What follows is a moment-by-moment recounting of my facial expressions while watching Spec Ops: The Line‘s multiplayer trailer – in ultra-vision. Exposition-y stuff: an expectant stare followed by an eye roll so hard it nearly detached my retinas at the phrase “This is their war.” Cover shooty runny ‘splodey stuff: a furrowed brow as if to say, “Is this all?” and “Why waste a slow-mo shot on a reload?”

Class-based skills and rewards, etc: drooping eyelids, a hint of spittle dangling from the corner of my mouth. SAND AVALANCHE: Eyes wide-open, mouth creaking into a tentative smile, head cocked in much the same way as a dog saying, “Baroo?” Still though, it’s a bit worrisome that they actually had to spell out “Sand is a game-changer,” as though saying, “No, wait, don’t go! We’re sort of different, see?” And see you shall, if you opt to check out the trailer after the break.

Spec Ops is finally emerging from the not-so-quick sands of a somewhat tumultuous development cycle on June 29. I’m tentatively interested, though admittedly, I haven’t seen the game in person since E3 a couple years ago. Adam’s write-up, however, has me fairly hopeful, and even though Heart of Darkness is hardly a novel inspiration for games (please try not to see what I did there; you’ll respect me a whole lot more), it’s taken us on some pretty fascinating treks – for instance, Far Cry 2. We’ll know one way or another soon enough, and I’m sure facial expressions will be involved in some capacity. Unless I’ve lost my face.