plot twist'.
  70. muzmuz
    Apr 12, 2020
    7
    This cannot be more of a generic third person shooter (albeit with cranky controls) than it already is, but that's not the main selling point of this game. Spec Ops: The Line is crafted to drop jaws with its plot twists and diverge from the usual pattern of a military story, giving players the opportunity to glance at the bitter realities of a soldier going through war.
  71. Larion
    Nov 11, 2015
    10
    I think this is the best game I've ever played. It's third person shooter with perfect story that isn't only in back of the game. After you finish this game your thinking about shooters will change. You can play it just once and still you'll remember this game for long years. Hell you should go and buy this game right now.
  72. agurczuk
    Jan 6, 2017
    6
    A fairly standard third person cover based shooter with an interesting story it fails to deliver correctly.

    This game has its moments. Three of them to be exact. First of them being sand falling through the window for the very first time. Second is a single scene that would include spoilers and an epilogue. Outside of that it's pretty forgettable. The graphics are nice although a bit    A fairly standard third person cover based shooter with an interesting story it fails to deliver correctly.

    This game has its moments. Three of them to be exact. First of them being sand falling through the window for the very first time. Second is a single scene that would include spoilers and an epilogue. Outside of that it's pretty forgettable.

    The graphics are nice although a bit dull with all the sand and not much space to roam about. The level design is extremely linear and there's next to no room to maneuver. All you do is follow a set path, cover behind obstacles and shoot the opponents.

    The story is strange. You start in Dubai not really understanding why you're there, what happened and what exactly you're trying to achieve. For whatever reason you need to shoot your fellow Americans, there's CIA involved and you're not exactly sure what's going on. In the larger scheme I think the game tries to do something like Apocalypse Now but I wasn't sold on it. It wasn't bad though. There's a big plot twist near the end but it's nothing you can figure out along the way.

    The gameplay as mentioned is forgettable. It gets a bit better towards the end but feels really boring for the first half of the game. The AI is extremely stupid. You hide behind the cover and enemies come in waves. You kill some, another bunch comes and so on until there's no one left. You progress further and repeat the same thing over again.

    It's a good thing that this game is fairly short and I enjoyed the cinematics for the most part. Good if you're up for some mindless shooting.    … Expand
  73. suiode
    Jul 20, 2016
    9
    Spec Ops: The Line starts out with what feels like any other shooter. Like a scene right out of Aladdin. Except the magic carpet is a helicopter, the singing is machine gun fire, and the whole new world is shooting other helicopters. What really threw me off is that your squad mates are actually interesting. They face some moral dilemmas while you're doing your typical video game shooterSpec Ops: The Line starts out with what feels like any other shooter. Like a scene right out of Aladdin. Except the magic carpet is a helicopter, the singing is machine gun fire, and the whole new world is shooting other helicopters. What really threw me off is that your squad mates are actually interesting. They face some moral dilemmas while you're doing your typical video game shooter thing but what really threw me off is that the comic relief actually made me chuckle a few times.… Expand
  74. Fault-boy
    Jul 18, 2018
    8
    Amazing story, a gameplay that almost ruins it.
    Spec Ops: The Line falls short in it's gameplay, although not entirely unoriginal (sand mechanics and fake grenades were interesting at least) feels generic and rough to play.
    The plot is completely apart of the gameplay in terms of quality, although not perfect as many say, is an engaging and involving military tale, which is presented    Amazing story, a gameplay that almost ruins it.
    Spec Ops: The Line falls short in it's gameplay, although not entirely unoriginal (sand mechanics and fake grenades were interesting at least) feels generic and rough to play.
    The plot is completely apart of the gameplay in terms of quality, although not perfect as many say, is an engaging and involving military tale, which is presented with a rare maturity seen in games.    … Expand
  75. dandalis
    Oct 27, 2016
    8
    Not the most refined 3rd person shooter, but it works. Have to mention the insane difficulty spikes that occur, on FUBAR difficulty setting game is just impossible to play when youre being thrown at with hordes of enemies in set piece moments, its pretty much means insta death. When it comes to using cover game depending on cover type wont allow you to stay long in it since some of it getsNot the most refined 3rd person shooter, but it works. Have to mention the insane difficulty spikes that occur, on FUBAR difficulty setting game is just impossible to play when youre being thrown at with hordes of enemies in set piece moments, its pretty much means insta death. When it comes to using cover game depending on cover type wont allow you to stay long in it since some of it gets destroyed or enemy rushes you, so you cant be lazy and do all the work from behind cover. Your AI squad mates are competent enough to stay in cover and take out enemies when under orders, but can struggle at times. Jaeger makes really good use of the UE3 and has made a very good looking and running game on the PC.

    Where this game really pulls ahead of other military shooters is its mature and pretty unique to the genre story. Deeper you go the more mind bending it gets with plot twists and turns. Saying more about it would spoil it.

    Easily can reccomend this for people who love a good story in a shooter over fancy gameplay mechanics.    … Expand
  76. EddieMaiden
    Mar 2, 2019
    9
    I know I'm late after 7 years, but GOD DAAMN this is a good game.
    I'm giving it a 9 because gameplay wise is nothing special.
    Story wise on the other hand is amazing.
    This is a hidden gem, go play it.
  77. Laer
    Mar 14, 2017
    7
    Un juego que trata la guerra desde un punto de vista más real, crudo, alejándose de aquellas americanadas (tanto películas como juegos), y donde tratan de enseñar de una manera más correcta lo que ocurre en este tipo de sucesos.

    Había escuchado que era sin duda algo único, y en cierto modo es verdad, pero tiene varios problemas que a mi me han chirriado un poco. Aunque quiera contar una    Un juego que trata la guerra desde un punto de vista más real, crudo, alejándose de aquellas americanadas (tanto películas como juegos), y donde tratan de enseñar de una manera más correcta lo que ocurre en este tipo de sucesos.

    Había escuchado que era sin duda algo único, y en cierto modo es verdad, pero tiene varios problemas que a mi me han chirriado un poco. Aunque quiera contar una historia más seria, en ciertos puntos carece de esa fuerza, pues exiten ocasiones en las que creo que deberían haber explorado más ciertas áreas, pero en vez de eso, simplemente ponen una linea recta donde aparecen enemigos por que " ¡HE, somos un shooter, tenemos que poner objetivos para matar!". Ademas de que en ciertas ocasiones creo que la música sobra. Algunas veces para mostrar algo cruel no se necesita una música melancólica, y en otras, esa música creada para motivar la escena quitan sentido a la misma (aunque creo entender por que, ya que intenta "burlarse" de esas americanadas que he dicho al principio).

    Sin embargo, no quiero dejar un mal sabor de boca con este análisis, pues este es el camino correcto a la hora de hacer una campaña en condiciones. Tiene fallos, si, pero creo que han sido más por temor a aburrir como videojuego, que por la historia que querían contar.    … Expand
  78. Diugo
    Mar 18, 2022
    9
    The gameplay has things to be desired. Its fun, but not perfect, kinda clunky sometimes even. But the story and the experience are something that sets it apart from other games. On your second playthrough youll see that there is a lot of foreshadowing that on your first playthrough you think nothing about, and on the second it all clicks together. This game is raw in making you feel theThe gameplay has things to be desired. Its fun, but not perfect, kinda clunky sometimes even. But the story and the experience are something that sets it apart from other games. On your second playthrough youll see that there is a lot of foreshadowing that on your first playthrough you think nothing about, and on the second it all clicks together. This game is raw in making you feel the reprocutions of war and being a soldier. And tells this in a way that will blow your mind when revealed. Story is amazingly written and very clever. The gameplay, while not being perfect, still fun and challenging. A piece of art but rough around the edges.… Expand
  79. Diegochocho
    Jul 5, 2018
    8
    Al principio me aburría este juego, pero a medida que ibas pasando la historia se volvía mucho mejor, y ese final POR DIOOOOOS!!!
  80. jemmy916
    Aug 2, 2018
    9
    this game is a definition of "underrated". the story is a masterpiece . the gameplay is not that bad. its playable.
  81. Ryuail
    Feb 1, 2020
    9
    I was late to this game, picked it up for next to nothing on sale. Now I feel like I need to write a check to development team for somehow making a military shoot-bang hoo-rah game into a proper piece of art.

    How the game makes you always descend during a section without ruining the spacial awareness of the player is impressive in its own right. But what I find most fascinating about    I was late to this game, picked it up for next to nothing on sale. Now I feel like I need to write a check to development team for somehow making a military shoot-bang hoo-rah game into a proper piece of art.

    How the game makes you always descend during a section without ruining the spacial awareness of the player is impressive in its own right.
    But what I find most fascinating about Spec Ops: The Line is that they retold the story of Heart of Darkness, in the middle of the "War on Terror" and somehow didn't get nailed to a cross by fanatical think piece pugnents.    … Expand
  82. trikitronix
    Dec 6, 2017
    10
    Great game. I liked it a lot when i played some years ago, and re-discovering it now in 4K.

    This game in 4K as absolutely amazing, is like having a new game for sure.
  83. Gugul
    Jul 12, 2018
    10
    At first, this game may seem like a generic TPS-Gears of War-like
    But its main point is based on a campaign unlike all the other indistinguishible shooters in the market.
    -You will have to trust me in this one because i dont want to tell any spoilers of the story- but its absolutely amazing, personally is the best of a modern combat ambientation, the only problem is that it is WAY too    At first, this game may seem like a generic TPS-Gears of War-like
    But its main point is based on a campaign unlike all the other indistinguishible shooters in the market.
    -You will have to trust me in this one because i dont want to tell any spoilers of the story- but its absolutely amazing, personally is the best of a modern combat ambientation, the only problem is that it is WAY too short, i completed the story in 7 hours and that kinda dissapointed me, but thats the only trouble with this game
    Many people complain about the gameplay, that its generic and doesnt bring something else to the genre, but its absolutelly justificated to kill everyone in the stage because this game is about the repercussions of war and making the player feel like they are criminals and thats enough reason to let pass the lack of innovation.
    This game can seem a little expensive for a 7 hours experience and a multiplayer which no one is playing because is absolute trash, but i find myself repeating this game over and over again just for the story at the point that i have 50 hours of gameplay.
    If you think games should be respected and manufactured as art, this game is for you
    If not, you can still buy it because its fun to play and -at least on PC- has pretty good graphics and performance    … Expand
  84. LoletinAlexis
    Jun 3, 2018
    8
    A story that hurts, that transmits, that makes you feel what the real and horrible war is. It's that story that you'll rarely see in a video game, because it's a story that stabs you.
  85. Gaming_Bear
    Aug 22, 2023
    5
    Very Sticky controls. it took away from the game too much. There are "tough" decisions to make in the game, but you are so railroaded that they are hardly decisions. The story could have been something amazing, but because of the game play issues and railroading, it just was not worth it.
  86. SuperBoi22
    Feb 15, 2018
    10
    To kill for yourself is murder. To kill for your government is heroic. To kill for entertainment is harmless.
  87. Silvermahdi
    Jul 5, 2021
    10
    یک ناهنجاری در صنعت بازی‌های ویدئویی. تجربه‌ی این اثر رو هرگز از دست ندید
  88. RustyCoin
    Feb 25, 2018
    10
    This game is masterpiece. Absolutely one of the best stories that PC game have ever offered. It's so immersive, it's so damn good. Yes, there is some downsides - one of them is the gameplay, which personally for me isn't a problem actually, but for some people are, cause it's call of duty-ish (only in third person) gameplay, where your group of three people goes into the warzone, stands upThis game is masterpiece. Absolutely one of the best stories that PC game have ever offered. It's so immersive, it's so damn good. Yes, there is some downsides - one of them is the gameplay, which personally for me isn't a problem actually, but for some people are, cause it's call of duty-ish (only in third person) gameplay, where your group of three people goes into the warzone, stands up against the whole army and kills all of 'em, but I find it pretty fun and quite challenging on fubar difficulty. Other minus is that there is no Anti-aliasing option in-game, but that's not a big problem too cause it can be solved quickly with Nvidia Inspector. In conclusion, this product is definitely worth buying, even in 2018, only for the storyline itself, because I'm telling you, the plot twist in this game is outstanding. One of the best PC games I have ever played.… Expand
  89. moistcake123
    May 2, 2018
    10
    Very few games have achieved the level of mind **** that Spec Ops: The Line has.

    From a gameplay perspective, it's a very basic cover based 3rd-person shooter. The gameplay is purposely boring, almost even a chore at times, but it's all to convey the fantastic story and themes. Spec Ops wants you to think about why you enjoy killing virtual people, it wants you to consider if your    Very few games have achieved the level of mind **** that Spec Ops: The Line has.

    From a gameplay perspective, it's a very basic cover based 3rd-person shooter. The gameplay is purposely boring, almost even a chore at times, but it's all to convey the fantastic story and themes. Spec Ops wants you to think about why you enjoy killing virtual people, it wants you to consider if your actions are forced by the gameplay or out of your own choice. It does these things better than any other game I've seen.

    Length wise: it is pretty short. Playing on the normal difficulty I was able to beat it in 4 hours. Though it has some good replay value, with 4 different endings and plenty of choice driven sections. Additionally there are a small amount of collectibles that are worth searching for that add to the extremely interesting world Spec Ops has built.

    I would highly recommend picking this game up if you're even the slightest bit interested. A must buy if it's on sale. You are doing yourself a disservice by not playing this game.    … Expand
  90. DOLLAR_376
    Aug 6, 2020
    7
    Spec Ops: The Line is a great 3rd person shooter that shines in its story, which is surprisingly deep, and in its gameplay, which is fun to play. The only downside are its lenght and a generic multiplayer, but it is worth on sale.
  91. Jucarock
    Apr 28, 2018
    8
    When i was playing this game, it was just a normal game. But I kept observing the things written on the walls, the images and I knew there was something wrong there, but I did not know what it was. The gameplay is normal, is a good shooter. Graphics is good too, but the story... You MUST to play by the story, my friends.
  92. KARF4GEN
    May 11, 2018
    9
    Если пережить коробочное управление и не терять нити повествования, можно понять - это восхитительный шутер с глубочайшим сюжетом.
    Война меняет людей, но еще сильнее меняет людей желания остаться на ней не убийцей, а героем.
    Поиграете поймете, о чем я говорю..    Если пережить коробочное управление и не терять нити повествования, можно понять - это восхитительный шутер с глубочайшим сюжетом.
    Война меняет людей, но еще сильнее меняет людей желания остаться на ней не убийцей, а героем.
    Поиграете поймете, о чем я говорю..
  93. davekinf
    May 20, 2018
    8
    I am able to say it is one of the shooters that i enjoy playing the campaing more than the multiplayer.
  94. RealNova
    Jul 16, 2021
    6
    The plot doesnt make sense, the gameplay, even tho is enjoyable brings absolutly nothing new, just go to point A to point B, shoot all the baddies and to the next stage which works the same. Music is unexisting. Only positive thing is the setting which is very fascinating but that is alsoa bit useless since it's not open world. There is no emotion ever, which pick a rifle and shoot, I wasThe plot doesnt make sense, the gameplay, even tho is enjoyable brings absolutly nothing new, just go to point A to point B, shoot all the baddies and to the next stage which works the same. Music is unexisting. Only positive thing is the setting which is very fascinating but that is alsoa bit useless since it's not open world. There is no emotion ever, which pick a rifle and shoot, I was bored at the final stages.… Expand
  95. Jackermy
    Sep 15, 2020
    8
    Spec Ops: The Line is the first shooter with a deep storyline that I played. This game is based on the story and psychological problems of soldiers. the atmosphere is great, but sometimes music breaks it. Every choice in this game is hard and with the heaviest consequences. The game is playing on your feelings and tells us "Grey" morale.
    So, why is it not 10? At first - this is a shooter    Spec Ops: The Line is the first shooter with a deep storyline that I played. This game is based on the story and psychological problems of soldiers. the atmosphere is great, but sometimes music breaks it. Every choice in this game is hard and with the heaviest consequences. The game is playing on your feelings and tells us "Grey" morale.
    So, why is it not 10? At first - this is a shooter and it was made very bad. The guns are like made from the plastic and you don't have any weapon recoil. Also, the gameplay is boring. All that you need - to shoot AIs that seldom do something stupid.
    But I highly recommend you play this game to feel the sensations that I felt.    … Expand
  96. abidincavus
    Jul 14, 2018
    9
    bir TPS oyuna göre aşırı iyi bir senaryosu var. hem oynanış olarak hem senaryo olarak çok iyi.
  97. aralath
    Aug 7, 2018
    9
    Underrated as hell. Very cool game with mechanics, story, endings and all...
  98. Kotofon
    Dec 27, 2021
    6
    Spec Ops: The Line — шутер от третьего лица, объединяющий под собой напряженные перестрелки и командную механику ведения боя. Игрок возглавляет отряд из трех персонажей — капитана Мартина Уокера, лейтенанта Адамса и сержанта Люго. Каждый из них имеет уникальный характер, особые умения и роль, которую они играют в этой мрачной реалистичной истории о темной стороне войны, где нет добрыхSpec Ops: The Line — шутер от третьего лица, объединяющий под собой напряженные перестрелки и командную механику ведения боя. Игрок возглавляет отряд из трех персонажей — капитана Мартина Уокера, лейтенанта Адамса и сержанта Люго. Каждый из них имеет уникальный характер, особые умения и роль, которую они играют в этой мрачной реалистичной истории о темной стороне войны, где нет добрых поступков, а есть только тяжелые решения. По мере завершения миссий становятся доступны новые виды оружия и экипировки. В дополнение ко всему, пустынное окружение Дубая привнесено в игру с помощью потрясающего уровня графики, а песчаные бури активно влияют на построение уровней и могут как помогать в прохождении, так и стать непреодолимым препятствием. Вертикали огромных небоскребов Дубая так же обеспечивают тактические преимущества как для игрока, так и для его противников. Многопользовательские кампании содержат в себе новые режимы и необычные ситуации и окружения, расширяющие ощущения после прохождения одиночной игры.… Expand
  99. greenbey
    Jun 27, 2020
    8
    A
    Visual violence and atmosphere is top tier.
    Gameplay is nothing special, 3rd person cover shooter.
    Story is very good.
    You feel like you have options but you don't and its sometimes disappointing.
  100. ElCucuy
    Nov 20, 2019
    7
    По геймплею типичный шутан от третьего лица, средней руки, после прохождения которого вы даже про него не вспомните.

    И это было бы именно так, если бы не здешний сюжет. Он может поразить, удивить, и даже шокировать. Это единственное произведение от мира игр, которое можно поставить в один ряд с "Апокалипсис сегодня" Копполы. Это серьёзное и жёсткое высказывание на тему войны. Будьте    По геймплею типичный шутан от третьего лица, средней руки, после прохождения которого вы даже про него не вспомните.

    И это было бы именно так, если бы не здешний сюжет. Он может поразить, удивить, и даже шокировать. Это единственное произведение от мира игр, которое можно поставить в один ряд с "Апокалипсис сегодня" Копполы. Это серьёзное и жёсткое высказывание на тему войны. Будьте уверены, некоторые сцены отсюда запомнятся вам надолго, а некоторым, может быть, вообще будут сниться в кошмарах, это игра точно не для детей.

    Итог - 7.5 из 10. В будущем надеюсь на высокобюджетное продолжение или ремейк.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

81
#81 Best PC Game of 2012
22
#22 Most Discussed PC Game of 2012
14
#14 Most Shared PC Game of 2012

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. Pelit (Finland)
    Oct 13, 2012
    80
    Spec Ops: The Line tries new and interesting ground on storytelling, but falls short on the action department. Still, it's worth playing through for the atmosphere and few different endings alone. [Aug 2012]
  2. PC Master (Greece)
    Aug 31, 2012
    89
    Were it not for some technical issues and console-related shortcomings (gamepad controls and no anti-aliasing), Spec Ops: The Line would be one of the best games for 2012. But, things being as they are, it remains merely a diamond in the rough, destined for wicked crazy status within the following years. Definitely superior to the related series of Kane & Lynch, it proves that, with a steady vision and soul, a genre so clichéd like military shooters, can not only surprise us pleasantly, but totally overwhelm us. [August 2012]
  3. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Aug 10, 2012
    70
    Expectations were greater than game could have achieved. Yet the new Spec Ops game is a good excuse to stay home and play. [Issue#220]
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