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When the original SOCOM hit the Play Station 2, it was remarkable on many levels. It had innovative use of the headset, was one of the first games to really take the PlayStation 2’s online play the next level, and finally gave all those Tom Clancy games real competition. Three sequels later, not much has changed, and for fans of this intense series, that is a good thing. The fourth SOCOM game might be the last for the system, but it proves that Sony is intent on letting the PlayStation 2 go out with a bang.

Special Ops

The SOCOM series started out brilliantly, and has been refining its online play ever since. As the quintessential online shooter for the system, these games have offered almost everything an action gamer could want online—with a stunning variety of cooperative and team-based missions and game modes. SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Combined Assault wisely doesn’t mess with this formula and actually contains the full online game from SOCOM 3—with all the maps, patches, and updates. This also means that SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Combined Assault is completely compatible with the previous game, instantly providing gamers with a ready-made player base.

Where SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Combined Assault does enhance the series is in the single-player and cooperative campaign. Usually given something of a back seat, the main storyline is a dramatic and intense one. Your squad of four SEALs must infiltrate the fictitious former Soviet-bloc country of Adjikistan. Across 18 separate missions, you will cross over snow-covered mountains and destitute towns, cities, and industrial areas. Primary and secondary objectives include actions like subduing civilians (for their protection of course), laying explosive charges to destroy enemy supplies and weapons, disabling radio support so that they can’t call in reinforcements, and, of course, annihilating the enemy when you encounter them.

Command Performance

None of the gameplay is original or particularly innovative, but the gameplay in SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Combined Assault is a solid mix of tactical, team-based strategy and straightforward shooter action. You can command your team easily to move, attack, defend, and other simple orders. Admittedly, their AI is far from flawless, but most of the time, it works ok. The enemies aren’t that smart either, but the rest of the gameplay more than makes up for such faults.

One nice feature of the SOCOM series is the ability to switch between third and first person viewpoints at will. The controls are generally very intuitive, and the action feels more forgiving and playable in comparison to the Rainbow Six or Ghost Recon games. This player friendliness is especially apparent when deciding which missions to take on next, although you will have to complete them all to win the game.

Within each SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Combined Assault mission, you have more leeway than most shooters. Thanks to the spacious outdoor landscapes, you can opt for stealth or action approaches most of the time. This gives the gameplay a not-quite-linear feel that should appeal to any shooter fan.

Military Multiplayer Mayhem

A great new addition to the main campaign is the ability to play the entire campaign cooperatively. SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Combined Assault lets four players take on all 18 missions this way. The game also includes a variety of instant action missions with the cooperative play option. As appealing as the campaign is, the draw here is still the massive online competition. Expanding on SOCOM 3, players can now engage in 32-player matches, with seven different game modes and 22 maps.

Rounding out the connectivity theme, the PS2 and PSP versions of the game can affect one another. Using the cross talk feature, both games have essentially the same overall story, but success in a mission on the PSP version will make the connected PS2 mission easier. It is a gimmick, but still a cool bonus for fans that buy both versions.

The graphics are starting to show their age in SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Combined Assault, but the game looks decent overall. The audio work is excellent, with solid effects and ambient noises, high quality voice acting, and dramatic music.

SEAL Power!

SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Combined Assault is the perfect capper for the PlayStation 2 series. While there isn’t a lot of innovation since the last version, there is enough action—both new and old—to assure the series’ place as one of the premiere online shooters on the system.

Article by: Jason D'Aprile
Video produced by: Sean Jennings