SOCOM 3: U.S. Navy Seals
October 18,2005 -

Bigger, better, and smarter. Those three simple words are all you need to understand what direction Zipper Interactive went with the latest installment in their tremendously popular SOCOM series. Everything the hardcore SOCOM player could want is here, and for newcomers to the series, you could not pick a better time to pick up this gem.

As in previous versions, you take the lead as you command a four-man Navy SEAL team through various missions throughout the world. Mission objectives are basically the same as in the previous SOCOM games, and most consist of rescuing hostages, gathering Intel, and capturing enemies. The single player campaign emphasizes stealth over running and gunning – mostly you will find yourself meticulously creeping through the underbrush picking off baddies as they meander into your crosshairs. While all this sounds like the same old SOCOM, there are some notable differences.

The first thing you will observe is the addition of drivable vehicles. The very first mission has you cruising in a dune buggy from point to point. As you are driving along, you will notice a considerable increase in the size of the maps as well. The maps are in fact gargantuan. This makes for some extremely long missions. Luckily, Zipper was smart enough to include checkpoints (finally!) at various points throughout the missions. This exceptional addition cuts down on the sometimes-frustrating trial and error gameplay that plagued SOCOM II. While the assignment structure is basically the same as before there is a nice variety in the style of each mission. Most tasks have you picking enemies off from a distance, but you will find yourself in close quarters combat from time to time. Using your teammates to your advantage is now easier than ever as well. Improved voice command recognition, and more choices of commands, helps to increase the amount of control you have over your virtual squad. Throw in some great unlokable content and you may just find it difficult to stop playing this game. 

Zipper has obviously taken steps to improve the campaign mode. However, no one really cares about the single player game. The question everyone is dying to ask is: how is the online play? In a word, it is spectacular. SOCOM is the bread and butter of Sony Online Entertainment, and for good reason. No game on the PS2 has such a loyal following in Sony’s online universe. Thousands of people log on every single day to engage each other in battle. However, what is it, exactly, that makes this series so addicting? In addition, does SOCOM 3 keep all those things intact?

SOCOM is a different breed of shooter. In a world where the FPS is king and characters like Master Chief are praised for being so badass, SOCOM takes a step back, looks at the battle as a strategy, and never glorifies any single character. The word “team” really means something in SOCOM; without your team, you are nothing. The semi-realism of it all adds even more appeal. The fact that at any moment you can turn a corner and be shot dead in an instant puts a fear in the player that is not easily forgotten. SOCOM 3 delves deeper into the strategic shooter style than ever before and gives you even more reason to work as a team. With 32 players online and 12 all new gigantic maps, the frantic, yet tactical, gameplay will have you hooked in no time.

Of course, you cannot venture out onto the battlefield unarmed, so Zipper has included a vast array of weaponry for you to employ. The weapons are basically the same as in SOCOM II with a few new guns thrown in for good measure. The real key here is the customizability of the weapons. Every weapon can be outfitted in a variety of ways. You want to make that STG silenced? You got it. You can put laser sights on pistols, bi-pods on sniper rifles, and you can even attach an M203 (grenade launcher) to most assault rifles. Many players will be chomping at the bit to put every possible upgrade on their favorite weapon, but this is not a great strategy. SOCOM 3 has employed a “total load” feature that gauges how many accessories your soldier can carry. If you overload your character with M203’s and heavy mines, he will run significantly slower than someone carrying a simple silenced assault rifle and a lightweight pistol.

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