There have been games
aplenty on the Xbox where the online multiplayer mode was like the icing on a
sweet pastry while the PS2 was slightly left behind in that department. Then
again, Sony and Zipper Interactive’s SOCOM series proved that the console
is more than capable of giving shooting fans something to sink their teeth into
and thoroughly enjoy. The franchise reached new heights with SOCOM 3, a
game that brought us more of what we love about the series so you can only
imagine our delight at the prospect of a fourth game in the series. SOCOM:
U.S. Navy SEALs Combined Assault might not be a dramatically different game
for the series but the few improvements and great multiplayer experience make
this a SOCOM game you should not miss.
Combined Assault
has a surprisingly inventive connection to
the PSP’s SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo 2 that goes beyond its
neat Crosstalk feature (more on that a bit later). For starters, both games
share the same locale during the single-player campaign mode and the stories for
both games interconnect with each other. In several missions, you’ll find that
Fireteam Bravo cleared an area for you or are waiting for you to tackle on a
particularly well guarded area before they can attempt a rescue mission seen on
the PSP. Combined Assault begins with a failed rescue mission in the
fictional country of Adjikistan as a SEAL team is attempting to escape with a
valuable CIA operative. Unfortunately, “the package” never makes it so you are
tasked with heading into enemy territory to recover him as well as discovering
the secrets he has discovered.
The single-player campaign
mode doesn’t force you to take on the missions in a linear fashion but rather
you have the freedom to pick the mission you would like to take on with your
team. After the first introductory mission, you are given a choice of related
missions. The best part is that these missions are actually lengthy but most
important, they are also really fun. Part of the reason the campaign missions
are so enjoyable is the fact that the mission objectives have you performing a
number of fun tasks that have you doing everything from taking out watchtower
guards to securing prisoners in an abandoned gulag. The environments are also
large; giving gamers the feeling of total freedom to approach each objective
anyway they wish. Why infiltrate an enemy camp through the road used most by the
enemy when you can enter the camp through a hidden path to the south?
Vehicles are back and this
time they’re classified by slow and heavily armored (Armor), light and agile
(Recon) or just fast (Support). You’ll take command of Humvees as well as boats
and once again the vehicle controls work perfectly. Speaking of controls, the
shooting and strafing moves are solid and you can issue orders on the fly. There
are also more weapons and you can even unlock a few more that just plain rock
whether you’re using them in the single-player campaign or in the game’s
multiplayer mode. This is the beauty of Crosstalk, a feature that comes from
your PS2 interacting with your PSP via a copy of Fireteam Bravo 2. It’s
good to see a feature that has a handheld interacting with the console in ways
that has you downloading a good deal of extras.
While gamers will be
deeply involved with the single-player campaign mode and the lengthy missions,
it’s the multiplayer mode that once again will have you addicted to its great
number of options and fun online multiplayer action. The game adds a 4-player
co-op multiplayer mode that adds all the usual online features such as ladders,
community support as well as ranking. This allows you to hone your skills with
gamers you would like to join your clan for the 32-player mode. Once again, the
game supports a USB headset for chat and the game runs smoothly online even with
32 gamers.
Unfortunately, the enemy
AI isn’t as good as it should have been. For the most part, the enemies shoot
accurately and many times they are great at outflanking you. Then again, the
enemy takes cover in the most questionable areas like behind a chair or even
behind an explosive barrel.
Combined Assault
doesn’t enhance the visuals, however, and
they look a bit dated now thanks to the next-generation of games already out
there. This doesn’t mean the game is ugly or primitive, but we’ve seen better on
the PS2. The character models, for instance, just don’t look very natural and
death animations don’t offer a great variety of deaths. For a game that thrusts
realism in our faces, it’s hard to believe real terrorists simply dissolve into
nothing when they’re killed. At least the environments look good and thanks to
the huge maps there is a lot to see in this game. The explosions and gunfire
look good and make fights look actually impressive.
The sound fairs just a tad
better thanks to the decent voice acting and Ok sound effects. I wish there was
more to the sound effects than just explosions and bullets like environmental
noise but at least the game does those sounds justice. Fortunately, the game’s
soundtrack is phenomenal and wonderfully cinematic to the point that the tense
moments in the game become even more dramatic.
SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs
Combined Assault doesn’t change its
original formula but it does add some juicy extras that make this a seriously
addictive shooter. The single-player mode is lengthy and just plain fun and the
Crosstalk feature is something I’d like to see more of on the PSP. Moreover,
those who loved the online multiplayer before will find a lot to love with the
online co-op mode complete with more playable maps and weapons to use. Go ahead
and buy this one if you’re a fan or are new to this series.
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Gameplay: 8.5
Very little has changed from
SOCOM 3 and that’s not a bad thing at all since the game’s third outing
marked tighter controls and great mission scenarios. The same can be said about
Combined Assault, a game that does add bigger environments, a sweet
variety of weapons and the Crosstalk feature. Even the missions are longer and
really fun.
Graphics: 7.5
Visually very little has changed
either. The graphics and character models look rather dated. The PS2 is capable
of giving us some decent visuals for games similar to this (see Ghost Recon 2).
Still, the environments look pretty good and the explosions are still
impressive.
Sound: 8.0
There’s no playful banter like in
Fireteam Bravo 2 but you’ll hear from your team often and this adds to the
realism factor. We’ve heard the sound effects before but when it comes to a
great militaristic score nothing beats this game’s stellar soundtrack.
Difficulty: Medium
At times, the enemy can coordinate
some decent attacks and a few of them can even attempt to outflank you
successfully. Then you come across enemies that think hiding behind an explosive
is a good idea or using a window as cover is smart terrorist tactics.
Concept: 9.5
The Crosstalk function unlocks some
juicy extras via the PSP’s Fireteam Bravo 2 and that includes some enemy
weapons you can unlock and use in the console version. The three vehicle classes
are a great idea and are implemented well throughout the game. The best part is
that there’s online co-op now fit for four players and the 32-player online
multiplayer (with voice chat) is still a dream come true.
Multiplayer: 10
Combined Assault
excels in giving us a great single-player
experience but let’s face it, when it comes to the online multiplayer action
this is where the game really shines. The online co-op mode alone is amazing but
the massive multiplayer mode with plenty of options and vehicles is a work of
art. Believe me; you’ll be playing this one for a long while until SOCOM
comes to the PS3.
Overall: 8.8
Combined Assault
isn’t a major leap forward for the series but
this is still one of the most addictively fun military shooters available on the
PS2. Yes, we’ve seen this all before but with more mission campaigns and a great
multiplayer mode, fans of the series will kick themselves if they missed out on
this one.
