Destructoid Review: SOCOM 4: U.S. Navy SEALs

SOCOM: Confrontation caused quite a stir due to its mixed reviews. Many praised the potential it had, but lamented its notorious network problems and glitches. Now that series creator Zipper Interactive is back in the driving seat, SOCOM has a chance at some crucial redemption.

[Optical_Matrix]

Uh oh

[LOGICWINS]

Uh oh indeed. People aren't going to like this.

[solideagle1]

can we say SOCOM has no chance now to be franchise? zipper should have made MAG 2 with story?

thanks

[Imtey]

Jim Sterling at it again!

[MAJ0R]

hmm this game may be bad but I would say that is an unfair score

[JohnnyMann420]

People have to remember that 3/10 is a horrible game, whether you like Jim Sterling or not.

Does this game deserve more than a 3/10?

Would you rate this a 3/10 if you were a reviewer?

I am sorry I don't really like Socom and I played the beta and to be honest a 3/10 score is just completely rediculous. Even I would give this game nothing less than a 6 and 6 is NOT a good score.

Jim Sterling is an idiot that likes rating things he doesn't like as low as possible.

Talk about throwing your weight around (pun intended)

[SageHonor]

Holy Crap!!. I dont ever look at destructoid but 3/10 seems a little too harsh. This looks like one of those games with some serious mixed opinions.. The highest score ive seen so far is 8.5 and this is the lowes

So far all of the scores ive seen are 3, 7.9, 8.5, 8.5 and a 6...

Lets see what IGN and Gamepot says

[Ju]

Sterling is bi-polar. :) LOL KZ3 10/10, Socom4 3/10. Not brave enough to give it a 1. Just for the controversy. That would imply at least some joke factor.

[captain-obvious]

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAH

oh boy the shit just hit the fan

[rockleex]

He's a bi-polar attention seeking reviewer with a holier-than-thou act.

Just move along.

[captain-obvious]

you know what
i want this to get bigger

i hope Sony black list destructoid so we could have some drama fun internet thingy lol

[baodeus]

Sony is not affiliated w/ any reviewer sites right, so does it matter if Sony black listed destructoid? What is that gonna do?

[ComboBreaker]

Knowing Destructoid, I am pretty sure it's just a joke article.

[Pixel_Pusher]

"In my short time with the online (and it was short, because I couldn't keep playing what was, essentially, unplayable), I saw grenades hovering in mid-air, never moving or activating. I saw bodies floating five feet off the ground. I saw people dying from explosions that didn't actually happen. I've seen disconnections and game kicks of every description."

Wow this guy is completely full of shit. Thank god Sony released the beta to all otherwise this scumbag review might been taken seriously.

[HolyOrangeCows]

An exceptional franchise conforms to the Call of Duty crowd and gets a 3/10, as opposed to all of the new COD rip offs getting 7/8s and COD games getting 9s.

Oh YEEEAAAH, that's fair.
/s

[Commander_TK]

Holy shit.

I would've understood a 6 or 7, but 3 is going too far.

[Pixel_Pusher]

http://www.computerandvideo...

"It's tough to draw too many definitive conclusions while a game's still in beta as there's still some final tweaking , balancing and finessing to be done. However, subjective as these things are, SOCOM 4's online games are smooth, lag-free with plenty of players ready to do battle in a pleasingly slick experience that's every bit as compelling as the best of the FPS breed. With a wealth of game modes and styles, a decent progression system, plenty of rewards and perks to choose from and some satisfyingly hearty tactical shooting action, there's every sign that SOCOM 4 will not only live up to, but exceed the series' finest multiplayer traditions."

[badz149]

Crazy Jim Sterling is at it again! if he's reviewing the game for himself, better don't post the score at all because 3/10 for SOCOM is showing that he's a TROLL! just like how he gave 10/10 as opposed to the average 6/10 to Deadly Premonition and I realized that he was always a TROLL!

[kancerkid]

Hi, I am a Sony fanboy. Instead of arguing against the points the reviewer brought up in his written piece, I will ignore every single word written and instead focus on the score at the end and comment on how ludicrous the score is, even though I most likely did not even play the game.

I also ignore the fact that reviews are opinions, because, you know, sometimes people hate even the best games ever released.

[Biggest]

Hi! I'm a 360 fanboy. Instead of arguing against the points the posters brought up in their comments, I will ignore every single word written and instead focus on something totally different, even though I most likely did not even play the game.

Pixel_Pusher spelled it out for you with quotes and links. Please continue to ignore it. . . But go elsewhere to do so.

[Anon1974]

It's to the point now when I see medium to high reviews and then a 2 or a 3 I ask myself "was it Jim Sterling"? And it is, again.

Destructoid again continues it's descent into mediocrity. First he's mad because the game needs to load and for some reason splash screens, which every freaking game has, is somehow an annoyance that warrants a lower score now. Then he bitches that the story is generic, with a bunch of angry guys running around with guns. This is a shooter, right?

The Gameplay he claims is "standard". So tell me, dear Jim, does that mean all shooters should get a 3 if that's the "standard"? Then he bitches about lag as if Socom 4 is the first game to suffer from laggy servers right out of the gate. My experience has been that Call of Duty games you might as well not even pop in for the first 2 months for online play.

Then he claims the online is actually fairly decent. Bi-polar much?

Perhaps in the future you might consider taking your meds before reviewing games. Either that or leave it to the reviewers that don't have a history of assigning good games low scores for hits.

[roguewarrior]

Played the PSN beta for 5 hours straight full 32 player suppression. No lag, no gliches( never fell through floor, never saw grenades float in air, ect. guess i got real lucky,

[solideagle1]

can we say SOCOM has no chance now to be franchise? zipper should have made MAG 2 with story?

thanks

[Danielmccue]

I think its more of a third person MAG than SOCOM judging from the beta.

[gamerzBEreal17]

did u play it with move? cuz thats probably why it felt like MAG to u without it it doesnt

[thief]

I think we can say Jim Sterling has no chance of being taken seiously as a reviewer.

Reviews be damned, to me this game is a must-buy because of two reasons: to experience the famed socom multiplayer community (never played the PS2 socoms) and enjoy some unique team-based gameplay, and also to enjoy a game that shares some of the gameplay that MAG has, any game that comes from the developers of MAG has to rock.

[Ju]

It is no MAG. I don't know. People comparing that with MAG haven't played either. The art style resembles to MAG somewhat but is much more improved in Socom4. The playstyle is completely different; 3rd and 1st person just play differently all together. Tactics is different. Maybe hit response is the only one which might be similar (1-2-3 shot kills).

[SageHonor]

Socom is already a franchise

[Noble Spartan]

well pretty much absolute just like MAG.

[nolifeking]

I keep hearing people saying this, but
i remember people saying MAG was a first person Socom. So if Mag was Socom in first person and S4 is Mag in third person, don't we hava a paradox or something?

[chidori666]

*inba Jim Sterling generic coments of fanboys*

[saladthieves]

You have to remember: there are people out there who will not like this game or think that it is not good enough. I'm loving the beta. You can be sure that I'll get the game once it gets out. 3/10 is a really low score man.

[chase167]

this site needs the hits
ign is killing them

[RememberThe357]

HAHAHAHAHA

[chase167]

i think its time to hire a younger guy to do these reviews
this guy must be too old or caught his boyfriend with another guy because his is out of touch with games

[DrFUD]

"People have to remember that 3/10 is a horrible game, whether you like Jim Sterling or not. "

Unless you're in the know and search for SOCOM reviews online.
Destructoid shows up on page 28 of a game review search right.
and I don't care if you use Destructoid's own search it's still on page 33 of the results.
Destructoids review means nothing

[Joni-Ice]

I think Zipper deserves every score they receive. They did not stay true to the past Socom formula and because of it, will frustrate a lot of fans that enjoyed past Socoms for what it was. I think if this game was called something else people perception of the game would have been different but when its the 4th game of the series and Zipper decides to change EVERYTHING that made past games amazing, wont sit well with the fans. Its not a bad game, its just not what people expected Socom 4 to be. It went in the opposite direction. Imagine when Modern Warfare 3 releases and it plays like Socom Confrontation. Everything that made Modern Warfare awesome in the past was remove, all the COD fans would be bitching that its not what they are use to. Thats Socom 4.

[arika]

it must be a really late april fools day joke. it's really funny though...lol!

[redwolf]

this review is just a joke, although the game may be a little outdates it doesn't make it as bad game as the auther makes out it to be

[Ju]

How is the game outdated? Because it isn't the usual generic 1st person diet we are usually getting these days? Yeah, if this defines what is modern these days, yep, than it's outdated. Glad it is, in that case.

[ALFAxD_CENTAURO]

Haha, lol.

Let me guess...Jim Sterling.

[GameTavern]

I don't necessarily disagree with the review, but I have a blanket dislike of Jim Sterling's reviews in general.

[theafroman]

meh.

[Danielmccue]

n my short time with the online (and it was short, because I couldn't keep playing what was, essentially, unplayable), I saw grenades hovering in mid-air, never moving or activating. I saw bodies floating five feet off the ground. I saw people dying from explosions that didn't actually happen. I've seen disconnections and game kicks of every description. In short, I've seen every major problem an online game could have, all magnified to absurd levels. "

WOW i didn't experience any of this at all, he must have a horrid internet connection.

[MysticStrummer]

Yeah my time with the beta has seen few glitches. It's been more like a final release than a beta in every way. Sadly, I expect this from this generation's "journalists", especially concerning a PS3 exclusive. Initial reviews for Warhawk, MAG, and GT5 all contained BS of the highest order. Add Socom 4 to that list. I can't wait for the 19th.

[Lovable]

Just kill the franchise. Even its own fanbase hates the game.

[MysticStrummer]

I've been a huge fan since day one of game one. I loved the beta and laugh at the whiners.

[ps3bestever]

good score :P

[rmedtx]

3? are you kidding me? It can't be that bad. Zipper is a great developer.

[im-12-years-old]

"Zipper is a great developer."

dohohoho, how wrong you are. They took a great game franchise and turned it into call of duty TPS.

Forgot to mention how MAG bombed, I had high hopes for MAG and bought it day 1 but ended up unsatisfied. Not making the same mistake.

[user9422077]

Jim Sterling reads N4G comments (he tweets how the people who comment here are stupid)

But really, Jim Sterling just wants to receive attention.

All his reviews (and I really couldn't give a shit) don't make sense:

Assassin's Creed II
FFXIII

Just a attention seeking, cake-eating, piece of s***

[Ducky]

What's wrong with eating cake?

In fact, I prefer reviewers that eat cake. Better than those other blokes that seem to hand out high-scores like cakes.

Edit: Much happier.

[user9422077]

Every single type of food-eating piece of s***. Happy?

[ISKREEM]

Everyone seems to flip out when a reviewer actually uses the whole ten-point scale. Instead of classifying a game rated 7/10 as bad.

My mind was already made up after playing the demo, it felt extremely dated to me. I'd much rather put my money towards something like Portal 2 next week.

[rockleex]

Merc, its not that he uses the full scale.

Its that he abuses it.

Just look at his review for Deadly Premonition giving it a 10/10 compared to everyone else scoring it with 5's or lower.

He does it only because he wants attention. Even Eurogamer and Edge use the full scale better than Jim Sterling.

[HellzAssassin]

Nothing's wrong with cake, it's just that pie is better :D Nomnomnom

[solidjun5]

"Jim Sterling reads N4G comments (he tweets how the people who comment here are stupid) "

He probably has an account somewhere. Yes he does want attention. Man, I'm trying to stay away from cake. I'm messing up my diet. :-/

[Danielmccue]

WOW Seriously?

Wasn't expecting that at all.

[godoftime]

awesome review.

[Ju]

Yeah, for the entertainment value and a couple of laughs. Jim should apply for late night.

[im-12-years-old]

Agreed, I read the review (along with other reviews) and im now not picking this game up. The beta was polished and ran smooth, but there are so many small problems with the game that it made it unbearable.

Im also not buying socom for the story mode, and if what I hear about the co-op is true then I won't be waisting money on this 3rd person COD clone.

BRING BACK SOCOM!

[ElementX]

I knew this would be sh!t. Zipper is a crap developer, but people kid themselves and think Zipper is the bestest eva!

[saf100792]

Have you seen the other reviews? Just asking

[ElementX]

Yes, I have

http://www.metacritic.com/g...