SOCOM US Navy Seals Fire Team Bravo Review for PSP

Since DooM came along on the 486, the first person shooter game has become a stable of the gamers life. Luckily, the PSP is one of the first handhelds that can do this genre justice (Let’s forget about the poor effort that Ecks vs Server was on the Gameboy, okay). The entry of the SOCOM series to the PSP was something gamers were looking forward to , and it’s a great FPS. It’s not the best, but it’s certainly more than we epxected given it was one of the first iteration of games from the developers.

As with every FPS on the PSP (and most conversions from the PS1 and PS2), SOCOM has to deal with the PSP only having a single analouge control stick - most home consoles use the dual analog sticks to provide looks (under one) and movement (on the other). It’s not a perfect set-up, but using the analouge stick to move, and then using the d-pad to switch into ‘look around’ mode is a workable solution, and after the first level one that seems natural.

SOCOM is also a great multi-player game in two respects. The first is that in every level you have a computer controlled team mate who you can order using the O key. He is a great asset, providing cover, setting bombs, and being some extra firepower, but he’s a bit dumb, so you’ll always need to assume you’ll be doing the mission on your own. True multplyaer is available both with local PSP players (using Wi-Fi) or over the internet to play in specially designed maps with SOCOM players around the world. This is fantastic, and has very little lag. A great idea, well implemented, but jsut remember the people on here are extremely good players, and you’ll need to be as well to keep up.

An additional bonus in the internet multiplayer isyou can use a voice headset like a walkie talkie and chat to your teammates.

Where SOCOM is let down is (like most modern games) in the level design. Sure, there may be corners, turns and stairs, but there is no choice in your route to go. It feels like navigating a cylinder where you are told to shoot at various times - once you know where to shooyt, it’s simple. You can’t stealth around anything, you can;t look for alternate routes around a building or in a raily yard, you go where the deigner wants you. Nice the first time around, boring the second, and ultimately fatal to the games longevity once you’ve been round all the levels a few times.

Multiplayer fans will lap it up - and that saves the title. Gorgeously muddy graphics can make it hard sometimes, the levels are very pedestrian otherwise, and overall it seems more of a technical demo than a full priced title.

Tags: psp, review, socom, fire team bravo