Get Spec Ops: The Line for Free

The Humble Store now offers another freebie, as you can pick up a free copy of Spec Ops: The Line for the next 48 hours. The game works on Windows, Linux, and macOS, and fulfillment is handled via a Steam key. Here's a refresher on what to expect from this:
Spec Ops: The Line is an action-packed Third-Person Shooter that delivers heart pounding physically close combat through a squad-based play mechanic. Players lead a team of three characters, Captain Martin Walker, Lieutenant Adams and Sergeant Lugo. Each character has his own distinct personality and specialized skills, and the mature story they each play a role in explores the dark side of war in a realistic way, in which there are no good outcomes, only hard choices. As missions are completed more advanced weapons and equipment are made available. In addition, the desert environment of Dubai is brought into the game in a unique way with stunning visuals, and dynamic sandstorms that actively effect level designs, and which can be used to help and hinder progress. The vertical interiors of Dubai high rise buildings also provide tactical advantages and risks that can used be by players. Multiplayer campaigns bring new modes and unusual situations and environments to expand the single player experience.

Key Features

  • A new portrayal of the military shooter experience with twisting narrative uncertainties.
  • Action packed 3rd Person Shooter gameplay provides an up-close and personal view into the brutality and emotion within the combat.
  • Command an intelligent and powerful squad of Delta-Force soldiers in a dangerous and unpredictable combat zone.
  • Cross “The Line” in a mature story that explores the dark side of war, where there are no bright outcomes, only bad or worse choices.
  • Unique Dubai setting strikes the imagination and transports players to a larger-than-life playground for vertical gameplay and stunning visuals.
  • Sand-filled Dubai provides new gameplay experiences including sand avalanches, and powerful, disorienting sandstorm combat.
  • Customisable, Class-Based, Blazing Multiplayer

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21 Replies. 2 pages. Viewing page 1.
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21.
 
Re: Get Spec Ops: The Line for Free
Mar 31, 2018, 06:03
21.
Re: Get Spec Ops: The Line for Free Mar 31, 2018, 06:03
Mar 31, 2018, 06:03
 
The fact that nearly everyone in this topic liked it and still remembers it tells you a lot more than any spoiler.

Clearly we are all simple minded easy to impress and not at all jaded gamers.

Yeah, that must be it.
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20.
 
Re: Get Spec Ops: The Line for Free
Mar 30, 2018, 16:07
20.
Re: Get Spec Ops: The Line for Free Mar 30, 2018, 16:07
Mar 30, 2018, 16:07
 
Flatline wrote on Mar 30, 2018, 12:03:
Legitimate question- Did you try/hesitate/explore other options before the "twist" happened? I'm willing to bet 99% of people didn't and charged straight into it.

It's been a while since I played it, but IIRC, I stood there for a bit, tried to just ignore the button, tried to jump over the wall and go through the massive blob of red enemies without using a WMD (I mean, why not? I've been mowing down hundreds of bad soldiers up until this point without any issue whatsoever, but because the game tells me that I can't win against this collection of soldiers, I can't?), looked around for a bit, said fuck it and hit the button.

Was there some hidden thing somewhere I was supposed to find? Or maybe just stand there and refuse to go for 10 minutes? I mean, it was funny in Far Cry 4, but from a game design perspective that's just crap. My life is finite. I don't have time to stand still everywhere and see if something will happen.


Also, I'm going to point out that the "twist" isn't even really a twist. It's basically the tonal shift point of the game. And it's foreshadowed in the game.

I called it a twist for lack of a better word. The WP scene as you call it is fine too.

A lot. SPOILER A lot of the things you see in the game even before that point... um... aren't really there. You turn around and backtrack and stuff disappears on you. There's a *lot* of hallucinations that you suffer throughout the game that if you aren't paying attention you never notice. It's just after the WP scene that you disassociate your guilt onto the colonel and things go downhill faster END SPOILER

Eh, it's obvious they're hallucinating by the end, but if that was supposed to make me think that we were hallucinating all the way to the beginning, it failed in that.

Like I said, I did really like the way the three main VAs portrayed their slow descent into madness, that was well acted (and well written.) But it didn't really make me think anything deeper about it than "Well, pretty much everyone would feel this way if they'd just spent the last two days in a non-stop firefight."

As for killing American troops because they fired on you... you... ah... didn't pay attention to that scene did you?

Again, IIRC, I'm walking, talking on the radio, suddenly I'm being fired on. It's a shooter game. I fire back. Story wise, I am there on a mission with backing from the Pentagon, ie, by virtue of the chain of command, I am in charge here. I get shot at, people shooting at me are traitors, and thus get shot.

I re-played it recently and was impressed at how a lot of the complaints about the story were actually me mind-caulking things to put my narrative in a better light. It also turns out that I was remembering the narrative my squad mates were helping create to justify our actions.

Please feel free to put into spoilers what really happened. This is how I remember it. It seemed bog-standard shooter fare to me.


The ending is a little more heavy handed than Bioshock's "A man chooses" scene. And the story isn't perfect, but it's pretty good. A damn sight better than most of the stories that 1st/3rd person shooters offer up.

I thought it was ham-fisted pretentious nonsense, but obviously to each their own.


There's multiple endings too. When you finally confront Konrad explore some of your options. One of them is almost too weird to be real, and lends credence to a theory that SPOILER Walker never survives the helicopter crash in the beginning of the game.

Eh, those theories are always fun at the end, but rarely ever what the devs intended. "Squall dies" is a fantastic theory for FF8 that actually makes the whole game better, but that's not what the devs intended. The Indoctrination Theory would have made Mass Effect 3's ending maybe the most brilliant one ever, but yeah, that's not what the devs intended.

I think players sometimes think devs are WAAAAAAAY better writers than they really are. Most of the times devs just come up with bullshit reasonings after the fact, to hide the fact they wrote a cack story. (Far Cry 3 was a perfect example of this. The guy wrote a shit story, then tried to pretend it was all "Just to make fun of game stories!" Yeah, whatever buddy. You just wrote a shit story that made no sense.)

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19.
 
Re: Get Spec Ops: The Line for Free
Mar 30, 2018, 15:55
19.
Re: Get Spec Ops: The Line for Free Mar 30, 2018, 15:55
Mar 30, 2018, 15:55
 
Drayth wrote on Mar 30, 2018, 09:31:
Creston wrote on Mar 30, 2018, 09:18:
I felt more sorry for killing the poor monkeys in Mass Effect to try to find a piece of Geth tech that they'd stolen.

Uhm, I'm not sure how to break this to you, so I'll just come out and say it - you don't have to kill the monkeys to find the tech in that mission.

It'll be ok... I'm sure their souls forgive you.

What??? :O

I'm sorry, little monkeys. I have killed you needlessly about 17 times. (actually there have been a few where I didn't kill you, but most times I just kill you.)
Avatar 15604
18.
 
Re: Get Spec Ops: The Line for Free
Mar 30, 2018, 15:21
18.
Re: Get Spec Ops: The Line for Free Mar 30, 2018, 15:21
Mar 30, 2018, 15:21
 
Flatline wrote on Mar 30, 2018, 12:08:
Drayth wrote on Mar 30, 2018, 08:56:
I wouldn't say the whole thing rides on the single twist. There's some subtle elements like, EDIT -- nm, even while trying to be vague I felt like I was saying too much.

The "twist" is a tonal shift mainly. I didn't even feel like it was a crux of the story because Spoiler: Walker starts making bad decisions immediately. The plot intentionally blows past the fact that you're on a recon mission and aren't even supposed to interact with anyone- just leave and go get the cavalry if you find survivors. On retrospect, the dude is nuts before he sets foot in Dubai. You can see it in his obsession with Konrad even before the WP mortar thing.

The ending makes pretty clear why Walker did not call the cavalry, he was out for revenge and the mission was never what we was going for here.... and he was a nutjob from the first minute.

The tonal shift and revelation that most of the things Walker saw, that he based all his decisions on, were hallucinations was to me one of the greatest plot twists in the game.


That Creston thinks we mean the mortar scene is the perfect example on why this game never got a sequel btw. You could say the point went over him, but really the scene was maybe too heavy to be easily put aside as a red herring. It's not what I mean with twist though, to me other things play a far bigger role. But yeah.. that would be a really big spoiler.
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17.
 
Re: Get Spec Ops: The Line for Free
Mar 30, 2018, 12:08
17.
Re: Get Spec Ops: The Line for Free Mar 30, 2018, 12:08
Mar 30, 2018, 12:08
 
Drayth wrote on Mar 30, 2018, 08:56:
I wouldn't say the whole thing rides on the single twist. There's some subtle elements like, EDIT -- nm, even while trying to be vague I felt like I was saying too much.

The "twist" is a tonal shift mainly. I didn't even feel like it was a crux of the story because Spoiler: Walker starts making bad decisions immediately. The plot intentionally blows past the fact that you're on a recon mission and aren't even supposed to interact with anyone- just leave and go get the cavalry if you find survivors. On retrospect, the dude is nuts before he sets foot in Dubai. You can see it in his obsession with Konrad even before the WP mortar thing.
16.
 
Re: Get Spec Ops: The Line for Free
Mar 30, 2018, 12:03
16.
Re: Get Spec Ops: The Line for Free Mar 30, 2018, 12:03
Mar 30, 2018, 12:03
 
Creston wrote on Mar 30, 2018, 09:18:
The big "twist" in the middle is not a twist, because you have no other choice EXCEPT TO DO IT.

Well, sure, I guess you could say "I'm not going to do it, I'm going to uninstall the game I paid money for." But there's no choice in game whether you do it or not. That big button is there, and the only way you are proceeding is by hitting that button and initiating the Twist.

That's not storytelling, that's cheap, pretend drama.

Furthermore, the whole "You're shooting American soldiers the whole time! And you're an American soldier!"

Eh, yeah. You're shooting American soldiers because they attack you first. You are defending yourself. By opening fire on American soldiers, that whole outfit commits treason.

Legitimate question- Did you try/hesitate/explore other options before the "twist" happened? I'm willing to bet 99% of people didn't and charged straight into it.

Also, I'm going to point out that the "twist" isn't even really a twist. It's basically the tonal shift point of the game. And it's foreshadowed in the game. A lot. SPOILER A lot of the things you see in the game even before that point... um... aren't really there. You turn around and backtrack and stuff disappears on you. There's a *lot* of hallucinations that you suffer throughout the game that if you aren't paying attention you never notice. It's just after the WP scene that you disassociate your guilt onto the colonel and things go downhill faster END SPOILER

As for killing American troops because they fired on you... you... ah... didn't pay attention to that scene did you? I re-played it recently and was impressed at how a lot of the complaints about the story were actually me mind-caulking things to put my narrative in a better light. It also turns out that I was remembering the narrative my squad mates were helping create to justify our actions.

The ending is a little more heavy handed than Bioshock's "A man chooses" scene. And the story isn't perfect, but it's pretty good. A damn sight better than most of the stories that 1st/3rd person shooters offer up.

For free it's absolutely a should-play. There's a loving amount of detail instilled in the game and the story is better than most games you'll encounter. The 3rd person cover shooter mechanics are basically generic.

There's multiple endings too. When you finally confront Konrad explore some of your options. One of them is almost too weird to be real, and lends credence to a theory that SPOILER Walker never survives the helicopter crash in the beginning of the game.
15.
 
Re: Get Spec Ops: The Line for Free
Mar 30, 2018, 09:31
15.
Re: Get Spec Ops: The Line for Free Mar 30, 2018, 09:31
Mar 30, 2018, 09:31
 
Creston wrote on Mar 30, 2018, 09:18:
I felt more sorry for killing the poor monkeys in Mass Effect to try to find a piece of Geth tech that they'd stolen.

Uhm, I'm not sure how to break this to you, so I'll just come out and say it - you don't have to kill the monkeys to find the tech in that mission.

It'll be ok... I'm sure their souls forgive you.
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14.
 
Re: Get Spec Ops: The Line for Free
Mar 30, 2018, 09:18
14.
Re: Get Spec Ops: The Line for Free Mar 30, 2018, 09:18
Mar 30, 2018, 09:18
 
I thought this game was horribly overhyped. The much vaunted "It really makes you question what you're doing!" storyline is still a giant railroad. The big "twist" in the middle is not a twist, because you have no other choice EXCEPT TO DO IT.

Well, sure, I guess you could say "I'm not going to do it, I'm going to uninstall the game I paid money for." But there's no choice in game whether you do it or not. That big button is there, and the only way you are proceeding is by hitting that button and initiating the Twist.

That's not storytelling, that's cheap, pretend drama.

Furthermore, the whole "You're shooting American soldiers the whole time! And you're an American soldier!"

Eh, yeah. You're shooting American soldiers because they attack you first. You are defending yourself. By opening fire on American soldiers, that whole outfit commits treason.

The shooting itself is okay, the levels are, it has to be said, really gorgeous, and the voice acting is truly top notch. The three VAs really sell the whole psychological aspect of it. But story wise, it's pretty awful. A dev can tell me that this is a Serious Story and You Should Feel Bad, but unless the story actually warrants those feelings and makes me initiate them, it's pointless.

It's literally just as pointless as being told that you're supposed to care about your "dad" in Fallout 3.

I felt more sorry for killing the poor monkeys in Mass Effect to try to find a piece of Geth tech that they'd stolen. I felt nothing for any of these pretend-drama decisions in Spec Ops.

It's free, you'll get 5 hours of value out of free, but all this "Oooh Errr most amazing story ever told!" from fans of this game is inane.
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13.
 
Re: Get Spec Ops: The Line for Free
Mar 30, 2018, 08:56
13.
Re: Get Spec Ops: The Line for Free Mar 30, 2018, 08:56
Mar 30, 2018, 08:56
 
I wouldn't say the whole thing rides on the single twist. There's some subtle elements like, EDIT -- nm, even while trying to be vague I felt like I was saying too much.

To anyone checking this out - just pretend you're playing Mass Effect's second cousin (twice removed and it's mother's side) to get over the standard, 3'rd person shooter mechanics (I felt they did mix up the environments you fight in well enough). The story is what caries this one.

This comment was edited on Mar 30, 2018, 09:26.
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12.
 
Re: Get Spec Ops: The Line for Free
Mar 30, 2018, 08:50
12.
Re: Get Spec Ops: The Line for Free Mar 30, 2018, 08:50
Mar 30, 2018, 08:50
 
It's the one game I've played that transcends the medium and got me to actually ask myself "what am I doing?". It made me feel things I've never felt and it pushed aside my callus disregaurd for a moment and made me think about myself. That my friends is "Art". This game is a rare gem.
11.
 
Re: Get Spec Ops: The Line for Free
Mar 30, 2018, 04:56
11.
Re: Get Spec Ops: The Line for Free Mar 30, 2018, 04:56
Mar 30, 2018, 04:56
 
One of the few shooters were I actually felt something while playing it. Compare that to games like BF1 or the god awful COD games and you get an idea....

In the situation where the big "WTF" happens I also never thought there was any other logical alternative. Which made the reveal all the more sad.
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10.
 
Re: Get Spec Ops: The Line for Free
Mar 30, 2018, 03:25
10.
Re: Get Spec Ops: The Line for Free Mar 30, 2018, 03:25
Mar 30, 2018, 03:25
 
It appears to be a bland cover shooter.

It is not.

It is really, really good.
9.
 
Re: Get Spec Ops: The Line for Free
Mar 30, 2018, 03:16
9.
Re: Get Spec Ops: The Line for Free Mar 30, 2018, 03:16
Mar 30, 2018, 03:16
 
I've started like 3 times and can't make it to the part where it gets good. I want to play it because I know there's a cool twist, but before then it is the exact kind of bland shooter I suspect they are going to make some kind of point about later. Shrug?
8.
 
Re: Get Spec Ops: The Line for Free
Mar 30, 2018, 01:27
8.
Re: Get Spec Ops: The Line for Free Mar 30, 2018, 01:27
Mar 30, 2018, 01:27
 
Drayth wrote on Mar 30, 2018, 00:53:
MattyC wrote on Mar 29, 2018, 23:58:
I mean it is still Zero Punctuation, but I don't think he had sounded that into a review game since Skyrim.

I don't hate all the games he hates, but I like all the games he likes.

That is a good way to put it. If he likes something I pretty much always check it out, even if it doesn't seem like my kind of game.

I intended to post the review, but had a late night brain crash. Here it is.
”Not many people know I owned the first radio in Springfield. Weren’t much on the air then. Just Edison reciting the alphabet over and over. “A,” he’d say. Then “B.” “C” would usually follow."
7.
 
Re: Get Spec Ops: The Line for Free
Mar 30, 2018, 00:53
7.
Re: Get Spec Ops: The Line for Free Mar 30, 2018, 00:53
Mar 30, 2018, 00:53
 
MattyC wrote on Mar 29, 2018, 23:58:
I mean it is still Zero Punctuation, but I don't think he had sounded that into a review game since Skyrim.

I don't hate all the games he hates, but I like all the games he likes.
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6.
 
Re: Get Spec Ops: The Line for Free
Mar 30, 2018, 00:53
6.
Re: Get Spec Ops: The Line for Free Mar 30, 2018, 00:53
Mar 30, 2018, 00:53
 
DangerDog wrote on Mar 30, 2018, 00:42:
ItBurn wrote on Mar 29, 2018, 23:13:
One of the worst games I've ever played. I'd rather play E.T. on the Atari.

That good eh? Well now I have to play this thing. lol

It's the most mediocre and repetitive third person shooting ever. The location is the blandest and brownest ever. The story is all about dropping random names of people and organizations and you don't give a single damn about any of it. The "twist", which is the only reason some people like the game, is a load of overrated BS in my opinion. The best this game can give you is rare instances of gore porn. I'm sorry if I'm hurting the feelings of the people who like this game, but I really hate it Keep liking it and do your thing.
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5.
 
Re: Get Spec Ops: The Line for Free
Mar 30, 2018, 00:42
5.
Re: Get Spec Ops: The Line for Free Mar 30, 2018, 00:42
Mar 30, 2018, 00:42
 
ItBurn wrote on Mar 29, 2018, 23:13:
One of the worst games I've ever played. I'd rather play E.T. on the Atari.

That good eh? Well now I have to play this thing. lol
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4.
 
Re: Get Spec Ops: The Line for Free
Mar 29, 2018, 23:58
4.
Re: Get Spec Ops: The Line for Free Mar 29, 2018, 23:58
Mar 29, 2018, 23:58
 
Drayth wrote on Mar 29, 2018, 23:41:
Very unique game, story wise.

Yep. I picked it up after an unusually positive review by Yahtzee. I mean it is still Zero Punctuation, but I don't think he had sounded that into a review game since Skyrim. With it being free I would recommend it even to people who aren't usually shooter fans.
”Not many people know I owned the first radio in Springfield. Weren’t much on the air then. Just Edison reciting the alphabet over and over. “A,” he’d say. Then “B.” “C” would usually follow."
3.
 
Re: Get Spec Ops: The Line for Free
Mar 29, 2018, 23:41
3.
Re: Get Spec Ops: The Line for Free Mar 29, 2018, 23:41
Mar 29, 2018, 23:41
 
Very unique game, story wise. I particularly liked this one.
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2.
 
Re: Get Spec Ops: The Line for Free
Mar 29, 2018, 23:13
2.
Re: Get Spec Ops: The Line for Free Mar 29, 2018, 23:13
Mar 29, 2018, 23:13
 
One of the worst games I've ever played. I'd rather play E.T. on the Atari.
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