Narcos: Rise of the Cartels Review
Criminal, in more ways than one.
Narcos: Rise of the Cartels presents itself as an XCOM-like turn-based tactical perspective on the issues tackled in the Netflix series. Netflix spin-off games have been hyped for a while now, with Stranger Things 3 and The Dark Crystal reportedly getting their video game translations sometime next year, and Narcos is no different. What remains interesting about this game, however, is the tempered approach that seeks to highlight both sides and take the mindless ferocity out of violent content.
The main issue with this game pains me to discuss, but after hours of playing and a bit of light market research, I am still finding it hard to determine just who this game will appeal to. Gameplay footage released on YouTube earlier in the year shows many Narcos fans confused over the strategy style of the game, wondering why the devs chose a niche genre for an adaptation of a mainstream show that so revels in violence and tension. On the other hand, those with no connection to the Netflix show seem to have an array of strategy games at their disposal with more developed plotlines and concepts than Rise of the Cartels, many of which released just this year.
To the game’s credit, it is surprisingly atmospheric and stylish. The gameboard only reveals itself where it has to, allowing you to survey the full scope of the environment, climbing over walls and stealthing around corners. Unusual attention is paid to the finer details, and the map is textured with charm. Rise of the Cartels manages to keep the tension raised despite a turn-based structure, as each move can be countered directly by the opposing team. This also gives you more scope to move, counteract, and deflect opposing fire, which is a welcome addition to the genre. Permadeath is also a factor, so the stakes are raised a little higher than most strategy games.
The concept of “playing both sides” is also interesting. This goes some way to covering up the minimalistic plotlines with the promise of exploring both playstyles at your own leisure, at least. Unfortunately, this also presents some bizarre situations in which a man in a t-shirt can be shot several times at point-blank range only to return fire and keep on playing politely when his turn arises. This sort of decency only really worked with XCOM because of the mystery surrounding space armour and futuristic technology – not so much in 1980s Columbia.
With games innovation moving so fast it is understandable for budget games to seem a little dated, but Rise of the Cartels suffers from a mild case of mobile-game-syndrome. Cinematic cut-scenes aside, playing it on a PC screen feels wrong for how simple it is. If I were to whip my phone out and see this on the app store I wouldn’t be surprised – what does surprise me, is the physical hard copies being sold for console release. It is almost a non-entity of a game, and seeing physical copies is sure to drill that home more than anything else.
Honestly though I remain confused, where most low-performing indie games have a concept brimming with potential marred by poor execution, Narcos: Rise of the Cartels is almost exactly the opposite. The execution and gameplay is fluid, stylish, and simple enough for beginners to the strategy genre; but the concept is so flawed and bizarrely juxtaposed that we may as well make a Die Hard chess game and be done with it.
A few annoyances do bounce around, such as the dated “yelling the same phrase over and over when directed to do something” trope, and the staggeringly weak storyline, but there could have been another outcome. I understand the relevance of creating a calculated both-sides-of-the-story game for Narcos, rather than revelling in the violence of an FPS (although I’m sure this would have sold well), but this is not how it’s done. In theory, a tactical team shooter would have worked well, something with poise and thought but carried out in a more immersive and engaging way.
Personally, I love strategy games. But honestly, I’m not sure if I would play this, even now that it’s in my Steam library. For the niche of people who are Narcos fans and love a good XCOM-like top-down… go nuts. You’ll probably love it. If it develops a cult following feel free to dismiss all of my opinions, forever. I just can’t imagine that people in the market for a Narcos themed game would be overjoyed by this quiet, thoughtful, and simplistic game.
Narcos: Rise of the Cartels is not a broken game, nor is it ugly or offensive. But it is joyless. It feels cold, like a corporate cash grab, and suffers from a fundamental misunderstanding of its target audience. There are interesting elements and attractive qualities, but the game overall fails to deliver much of anything to anyone in particular.
[Reviewed on PC]