Zipper Interactive recently released a new title to the SOCOM franchise called SOCOM 3: US Navy SEALs. You may remember the release of SOCOM 2 after the original SOCOM, everyone including myself thought that they improved it 10 fold. But it gets even better with the latest release of SOCOM 3!

When you here the term online console gaming, most of you immediately think of Microsoft’s Xbox Live. It has, by opinion made a staple in the console gaming world as we know it today. But many, myself included, may argue that SOCOM online play is what revolutionized the console gaming industry. It’s quite clear that Zipper focused on the online aspect of SOCOM 3, but the single player mode also received a bit of new attention.

Flying Solo..

SOCOM 3’s single player mode has improved in a lot of areas, but has left a few of the same old bugs around. The levels are so spacious they would even impress Martha Stuart. Although, wide open areas tend to make being stealthy a tad bit difficult. After all, trying to sneak up on someone in a wide open plane may be a bit difficult… But there are some pretty intriguing urban stealth missions along with it, some at night. Night game play is probably where SOCOM 3 shines in its single player realm. Pull out your laser and pin a giant red target on enemy artillery vehicles and watch your air strike team wipe them off the face of the planet! Or, go Sam Fisher style and whip out your night vision goggles to eliminate the nocturnal terrorists.

As I stated earlier, the game comes with its previous bugs from SOCOM 1 and 2. (Shame on you Zipper Interactive! You’re supposed to learn from your mistakes…) Not only does the enemy AI seem to have gotten dumber (less smart?) but your own squad seems to have a death wish. Say you’re in a very intense firefight with some terrorist bad guys, you can be almost sure that at least one of your team mates will jump in your line of fire! (The civilians tend to have the same issue..) Aside form that you also have the supernatural players who have gained the ability to walk right through walls and barriers!

Along with your supernatural NPC’s and the suicidal team mates, you also have the same old voice recognition problems. Now, I have to say, it isn’t too shabby for a VR system that doesn’t “learn” the users voice, but they could improve. There are points at which you are trying to fire out commands to your squad and the VR won’t recognize it for your life (literally!) and you have to resort to that pesky on-screen drop-down command list. This also depends on the user’s voice; some people just naturally speak more clearly then others. I find that the game is able to recognize my words more often then not.

Virtual Warfare!

Zipper Interactive Xed out some of the things we certainly won’t miss! Such as, the tiny maps, mostly close-quarters play, and 16 player game play! This time around we have huge, vast maps which allow for the new vehicular play a bit more room (a lot more actually). I heard and believe that the smallest map on SOCOM 3 is still bigger then the largest map on SOCOM 2. We’ve also gained 32 player games! 32 players!! Zipper has doubled the amount of shooting action that can be jammed into one game!

The implementing of vehicles isn’t another “newb” feature. Parts on all maps are just too small to possibly get a vehicle in. So being the first player to jump in the humvee isn’t much of a bonus. Protecting your means of transport is important though. If a team loses their vehicle, they are at a bit of a disadvantage.

As with SOCOM 2, previous maps are also included. If you’re the SOCOM vet we know you are, then this is a plus, as they are the only close quarter’s maps you’re going to be able to play on. Also, all games modes are universally available for every map.

All in all, congratulations Zipper Interactive, because once again you beat the last title in the franchise by 10 fold! Although I wouldn’t recommend purchasing this game unless you’re going to primarily use it for online play, I would say this is a definite buy for SOCOM vets and noobs alike!

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