System: PS2
Dev: Zipper
Pub: Sony
Release: Nov 2006
Players: 1 - multi online
Review by Colin

---

Review Rating Legend
1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid
2.0 - 2.4 = Poor
2.5 - 2.9 = Average
3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
3.5 - 3.9 = Good
4.0 - 4.4 = Great
4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
5.0 = The Best

Take cover as often as possible. You only have a few medic kits with you for each mission and you can only sustain a few hits until you die. You will also lose the mission if all your squad members die so you don’t want to be rushing into situations blindly. Decisions are made based on information you receive during the briefing before each mission and what recon you can gather at the scene. You will have to employ stealth and strategy in real time, but these are anything but boring gameplay elements as you’re always aware of being atop a powder keg that could go off at any second. An assortment of environments, from decaying cities to snow-covered wasteland, provides you with new challenges as you learn to adapt to your surroundings to provide you with cover and vantage points.

Inconsistent enemy AI is a nagging problem in the single-player mode. They aren’t nearly as challenging as they could be as they stand around just waiting to be shot or run at you like they’re on a suicide bombing mission. This isn’t an issue in the multi-player modes but it’s still an issue in the co-op mode. You can play with three other gamers online in the co-op mode but the challenge isn’t any more difficult than it is in the single-player mode. It’s still fun to have some real people to play with. You can play through the entire campaign or just pick individual missions if you’re stuck for time.

SOCOM 3 is available online and it’s a virtually untouched version of the last title in the series. It’s a busy mode, filled with experienced players, so you won’t have to wait long to get into a game. Up to 32 players can participate in any one game which includes more than 20 maps. If you don’t already have this mode then it’s worth the price of admission alone. If you do, you might want to consider renting this version to see if the single-player and co-op modes do it for you.

There are some flies in the technical ointment. There is some pop-up, clipping and the occasional unregistered command but nothing that would ruin your day. This is a good looking, good sounding, good playing game that really pushes the limits of the PS2. There’s never been a better time to be a Seal.

Features:

Can the SOCOM series continue its winning streak with the fourth PS2 release?by Vaughn Smith

The SOCOM series started off strong right out of the starting gate and continues to be one of the PS2's most popular online games. No surprise then that Sony and Zipper Interactive are currently working on the fourth installment, tentatively entitled "Combined Assault". Please note that this is a working title and may change.

No real official information has surfaced regarding the game aside from a small handful of screenshots but we have heard through the grapevine that the game will feature new weapons, vehicles, maps (duh!) and a four player co-op mode. Expect more "robust crosstalk" between the PS2 version and the upcoming PSP title SOCOM US Navy Seals Fireteam Bravo 2. What this really entails though, we're currently unaware.

Although the screens are early, we're surprised at how basic they look in their current state. We would expect by now that the SOCOM series would have the visual impact of Killzone, but it appears that Zipper is keeping everything graphically on the down low, to keep the framerate from having a seizure online. We understand that Sony has to keep the millions of SOCOM fans and current PS2 owners pleased as punch, so don't expect a real next gen SOCOM for quite awhile.

Stay tuned for more details as we receive them.

By Vaughn Smith
CCC Site Director