SOCOM U.S. Navy Seals (No Headset)

SOCOM: takes full advantage of online gameplay, featuring a 16 multiplayer mode, 3 gametypes in 10 online multiplayer maps that were created specifically for online play, persistent servers, and great clan support. The 10 online maps (FROSTFIRE, DEATHTRAP, NIGHT STALKER, BLOOD LAKE, RAT'S NEST, DESERT GLORY, ABANDON, THE RUINS, BLIZZARD, BITTER JUNGLE) with each having a particular genre (either suppression-destroy the other team, demolition-blow up other teams base or hostage extraction). At max, 16 people can play at one time, 8 on each team...

The maps are extraordinary detailed from rain falling, water, trees and grass...to wonderful sunsets. Weapon selection is adequate from machine guns, silenced assault rifles to sniper rifles. You have 3 equipment slots which can be filled with grenades (HE, frag or smoke), claymores, 2x ammo.

The game is only available to broadband users for online play because of the rich gameplay, which should significantly cut the lag time so many other games have a problem with. Even better, SOCOM is free to play online. In online play you can also use the create a clan option to create your own clan. You can also join a clan.

SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs is perhaps one of the most lifelike FPS/3rd person to develop, with Sony using actual SEALs for consulting purposes. The missions, movements, tactics and SEALs themselves are true to life and unparalleled. The weapons, which you can carry two of at a time, are realistically accurate and react to real-life factors like fatigue, movement and weapon recoil.

But for the majority, the most anticipated feature of SOCOM is the headset that is compatable with the game ... It boasts voice recognition capabilities that will come in quite handy during the game, as it's hard to shoot down terrorists while typing on a keyboard. Shout to your teammates for help and they'll (hopefully) come to your aide, all with minimal lag time. During single-player mode, enemies will also react to your vocal commands.

Overall, this is an excellent game. It's fun, exciting, and has great replay value. Dial-up(56k) users will be disappointed that the game is only available to broadband users for online play, but that feature will only help the game, making it much more enjoyable to play over the internet without huge delays and lags. But fear not dialup users, the game has an entire offline game as well as online. In single player offline mode you can tell your A.I teammates what to do via the headset thats included. For example, if you see an enemy through your brinoculars but you don't have a sniper to do the job, you can tell your teammates to surround the enemy. Cool stuff, huh? In single player mode you also get to use some different vehicles such as a helicopter, a boat, a snowmobile, and more. So if you can't go online with the game, you can still play the game proper offline, but the online mode is just so much fun.


SOCOM made me start playing my PS2 again!   December 24, 2003
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

My PS2 has been collecting dust for a while, as Ghost Recon on the PC has been taking up all my time. I love realistic military sims and I thought nothing could touch Ghost Recon (online with friends - addicting), until I played SOCOM. While not as realistic as GR, this game is extremely fun for a console title and if you need a break from the computer! Good, smooth controls, variety in missions, ability to assign team members to tasks, and nice graphics make for a very fun military sim (like a simplified Ghost Recon). I don't have the headset and can't see purchasing it since I will only be playing SOCOM by myself, and the thought of 'talking' to the PS2 without a live person on the other end seems weird to me. 'They' say that this game rocks online - I don't dispute this, but I think a lot of these people have not quite experienced online gaming on the PC, which in my opinion blows away the consoles. Overall a very fun game, although somewhat short. Looking forward to purchasing SOCOMII, I've read it is even better! Undoubtedly one of five must have titles for your PS2.


The Only Easy Day is Yesterday.....U.S. Navy Seals Motto   February 10, 2004
Robb Boutros (Northford, CT United States)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

Tactical squad games are an unusual animal. They can either be very good or horribley bad!! Seems like there's no "in between". SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALS is one squad game that not only manages to avoid the common pitfalls of many squad based tactical shooters, but it also blazes new ground in the field raising the bar for everyone else.

The U.S. Navy SEALS are an elite covert ops group that operate under cover in hot spots around the world. This game gives you the SEALS experience as best as it can be represented in the video game medium. Through 12 single player missions you lead a small fire team of elite commandos through such a variety of situations that range from hostage rescues, to demolitions and intelligence gathering. Stealth is more important that firepower. Fire a shot or get spotted by a bad guy and it makes your job that much more difficult. The best weapon is often not to be seen.

The gameplay starts fairly easy during the single player missions and progressively becomes more difficult. Sometimes this can be frustrating. Often you need to repeat the mission several times to accomplish your goal. What really sets the gameplay apart from the other squad shooters has to be the command interface. Squad commmands are laid out in very simple terms for your team. Unlike a game like Ghost Recon, your fireteam can do more than just "run, hold and shoot". They can cover an area, advance to another part of the map, deploy grendades, breach a door, clear rooms....all this makes the way you use your fireteams more versatile. What's also unique is the voice command system. Using the USB headset to command your team adds a more immersive feel the the gameplay. Your teamates give you updates and you can recieve intel from HQ through the earpiece. If you don't buy the game with the headset then I highly recomend picking it up afterwards.

The graphics in this game are exceptional. The environments range from desert to arctic. Zipper Interactive has laid out some nice areas to play "hide and seek" with the enemy. There's lots of cover and there are lots of interactive elements in the environments. The non player characters are all rendered very niceley. They don't give off the look of being stiff and "inhuman" as are the SEALS themselves. All the human characters move convincingly. The game can be played from either the third person or the first person perspective. However third person offers the best view. You can see more of the landscape and you can command your teamates easier.

One of the things you can knock on this game is probably the sound. The weapons and explosions all tend to sound exactly the same. The ambienent sounds of each environment are presented well. Crickets chirp, birds cheep, grass rustles, water splashes when you move through it. There's alot of sound happening here.

There is also a nice extra included. A twenty minute documentary about the real life US Navy SEALS. After playing the game it was very interesting to see the actual team in action and to learn about their training. This may seem like a throw away feature but it's a good educational piece.

Unfortunately I do not own the Network Adaptor so I can not comment on the online component at this time.

This is probably one of the best Playstation 2 games in the system's extensive library. It offers realistic team combat while being very player friendly. Definitley check this game out. You won't be sorry.


GET SOCOM...IT ROCKS   October 16, 2004
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

I think SOCOM is the best game ever made. You are a Navy sealand you have to take out terrorest threat in 12 extensive levels with Cool and Popular guns. Some sub machine guns and assult rifles are the H&K MP5, M4A1, M16A2, and the M14. You can also get sniper rifels like the sr-25 and the sr-25 sd. If you like war games like Ghost Recon and Medal of Honor, get this game! You will love it!


a must have awsome shooter game   March 13, 2005
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

This game is awsome. Although at some parts enemys come out from areas you thought were clear making it difficult on some missions like Temple at Hohn Kaen. Sometimes enemys are also really stupid and easy to sneak by for instance i was walking in some water and an enemy in a boat nearly looked right by me. if you like Full Spectrum Warrior then you'll probably like this. The most important thing in stealth mission like when you have to rescue Mr.Pickle try not to even shoot and when you kill enemys HIDE THIER BODYS IN DARK AREAS. and if you get a sniper dont have it silenced or it will TAKE FOREVERRRRRRRRR to kill them unless you get headshots. and REMEMBER:STEALTH IS YOUR MOST POWERFUL WEAPON