A review by jdcorley
Killing Is Harmless: A Critical Reading of Spec Ops: The Line by Brendan Keogh

informative reflective medium-paced

3.0

It's a bit of an indictment of the "enthusiast" nature of the video game press that there has been very little in depth critical development of the form.  Even today, in depth discussions fall into small press hidey-holes, academic round files and, worst of all, long-form Youtube exegeses.  This work is a firm but simplistic step into a field that should, at this point, be well-developed, but often seems to be late to the party, wanting to be taken seriously, but tantrumming whenever anyone tries to treat it like real art with something to say.  For someone curious about where video game criticism is in comparison to other artistic criticism, you'll be satisfied enough, but find it very basic.  But it can't be overstated that this book  (and this game) was all that anyone wanted to talk about at the time it came out.  It is clear that enthusiasts also thirst for deeper thinking.  I wish we could get past first steps like these.