SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Confrontation

The tactical military splat-em-up sensation flexes its next-generation chops in the PlayStation Network's first flagship blaster. Lock and load, soldier!

First things first: As avowed technology geeks, yes... we dig this 32-man online-only shooter's custom-built Bluetooth headset on principle alone. But goodwill for the overall package ($40 solo or $60 bundled with the gizmo) is only further engendered by hands-on time with the actual game itself itself, which delivers a hollow-point shell right to the competition's cranium. To wit, hyper-sharp visual acuity - check the ravens fluttering above and sand-choked breezes blowing across the stunning remake of North African cityscape map Crossroads - is just the beginning here. What fans of the best-selling blaster will most enjoy is a clan warfare-friendly re-imagining of the popular run-n-gun franchise that achieves new levels of scale and intensity.

Sticking with your buddies will be crucial, especially when the maps change depending on the size of your team

Sticking with your buddies will be crucial, especially when the maps change depending on the size of your team

Yes, only seven maps will be available at first, and the title will do away with any solo scenarios. No, you needn't worry about replay value, with venues automatically constricting or growing in size depending on how many individual participants inhabit them. Destructible environments further let you randomly bring down bridges and breezeways, forcing tactics and overall game flow to change dynamically - a major plus. Emphasizing a greater use of cover, you'll also notice a tremendously improved level of detail while zooming hundreds of feet past parched rooftops and scrubby satellite dishes for a carefully-aimed headshot or seeking refuge behind the shattered frame of abandoned cars. Depth isn't lacking either, with tactics including support for knifing adversaries; riddling them with rounds from assault rifles; ducking behind the aegis of hurled smoke grenades; or bouncing RPG shells into archways (suicidal, but fun) when the situation truly calls for creative thinking.

Darting between dusty minarets and deserted alleyways, pacing remains swift and tense, especially since access to 30-odd weapons is instantly awarded out of the box. Tack on a full range of scopes and suppressors, plus new systems that model armor and encumbrance, and the amount of on-the-fly decision-making suddenly reaches new heights of strategy and suspense. Small wonder there's so much focus on community-oriented play available, with customizable badges, competitive ladders and team-based skirmishes afforded top billing. Dare to quickly poke your head out with a flick of the wrist (and SIXAXIS controller) during day or nighttime engagements, and yep... It's as likely to get blown off as instantly summon a barely-missed hail of bullets that land inches away with a popcorn-like crunch of lethal force.

In other words, time to get back in fighting shape, leatherneck - the battle begins this October.

Destroying parts of the environment will give you perfect routes to surround and outflank the opposition

Destroying parts of the environment will give you perfect routes to surround and outflank the opposition

Larger maps will be seen in the future, but fully exploring the initial seven will take time

Larger maps will be seen in the future, but fully exploring the initial seven will take time

Comments [38]

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magtuse13

hell yeah this looks really good and it comes with the bluetooth headset making it a win win. good luck sony!

kratos91

so close to first....but ya this game looks sweet even though i never played any of the other ones except the first. hopefully the headset that comes with it isn't a piece of shit like the warhawk one

BRAWLMAN13

lol my bad. it didn't show up when I posted so I tried 2 more times. and it still didn't show up so I opened a new page and saw my posts. my bad. =)

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