SOCOM: Special Forces - PS3 Review by Brash Games

Once upon a time, SOCOM meant something. It was important. Years ago, the very face of gaming changed in part in its image. Our consoles are online now, every one; headsets for team-chat have become ubiquitous accessories; whilst in the last little while cover-based, tactical shooters have experienced something of a renaissance. Simply by being such a solid experience, and so set apart from the day’s prevailing mechanics of play, SOCOM helped push these myriad innovations on a base of gamers resistant to change at the best of times. Way back when, then, it was more than a happy memory... so much more.

[MatthewMk2]

Why is the name different in Europe?

[Emilio_Estevez]

They do that with a lot of games for numerous reasons. Especially when Japanese games get ported to the US/EU. Likely some sort of test group indicated what the name should be for each region.

[MidnytRain]

The original title contained "U.S. Navy SEALs", which may have put off potential customers in foreign regions. They probably didn't want to alienate anyone.

[ddurand1]

I wish this game was better. If I hadnt played the beta, I might have picked this up.

I think this score is a little too low. I think this is a 6.7-7.7 type game.

[Ju]

This game IS much better than 4. Are you kidding me? The offline alone is 8 (at least). Every played the custom missions? That is not even considering the beta. Visuals are outstanding. It IS on UC level (most of the time) - yet nobody praises this. WTF! Really. I don't get it. Zipper must have offended some people really, really bad.

Now, Homefront is a sh!tty game, yet nowhere was it marked down like Socom anywhere.

[ddurand1]

you lack reading comprehension skills. try again.

[zootang]

The socom name held a lot of weight. Some people don't like the idea of it re-claiming the crown. Mainly, the multi platform lovers. That's just my demented guess anyway.

[Ju]

@ddurand1 while I appreciate that you say "I think this score is a little too low" I take issue with "I wish this game was better. If I hadnt played the beta, I might have picked this up" which basically contradicts that statement.

And yet, your statement, in the context of a "4/10" review suggests, that and based on your experience makes you not getting the game, yet you haven't experienced most of it (no SP, CO-OP and only 2 maps in the beta). I would think, that is quite pretentious.

[ddurand1]

I wont play SP or missions, so thats why my statement was based the way it was.

Im not paying 60$ for a game that I already didnt like the one component which Ill invest 100% of my time into.

I said the game would be a 6.7-7.7. did you miss that part? or did you just pick out the part that fits your comments.

[n4gisatroll]

Ju,

I played the beta and I thought it was terrible. I didn't like the mag graphics, and I still don't like it in socom 4. IMO socom confrontation look way more like a socom game then 4 does. 4/10 might be a little too low, but either way, the game sucks.

[Ju]

BS

[Knushwood Butt]

I don't understand either. I'm enjoying it a lot.

Gaming journalism these days is worthless. I can't even remember the last time I saw a review score that affected my decision whether to buy or not.

It's not even worth wasting the time to read them these days.

[zgoldenlionz]

i just finished my second run through and i got to say its a pretty damn good game. controls are tight gunfire bloom is realistic but a bit more accurate to keep it fun level design was great totally felt like a SOCOM title. the team AI isnt the greatest but if you tell your team where to advance properly it feels like there 100x smarter. the enemy AI flanks and really creates a challenge if your not paying full attention. not to mention the graphics are very nice to say the least. and last its not lacking content with 4 play modes story, custom firefights, co-op, and multiplayer to keep you busy.

@ju 100% agree homefront was a turd off a game and fared much better than this. I guess SONY titles are held to a higher standard (which totally makes sense considering SONY's 1st and 2nd party games usually bring the best story/graphics/gameplay).

to me SOCOM 4 is 7/10 single player and a 9/10 multi-play. keep in mind my SOCOM clan is still in tact with 50+ members so no lack of strategy in the games i get to play. i could imagine people with no clan could feel the flow of the game has changed.

[n4gisatroll]

See 9/10 is way to high for MP, I think 4/10 is about right when where talking about MP only.

[zgoldenlionz]

@grzajabarkus ill LOL at that! during the beta and the first two days i saw close to no lag while playing online. the game mechanics are the same as single-play. a 4 is just rediculous and you know it.

[GunofthePatriots]

LOL

[user858621]

LOOOOL

[clrlite]

It's not a 4, that's not even a realistic score. N/t though...

A seven and I might think, "eh, ok whatever"

[Max_Dissatisfaction]

Rough rough year for sony. This was supposed to be The Year Of The PS3 but so far its just been drama after drama and a couple duds as far as quality and sales go for exclusive games.

[Boody-Bandit]

Hi I'm Brash Games, give me hits!
Stop with the BS. Is Socom 4 a AAA title? No.
But a 4? Oh stop with the trolling. Anything below a 6 (tops) is screaming for hits.

[Headquarters11]

Wow, this game deserves no less than a 8.

[BlackTar187]

how are they reviewing a game that is basically for MP when the server was only up for 1 day after release?

[Lone_Star]

From what I played in the beta I would give it a 6/10.

[ExPresident]

Don't agree with the review. You spent a lot of time being wordy for the sake of clearly making your point that you didn't like the game.

The multiplayer, after the BETA, clearly has not been tested as the servers have been down. Good job being wordy with that to, basing your words off the BETA.

MAG was a great game, but I'm glad you took the time to insert your dislike for it in your Socom 4 review. I actually liked the SP, albeit some problems, of S4 and while the AI could have been better I didn't think it was as bad as you say. You can have your squads follow MULTIPLE waypoints, so how bout use those instead of letting your squad run from point a to b via a straight line in the open?

The only thing I'm sorry about between my purchase of Socom 4 and reading your review is the point where I clicked on your site link.

[nycrekid]

They got you man. I bought this game day one anyway despite some low reviews. These lowball reviews seems to be coming from only bs blog sites and lesser know sites and almost all of them mention MAg or the old Socom. After playing most of sp on my 3d tv I can say imo this game is a solid 7.5 to 8. In no way is this game a 4, which is pretty much unplayable.

It is definitely not unplayable, the coop is fun as hell before PSn went down, the mp is fun and the 3d is really clean. it also supports move which is implemented really well.

Reviewers who give this game 3 and 4s don't deserve to have a voice on games imo.

[zgoldenlionz]

how would you rate the 3d for this game? i have a 3d tv arriving on my doorstep in the nenxt few days and really want to check it out.

[Knushwood Butt]

@ zgoldenlionz

The 3D is nicely done. It's more subtle and not so in your face. As such, it's pretty crisp.

Compare that with Killzone 3, where the 3D is much more pronounced, but can be a bit shadowy, especially when set to 100%.

So far I have left the Socom 4 3D settings at the default.

[Shield]

They should really consider going back to the original style of gameplay like MK did. I miss the old SOCOM!

Edit: I meant the online gameplay. I liked the older style a bit better especially the game modes like escort and such.

[Ju]

That might be true for online. But SP plays exactly like the original. Not sure where the complains come from.

I didn't buy it for the online anyway. I like tactical SP games. And, like in Graw2, you can play endless missions offline with the custom mission mode. I was worried that the campaign would be short - but a) it isn't and b) with custom missions it doesn't even matter.

I can't wait until PSN is back on. Those missions must be a blast online.

[nycrekid]

Ju

The missions are awesome online with friends. I play for a few hours before Psn went down. Just make sure you choose difficulty and number of enemies correctly. I went on with just 2 friends chose medium difficulty with high enemies and when we got into the base we got bum rushed by seemingly hundreds of soldiers! LOL

[Boody-Bandit]

This isn't even a review. It's an opinion piece.
That's the problem with lame sites trying to pass off their slanted opinion as a review. Games are a product and that is how they should be judge. The authors personal preference should be the lowest common denominator of their scoring systems.

[PS3gamer4life]

socom4 is an 8-10 great game thanx sony

[cereal_killa]

Sorry but no way is this game a 4/10 I never expected this game to get 9 and 10s across the board from everyone 7,8 and 9s is what I expected to see I personally would rate this game an 8.5/10 I haven't stopped playing this since I got it will wait for PSN to get back up so I can play some MP and see if some of my old Socom buddies are playing.

[DocHoliday]

I played Socom 4 and it was terrible. Absolutely nothing like previous socoms (which i loved) Zipper should of stuck with the old formula.