Spec Ops the Line (Xbox 360)

Spec Ops released in 2012 and was a game I was left wanting from the moment I saw it. It's a third person shooter set in Dubai.

You play as Martin Walker, sent on a scouting mission for survivors after deathly sandstorms hit Dubai. Sent in with Delta squad members Adams and Lugo, their journey to Hell begins. This is a shooter, but it's got a real story, it's shockingly good and has some intense themes.

The landscape is beautiful, it would've been nice to explore the area of Dubai, but it's not that time of game. As shooters go, there's nothing new here really, good mechanics with cover and guns, you're able to crouch down while using a turret and there's a nice supply of weapons. You can use sand as a weapon too, sand trapped behind glass is a great way to dispatch of enemies as the sand sweeps like an avalanche.

Delta squad are toyed with throughout the entire game, by the man on the radio, the voice of the rogue unit occupied in Dubai. Often during your gun battles, he plays fitting music and pumps up the action scenes very well. The three man team must battle with the dangerous locals, as well as the 33rd battalion, who have taken over Dubai and exiled the failed coup members. There is a fantastic twist that is hidden throughout and some very heavy scenes. Story was the focus and they done a brilliant job.

There are choice you can make during the story, ultimately they don't change the outcome of the story or make a big difference during, but they make you think of the consequences. The graphics of the environment are fantastic, amazing sun glare and the sandstorms do a great job of making you feel claustrophobic and blind. The facial graphics aren't too bad either, but the voice acting is sublime. Hearing the tone of your team's feelings change is extraordinary, and how their relationship changes through this devastating journey.

There are very few stealth sections, they let you use a silencer but they're far too frequent. You can also do melee takedowns on downed enemies, but there's little point as they won't be getting back up anyway. You have to play on hard before you can unlock the fourth difficulty, Fubar. It's annoying I couldn't try on the hardest difficulty, but hard was certainly challenging at points, but definitely doable.

I don't want to go into the story too much, because it's worth exploring and it's an excellent story in a game where you wouldn't expect it. This was one of my top games back in 2012, and it still holds up today. If you missed this one, go back to it because it's worth it.

8.2/10