Another stereotypical run-and-gun military story about a hero saving the day is what I expected going into this, but that is far from what you get from this game. Instead, you are dealt with an emotionally gripping story that shows you the true horror of war, a realistic adaption that doesn't shy away from being dark.
The narrative of the game is beautifully written and the twist at the end of the game is unexpected and really opens the player's eyes up. I won't spoil what it is, but when it hits, it hits hard. It is honestly in my opinion one of the best I have ever experienced. It left a lasting impression on me long after, and if a game does that, best believe I am holding it in high regard.
So why isn't the game a 10/10? Well purely because of the gameplay. It's very mediocre and there is nothing special about it. But that's not the selling point of this game, the outstanding story is. If you want a game to make you think, then play this underrated masterpiece immediately.
The narrative of the game is beautifully written and the twist at the end of the game is unexpected and really opens the player's eyes up. I won't spoil what it is, but when it hits, it hits hard. It is honestly in my opinion one of the best I have ever experienced. It left a lasting impression on me long after, and if a game does that, best believe I am holding it in high regard.
So why isn't the game a 10/10? Well purely because of the gameplay. It's very mediocre and there is nothing special about it. But that's not the selling point of this game, the outstanding story is. If you want a game to make you think, then play this underrated masterpiece immediately.
5 Comments
@RedBackLoggd Understandable and I do agree to an extent. Some of set up to the plot has obviously been exaggerated in order to make it possible. I think the reason Walker is allowed to do the things he does is because he has almost gone AWOL due to no contact to the outside of Dubai in the story. If the military found out what he had committed, he would be considered a war criminal no doubt about it. The lack of media presence is down to the fact Dubai has been considered a lost cause, but I do see your point. I think the Radioman character was originally a journalist so I guess most of them were either killed by the 33rd Insurgents or left.
I guess when I mention realism, it’s more about the nature of war and how it is for soldiers. Call of Duty and Battlefield never lean into that dark and gruesome aspect of it and try to keep it a bit more tame (with occasional dark missions like No Russians).
Actually I disagree with your last point because other than the White Phosphorous scene, the player had a choice. You didn’t need to overstep the line, you could have shot in the sky and scared them away. You didn’t need to make a choice, you could have walked away. You didn’t need to keep playing, but you did. You played because you wanted to satisfy your need for an ending, you shot the civilians because at the time the emotions overwhelmed you. It almost mirroring the player with Walker. Walker wanted to be a hero and you the player wanted a heroic ending, but you both didn’t think about the damage you were causing along the way.
I guess when I mention realism, it’s more about the nature of war and how it is for soldiers. Call of Duty and Battlefield never lean into that dark and gruesome aspect of it and try to keep it a bit more tame (with occasional dark missions like No Russians).
Actually I disagree with your last point because other than the White Phosphorous scene, the player had a choice. You didn’t need to overstep the line, you could have shot in the sky and scared them away. You didn’t need to make a choice, you could have walked away. You didn’t need to keep playing, but you did. You played because you wanted to satisfy your need for an ending, you shot the civilians because at the time the emotions overwhelmed you. It almost mirroring the player with Walker. Walker wanted to be a hero and you the player wanted a heroic ending, but you both didn’t think about the damage you were causing along the way.
@RedBackLoggd On the white phosphorus chapter the game oddly enough did let me stay near the refugees, but there was no way of saving them. I don't know if that was a glitch or not since it was my first playthrough.
After that I truly felt a disconnection with the game as a whole, so I started treating it more like a linear story about the downfall of a man that never had a choice to begin with, like he was walking a set path to nowhere, that made it better. I never really felt bad for my choices since I never had really one to begin with but I still enjoyed the story overall.
After that I truly felt a disconnection with the game as a whole, so I started treating it more like a linear story about the downfall of a man that never had a choice to begin with, like he was walking a set path to nowhere, that made it better. I never really felt bad for my choices since I never had really one to begin with but I still enjoyed the story overall.
Yeah, now that you mention it, I had forgotten the game was set in a kind apocalyptic setting and not the real world country, so I'll rescind the media comments. You're also correct that Walker does go AWOL- it's been some time, but IIRC I didn't find his reasoning for abandoning the military command to be believable, but I'll concede I should replay the title before I make a firm statement.
Yeah, I'll agree with you there- CoD is generally more arcadey in terms of how it handles warfare. I will say a big exception is the MW reboot, which I really enjoyed and which took warfare much more seriously. Idk how the sequels played out.
I never shot the civilians actually haha. But I'm talking about the bigger scenes regardless- you mentioned the White Phosphorous, then there's attacking the rebels who are actually on your side, helping that crazy guy ruin the water supply, some more I'm no doubt missing.
The thing is, I think video game commentary about the nature of playing a game fundamentally fails because the point of a game is to be played: if the purpose of your game is to say it shouldn't have been played, then that's just very flawed logic IMO.
The commentary should be about player actions- things that the player has control over and opts to engage with. You brought up No Russian in a counter sense, but I honestly think it does a better job than Spec Ops because you genuinely don't have to kill any civilians (the security guards, yes), yet most players opted to do so (unless you were in Germany/Japan/Oz where I believe the option was taken away). That to me is a more interesting player's choice commentary than a game that tricks you into doing atrocities and then chides you in the loading screen texts.
What you said about Walker is pristine. I agree it works as a subverted hero's journey; where I disagree is in the metacommentary.
Yeah, I'll agree with you there- CoD is generally more arcadey in terms of how it handles warfare. I will say a big exception is the MW reboot, which I really enjoyed and which took warfare much more seriously. Idk how the sequels played out.
I never shot the civilians actually haha. But I'm talking about the bigger scenes regardless- you mentioned the White Phosphorous, then there's attacking the rebels who are actually on your side, helping that crazy guy ruin the water supply, some more I'm no doubt missing.
The thing is, I think video game commentary about the nature of playing a game fundamentally fails because the point of a game is to be played: if the purpose of your game is to say it shouldn't have been played, then that's just very flawed logic IMO.
The commentary should be about player actions- things that the player has control over and opts to engage with. You brought up No Russian in a counter sense, but I honestly think it does a better job than Spec Ops because you genuinely don't have to kill any civilians (the security guards, yes), yet most players opted to do so (unless you were in Germany/Japan/Oz where I believe the option was taken away). That to me is a more interesting player's choice commentary than a game that tricks you into doing atrocities and then chides you in the loading screen texts.
What you said about Walker is pristine. I agree it works as a subverted hero's journey; where I disagree is in the metacommentary.
@Moister Yeah I agree brother. Volcanix explained it in detail, but the game definitely works as a subverted hero's journey about good intentions leading to H E double hockey sticks.
RedBackLoggd
4 months ago
Really where the game lost me was when it tried to pin the blame on players for actions that they had no way of knowing. It struck me as pretentious and condescending; that's not moral greyness, that's just curtain hiding. Shadow of the Colossus pulled off what Spec Ops was trying to do much MUCH better without needing 90% as much dialogue.
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