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SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs (video game)

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SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs
Developer(s)Zipper Interactive
Publisher(s)Sony Computer Entertainment
SeriesSOCOM
EngineKinetica
Platform(s)PlayStation 2
Genre(s)Third-person shooter
Mode(s)Single player, multiplayer (via LAN or Internet)

SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs is a tactical third-person shooter video game developed by Zipper Interactive and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. It is an exclusive title for the PlayStation 2. SOCOM was released on August 27, 2002, and it is one of the earliest online titles available for the PS2's online adapter. In addition to the 12 offline single player missions, SOCOM also features online play via the internet at no additional charge to the customer. SOCOM additionally uses a USB headset for its speech recognition commands offline, and allows voice chat with teammates when playing online; this was the first game for the PS2 to use the headset. As of November 6, 2003, the game has sold 2 million copies worldwide, according to Sony Computer Entertainment America.[1]

Game overview

SOCOM takes its name from the abbreviation for the United States Special Operations Command. The player leads a four-man team (three AI-controlled teammates) of United States Navy SEALs through 12 missions in four regions: Alaska, Thailand, Congo, and Turkmenistan in the years 2006 and 2007. In the single player missions, commands can be spoken using the included USB headset or via an onscreen menu if the optional SOCOM headset was not purchased. Typical missions consist of killing terrorists, rescuing hostages, retrieving intelligence, or destroying terrorist bases.

The player character's codename is Kahuna, while the NPC teammates' codenames are Boomer, Spectre and Jester. The team is divided into two sub-groups, Alfa and Bravo. The Alfa group consists of the player and Boomer, while the remaining two make up Bravo. Commands can be issued to both individuals and a whole group, for example it is possible to ask team Bravo to remain stationary while the player is scouting the area with Boomer, so they won't risk being exposed due to large numbers. However the player can not venture alone through a map, when Kahuna is too far away from Boomer he will automatically resume following the player, regardless of prior orders. This has been a nagging point for many players, as Boomer often blows the player's cover this way. An example of this is an hypotethical situation where the player has stealthed his way to a room by avoiding enemy patrols in corridors, once the player is outside of Boomer's "radius" it is possible for Boomer to override all commands and rush to the player's side, ignoring the patrols on the way and thus being exposed.

Before each mission, the player may choose new equipment for himself and his teammates. Usually this consists of a primary and secondary weapon, along with two pieces of equipments like extra ammunition, explosives and so on. Weapon attachments such as silencers and scopes may also be added to certain weapons to improve stealth capabilities. However, on some missions it is required that a team member carries a particular piece of equipment, such as C4 for destroying walls or vehicles. Tactical intelligence is vital to completing each mission, as the characters are very vulnerable to enemy fire and may die after just a couple of shots, depending on where one is hit and what weapon is used. Going out in an all-out gunfight from the start of the mission is extremely risky, as the Navy Seals are massively outnumbered. This forces the player to be careful when advancing through a mission, often employing various tacticts to stay under cover. This includes using silenced weapons, mapping enemy patrol routes, sneaking through foilage and using the environment for cover.

Online gameplay

Online players choose one of two sides: SEALs or terrorists. Maps consist of three types: suppression (eliminate all members of the opposite team), extraction (rescue hostages) and demolition (capture a satchel and destroy the opposite team's base). SOCOM and SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Confrontation for the PlayStation 3 are the only games in the series that do not support LAN play (local multiplayer). In addition to the specific game type, any of the three game modes may be won by eliminating all members of the opposing team.

Two versions of the SOCOM disc exist: the original disc, and the greatest hits disc.

Reception

References

  1. ^ "Socom II: U.S. Navy Seals breaks online console penetration records in first two days of release" (Press release). Sony Computer Entertainment. 2003-11-06. Retrieved 2008-05-22.
  2. ^ http://www.gamerankings.com/ps2/516240-socom-us-navy-seals/index.html
  3. ^ http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-2/socom-us-navy-seals
  4. ^ http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_socom_ps2
  5. ^ http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/ps2/socom
  6. ^ http://uk.ps2.ign.com/articles/369/369008p1.html
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