SOCOM Confrontation PlayStation 3

Released on 13/03/2009

• SOCOM Confrontation Review

  Fight club

  Released way back in 2002, the original SOCOM title was a groundbreaking marvel. Zipper Interactive's tactical third-person shooter not only supported the formative PS2 online gaming service but also provided voice control of non-player characters via a headset - six year's before Ubisoft's EndWar. Since then several sequels and PSP conversions have refined the recipe and now, finally, here's the first PS3 incarnation. For fans of the series' serious-minded strategic shoot-outs it's an absolute blast.

  Maps and mayhem

  Once again the focus is very much on online multiplayer in fact, there is no single-player option this time round, it's just you and your mates against players from all over the world. First up you get to choose which of the five special forces outfits you want to play as, perhaps the US Navy SEALs, the SAS or Germany's Kommando SpezialkrŠfte. Characters are fully customisable and can be equipped with all manner of real-life weapons and equipment (including goodies like laser sights and suppressors) to reflect your playing style. Then it's out into the killing fields...

  The result is pulse-thumping tension interspersed with moments of raw adrenaline as gun fire erupts and the enemy breaks into view.

  The action takes place over seven enormous maps, some are re-worked classics from earlier in the series (including the classic Crossroads) others, including Fallen with its picturesque ancient ruins, are newcomers to the SOCOM universe. North Africa provides the dominant visual theme so you get dusty scrublands and ruined, sand-blasted towns filled with set-piece locations, perfect for ambushes and street fights. Snipers will also find plenty of cubbyholes to crawl into for those sneaky distance kills. There are nice destructible elements too, like cars that can be riddled with bullets or simply blown to pieces amid rocket fire.

  Vitally, this is no run-n'-gun blaster. SOCOM is all about carefully considered team play, with commanding officers providing strict orders to soldiers via the game's excellent Bluetooth headset peripheral. A single shot can (and usually does) kill and in many of the modes you don't get to respawn, so running around in the open firing like a maniac isn't a workable option if you want to last for longer than a few seconds. The result is pulse-thumping tension interspersed with moments of raw adrenaline as gun fire erupts and the enemy breaks into view.

  Baptism of fire

  Sadly, there's no tutorial mode, so the only way to learn is to get stuck in on a beginner's map, tweaking the controls and learning about the realistic ballistics as you go. What does prove useful is the excellent Sixaxis support which lets you tilt the controller to peak around corners - perfect for when breaking cover will almost certainly mean a sniper's bullet to the bonce.

  Game modes are all extremely challenging requiring plenty of team co-ordination, patience and accuracy, which makes victory all the more sweet.

  There are seven gameplay modes to explore taking in plenty of much-loved classics. Suppression is essentially Team Deathmatch, Escort has you accompanying a VIP across the map (in one piece), while Demolition is a spin on Capture the Flag that involves locating, grabbing and detonating a satchel of explosives. They're all extremely challenging requiring plenty of team co-ordination, patience and accuracy, which makes victory all the more sweet.

  As with previous SOCOMs, backroom support is thorough. Players can easily join clans, or just get-together in groups of mates or strangers. There are also plenty of tournament and leader board options to explore. There were complaints about lag and graphical glitches when the game was released in the US, but these have largely been resolved by subsequent patches and updates so you should get a smooth gameplay experience, though perhaps not as seamless as the excellent Call of Duty IV multiplayer infrastructure.

  Richly rewarding

  SOCOM Confrontation is something of a hardcore shooter's game. Lacking a single-player campaign mode and featuring ruthless weapon realism, it's not something you'll be able to pop into and immediately start making multiple kills. However, putting yourself out there, learning from teammates and gradually becoming more capable is part of the fun and, as a consequence of the build up, the experience can be richly rewarding. As long as the developer keeps working on those early technical issues as well as providing new downloadable content, Confrontation could become your go-to game for a tense, hugely realistic combat experience.

  GAME's Verdict

  

  • Huge and well-designed maps
  • Loads of weapons and equipment to chose from
  • Great tactical action

  

  • Gamers have reported problems with lag
  • No single-player
  • One-shot kill system can be tough on beginners

  Review by: Keith 'SAS reject' Stuart
  Version Tested: PS3
  Review Published: ??.??.??

  Published: 04/03/2009

As a valued customer we now offer you the facility to sign up to email price alerts. Please enter the price you want to be, or below, and if drops to that level we will let you know...