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Jacob Geller: What We Don't Talk About in "Spec Ops The Line"

IbizaPocholo

NeoGAFs Kent Brockman


Can we get a tldr? I'm so broken on YouTube essays
Spec Ops: The Line's legacy and analysis : The game has been extensively analyzed for its critique of military shooters, player agency, and American interventionism. Despite this, certain elements, like the use of war crimes and CIA involvement, remain under-discussed.

White phosphorus as a pivotal moment : The white phosphorus sequence is the game's most-discussed scene, representing the breakdown of moral choices and player agency. However, its use is not just symbolic; it mirrors real-world military debates, particularly regarding its use in Iraq and Vietnam.

Haunted death screens : Twice in the game, unique death screens deviate from the usual format, adding a haunting, surreal layer that breaks the game's rules. These moments challenge the player’s perception of their role in the game and blur the line between player and protagonist.

CIA and cover-up themes : Walker’s destruction of Dubai's water supply, encouraged by a CIA agent, highlights a theme of covering up atrocities rather than facing them. This reflects real-world military actions where devastation
 
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Soodanim

Member
Can we get a tldr? I'm so broken on YouTube essays
Watched it at 1.5x speed. I recommend doing that for most youtubers, they nearly all talk far too slowly.

The thing he's referring to is two missable death screens that are one time, nothing like normal death screens, and the main character sees (when you come out of it he shakes his head). It's an interesting piece of design that contrasts the usual messages directly for the player.

I hadn't seen them myself, so it was interesting to learn about them.

I do recommend the video, even if you skip the rest afterwards when he talks about white phosphorus. He tries to go about it differently than others do, but it's still WP=bad.

Another good one IbizaPocholo IbizaPocholo
 
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WX3

Member
It was cool for a bit and then it wasn't any longer so I didn't finish it. The video that is, the game was awesome!
 
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