When comparing Spec Ops: The Line vs Little Inferno, the Slant community recommends Spec Ops: The Line for most people. In the question“What are the best PC games that through narrative or gameplay comment on the state of games themselves?” Spec Ops: The Line is ranked 1st while Little Inferno is ranked 2nd. The most important reason people chose Spec Ops: The Line is:
The gameplay is constantly changing with environmental effects to new enemies and weapons that they use. This keeps the player constantly learning and adjusting their playstyle in order to be successful.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Gameplay keeps one on their toes
The gameplay is constantly changing with environmental effects to new enemies and weapons that they use. This keeps the player constantly learning and adjusting their playstyle in order to be successful.
Pro A dark exploration of whether the player has a choice
It is up to the user on how the take in the meaning of the content of the game. There are no cutscenes, everything is portrayed by gameplay, which makes the interpretation somewhat personal. This type of presentation also explores whether the player has any choice in what they are doing in the game, which can be liberating while also weirdly strict.
Pro Intriguing wordplay-based puzzles that keep the player guessing
Certain items may have odd properties or work together with other items to create unexpected results. A list of combinations, where the only hint is the name of the combination, gives the game another puzzle-like layer that you are required to solve to progress further. For example, a somewhat vague sentence (such as Wooden Block Combo) will be given and the player must analyse and choose the correct materials in order to process further.
Pro Delightfully warped gameplay makes for an amusing way to burn digital objects
You spend most of your time throwing things in an ill-conceived invention for kids called the Little Inferno fireplace. By setting things on fire you get money that you can spend to buy more things to throw in the fireplace. There is a subtle plot that may make you re-evaluate your actions.
Pro Minimalistic, eerie puzzles, gameplay and narration pointing out how the games we play manipulate us
Cons
Con Multiplayer progression is lacking
While playing multiplayer modes there is a progression system where you can unlock new gear and weapons, though it feels a bit contrived and not that rewarding.
Con Little player agency
Almost an on-the-rails shooter means it reduces some of the impact of the points it makes.
Con Most of the time is spent waiting and not on puzzles
The game revolves around deliveries that take time to arrive to your fireplace. There are time constraints on these deliveries that force the player to wait, unless you purchase postage stamps by unlocking combo's. As such, most of the time played in the game will be in a more 'idle' situation waiting on the deliveries instead of actually using the deliveries to solve the puzzles.
Con Costs too much
Con The game is quite short
Little Inferno is a short game. On average, the main story takes a little bit over three hours to complete, while completionists need about four hours to explore everything.
Con No puzzle diversity or large number of mechanics added
The gameplay mechanics in Little Inferno stay the same: you use the fireplace in order to burn materials and create combo's. Even when unlocking newer catalogs with new materials to burn, not much changes in terms of gameplay. The puzzle hints that are provided also are quite similar, which can make the game feel rather monotonous.