Line of Sight: Vietnam
A squad-based Vietnam War FPS with switchable perspectives.
Line of Sight: Vietnam is a squad-based first-person shooter set during the Vietnam War. Developed by the American studio NFusion, it was released for Microsoft Windows in 2003 by Infogrames and Atari. The story follows Private Chris Egan, a sniper assigned to the US Army's 5th Special Forces in Nha Trang.
The single-player campaign includes 12 missions, each with specific objectives. For most of the game, the player is accompanied by an AI squad member who can receive orders. The player can also switch to that squad member's perspective and play from their viewpoint. Enemies consist of North Vietnamese Army soldiers and Viet Cong guerillas, who appear as stationary guards or moving patrols, usually in pairs or trios. Missions can start either during the day or at night. Around ten weapons are available, including those taken from enemy troops. The game supports both first-person and third-person views, and the player can toggle between them at any time.
The cooperative multiplayer mode, which relied on GameSpy, is no longer playable since that service was shut down.
According to the review aggregation site Metacritic, the game received average reviews.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Line of Sight: Vietnam
- Developer
- NFusion
- Publisher
- Infogrames Interactive (United States) / Atari Europe (Internationally)
- Released
- NA · March 5, 2003 · PAL · July 18, 2003
- Genre
- Tactical shooter
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
- Platforms
- Microsoft Windows
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The game places the player in the role of Private Chris Egan, a sniper in the US Army's 5th Special Forces based in Nha Trang. There are 12 single-player missions, each with its own set of objectives. Throughout most missions, the player is assisted by an AI squad member to whom commands can be issued. The player can also transfer to the perspective of a squad mate and play from their standpoint. Enemies include North Vietnamese Army soldiers and Viet Cong guerillas, who appear as standing guards or mobile patrols, commonly in groups of two or three. Missions can begin during the day or at night. Around ten different weapons are available, including weapons dropped by enemy troops. The game can be played from both first-person and third-person perspectives, switchable in-game. The cooperative multiplayer over Internet is no longer playable as it relied on GameSpy, which has since been shut down.
Reader's Guide
Line of Sight: Vietnam received 'average' reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. Its significance lies in its squad-based mechanics set during the Vietnam War, a less common setting for first-person shooters of the early 2000s. The ability to switch between first-person and third-person perspectives in-game was a notable feature, as was the option to transfer control to an AI squad mate. The game's reliance on GameSpy for cooperative multiplayer means that aspect is now inaccessible, reflecting the fragility of online services from that era. The title remains a niche entry in the genre, remembered primarily for its setting and squad command elements rather than critical acclaim.
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