Review: Spec Ops: The Line

Moral consequences are so often glossed over in the shooter genre. The standard recipe for most shooters is to mow down hundreds of enemies and emerge from the carnage as a hero. But in 2K's Spec Ops: The Line, the developers at YAGER studios force you to confront the grim, harsh realities of combat in a tale that makes you question your actions on the battlefield.

You play as Captain Martin Walker, who is tasked to search for Colonel John Conrad and his missing unit -- The Damned 33rd -- in the opulent Dubai. As you search the desert, you begin to unearth the atrocities that have turned this once modern-day utopia into a warzone. Along the way you are presented with choices regarding how to tackle specific missions. But unlike other games that make it painfully clear which option is morally just, Spec Ops straddles the line.

One of these moments have you deciding whether to save a soldier who was vital to your overall mission even though rescuing him would come at the cost of some civilians. It's these situations that separate Spec Ops from others in the shooter genre. Witnessing the grizzly outcomes of these choices is such a departure from your normal shoot-first-ask-questions-later titles. These sequences can be so gut wrenching that the developers have sprinkled in some positive reinforcement during reload screens, such as reminding the player that they are a good person where gameplay hints would normally be divulged.

The shooting mechanics are rock solid. Firing weapons feel tight and responsive while the arsenal is varied. Sand plays a huge role in how you can approach a situation. Sandstorms will distort your vision and throwing grenades will not only kill enemies but also kick up sand to blind other foes. Shooting out glass can dump tons of built-up sand on foes, helping you conserve the limited ammo available during the campaign.

But unlike the shooting, the cover system is hit or miss. Walker will sometimes slide into cover while rushing toward a structure but other times will not, leaving you exposed to gunfire. Vaulting over cover and melee is mapped to the same button, which can cause some awkward moments. But these are not gamebreaking issues, more minor gripes.

Multiplayer is the standard fare. There are the staple modes (deathmatch, team deathmatch) and objective-based modes. Killing foes and completing objectives will net you experience points to unlock weapons, perks and gear. But since Spec Ops' strength is the narrative, the multiplayer does little to leave a lasting impact. Overall, multiplayer is up to par but far from the star of the show.

Spec Ops dares to be different in an oversaturated genre. By focusing so much on the campaign, the developers at YAGER have crafted a gritty story that will stay with you long after the credits roll. The choices offer a level of replayability that few campaign shooters can match. Though the multiplayer is solid, it's clearly not a genre-defining experience. The risks the developers took with the story pay dividends, leaving the player questioning their actions every time they pull the trigger. Spec Ops: The Line is available for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC.