SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo 2 Review (PSP)

The SAS may be harder, but they don’t have a game this good!

When you look at the first person / third person shooters on the PSP, there are a surprising number available. Already reviewed here you have Call of Duty Roads to Victory, you have Syphon Filter, SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo and soon even Ghost Reckon and Rainbow Six Las Vegas. So when you see a sequel to a hit like SOCOM you really find yourself hoping that it will not only live up the original, but also stand out against the competition.

One of the best online experiences you will find on a handheld

SOCOM 2 sees you playing as leader of a two man commando unit. you and your team mate are sent on various missions that can involve anything from neutralising the enemy in a village to rescuing hostages to recovering evidence of wrong doing.

After a mission brief you need to equip the team. There are dozens of real world guns and items to choose from. Unlike its predecessor not all of these open to use from the start. as you progress through the single player campaign you gain experience. You can then start unlocking weapons and items for not only the single player game but also the superb multiplayer.

As far as the controls go, very little has changed. It is still almost perfect. The main character is easy to move around, with intelligent placement of controls and superb sight lock on. Commanding your team mate is as simple as looking somewhere and holding down the circle button. There is also a full command list, which has been tweaked to be somewhat more logical in its layout.

Controlling you partner is an integral part of the game. The ai does a good job of keeping him out of trouble, but when you get into a fire fight he will instantly try to come to your aid. However, his most useful functions have to be ordered. You can use him to open a door and clear a room, or run out into the open to lay down covering fire. Some missions can not be completed without your team mates’ help. For instance he is the only one who can blow up certain targets. It all helps to create a more strategic game, rather than just a run and gun.

SOCOM looked good when it came out and the sequel does not disappoint. The graphics are clear and detailed, with very few glitches. The maps are varied although there seems to be less of the large, sweeping outdoor maps this time.

The original SOCOM was released in 2005 / 2006. It came with a headset and was one of the first games to truly tap into the full potential of online gaming on the PSP. Not only did it allow up to 16 players to battle it out, but you could talk to each other with the brilliant voice over IP features.

SOCOM 2 continues this legacy with one of the best online experiences you will find on a handheld.

Some may say not much has changed, but when the original was so good, why change! Admittedly the enemy ai can still be a bit dumb but the graphics are still excellent for the PSP, the sound still fitting and the game-play still perfectly balanced. Throw in new weapons and items, an experience / unlock system and some fresh multiplayer maps and you are left with the best shooter on the PSP, even if it does feel a bit like an add on pack!