turbomandoll's review against another edition
4.0
A generous 4, more for the fact that as a close critical reading of an interesting videogame its something I'd like to see more of. Some of his arguments and points are the sort of thing I'd bash out to fill up word count as an undergrad but its a good read for those who've played Spec Ops and hope this becomes a more common field of study.
beyadob's review against another edition
5.0
Spec Ops: The Line is an underrated and overlooked gem of a game. It's one of those special cases that leave a mark on your psyche and changes how you view videogames as a medium of storytelling, among other things. It's definitely up there with stalwarts such as BioShock and Red Dead Redemption.
Having said that, this game is worthy of tons of discussion of both casual and academic forms. Keogh walks a fine line, discussing the game's narrative in a clear, coherent manner that is easy to read and understand. He takes us through the game's imagery and narrative. Keogh builds up his theories in a convincing manner and acts as a guide to a complex narrative that is rife with imagery.
Some very important points are raised, yet it feels there are multiple layers of analysis and discussion left to do, which is not Keogh's fault, mind you, but goes on to show just how brilliant the game is. When I'd played the game, I knew immediately it was something that I'd never forget, yet I'd overlooked many of its narrative techniques and imagery.
If you've played The Line and thought it was special, this book is definitely for you. For those of who haven't played the game yet, buy it right now. Its price has been reduced to almost nothing, and trust me when I say this: you will not regret it.
Having said that, this game is worthy of tons of discussion of both casual and academic forms. Keogh walks a fine line, discussing the game's narrative in a clear, coherent manner that is easy to read and understand. He takes us through the game's imagery and narrative. Keogh builds up his theories in a convincing manner and acts as a guide to a complex narrative that is rife with imagery.
Some very important points are raised, yet it feels there are multiple layers of analysis and discussion left to do, which is not Keogh's fault, mind you, but goes on to show just how brilliant the game is. When I'd played the game, I knew immediately it was something that I'd never forget, yet I'd overlooked many of its narrative techniques and imagery.
If you've played The Line and thought it was special, this book is definitely for you. For those of who haven't played the game yet, buy it right now. Its price has been reduced to almost nothing, and trust me when I say this: you will not regret it.
fredurix's review against another edition
4.0
Getting this through an e-book bundle is what finally pushed me to play the game Spec Ops: The Line. After having played it, and read the book, I can say two things:
First, that the game is very good deconstruction of the modern military shooter, strongly inspired by the book Heart of Darkness and its movie adaptation Apocalypse Now, though I regret knowing so much about the story before going in.
And second, that Brendan Keogh's critical reading of the game is excellent; I probably would have gotten more out of the game had I gone in blind, but even so I doubt I would have delved this deeply.
I can recommend the reading book, but I also recommend playing the game first.
First, that the game is very good deconstruction of the modern military shooter, strongly inspired by the book Heart of Darkness and its movie adaptation Apocalypse Now, though I regret knowing so much about the story before going in.
And second, that Brendan Keogh's critical reading of the game is excellent; I probably would have gotten more out of the game had I gone in blind, but even so I doubt I would have delved this deeply.
I can recommend the reading book, but I also recommend playing the game first.
mburnamfink's review against another edition
4.0
Videogames have come into their own as an art form when they can generate criticism like Killing is Harmless. Chapter by chapter, Keogh explores Spec Ops: The Line as a 'high noon' moment, where shooters a genre become aware of themselves, and begin to comment on their tropes. Every inch of the game, and its links to other works (Call of Duty, Apocalypse Now, Bioshock...) are covered in detail. Fortunately, Keogh doesn't pretend to have answers about the causes or consequences of violence in video games, but he is right to note that the game has opened up those questions.
merkaba's review against another edition
3.0
Killing is Harmless is a rather poignant look at a game that attempts something that very few games out there have done before, commenting on the motivations and factors that drive us as games to slaughter countless virtual people and never question ourselves. It's an interesting look at how Spec Ops: The Line attempts to address these issues throughout the course of its plot.
Whether or not you agree with the author it makes for an engrossing read. It's well written and presents some interesting observations and is definitely worth a read whether or not you've played the game and especially if you're interested in the gaming medium being taking seriously and addressing issues that it far too often overlooks.
Whether or not you agree with the author it makes for an engrossing read. It's well written and presents some interesting observations and is definitely worth a read whether or not you've played the game and especially if you're interested in the gaming medium being taking seriously and addressing issues that it far too often overlooks.
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