If you’ve watched the Narcos series on Netflix, you know just how gritty it can be. It’s par for the course for the subject matter and man on full display: Pablo Escobar. He rose to power and become a Columbian drug lord. He would eventually go on to create the Medellin Cartel, which is shown in the Netflix series.
It’s a great show with plenty of drama and much to many gamers’ surprise, it’s being made into a video game. Narcos: Rise of the Cartels is now officially available on Steam, and to celebrate this release, a launch trailer was just put out.
It shows just what kind of mischief you’ll get into from both sides of this infamous Columbian drug lord. It also highlights the 3-D environments with top-down perspectives. Right away, the visuals gives this officially licensed game a lot of character. It’s as if you’ve stepped into a dark underworld where life isn’t guaranteed; it’s earned.
The game also has a very Miami Vice aesthetic to it, which makes sense given the time period when Pablo Escobar rose to power and started controlling the drug trade. If you’ve played any XCOM, you’re probably going to love this turn-based action strategy game.
What jumps off the page right away is your ability to choose two different sides. You can join the DEA as they try to put a stop to this illegal drug trade once and for all. Sometimes in order to get things done, you can’t do it by the book. Does this do-anything-it-takes approach come with a cost? You’ll find out.
Or, you can join the Narcos. They’ve been growing radially in the past few years, and ultimate supremacy could be finally be attainable with the right pieces on the chessboard.
Being able to play different different sides instantly gives this game a lot of re-playability. As soon as you’re done seeing how the story plays out for one side, you can switch teams and instantly gain a new appreciation for what that side has had to endure.
Given that turn-based combat is involved, a lot of strategy will be necessary to come out on top. As you progress, you’ll get to upgrade your soldiers and develop new strategies to take into battle.
Narcos: Rise of the Cartels looks like one of the better licensed games in some time. If you enjoy the series, then this game is a must-play experience.
