SOCOM: U.S. Navy Seals: Combined Assault (PlayStation 2)

GameSpot editors' review

• CNET editors' rating: 4.0 stars Excellent
  Detailed editors' rating
  Overall score: 8.2 (4.0 stars)

• Reviewed by:
  Greg Mueller
• Reviewed on: 11/08/2006
• Released on: 11/07/2006
• Originally published on GameSpot: SOCOM: U.S. Navy Seals: Combined Assault (PlayStation 2) Review

The SOCOM games from Sony Computer Entertainment America and developer Zipper Interactive have consistently shown that the PlayStation 2 is fully capable of delivering a robust, lively online shooter experience. These games have always been focused on multiplayer, and with each of the three installments on the PlayStation 2, the online game has improved significantly. But after three great games in three years, the room for improvement has diminished with each new installment. It's perhaps not entirely surprising then that with the fourth game in the series, SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs Combined Assault, leaves the standard online gameplay completely untouched. Instead, it focuses on creating a lengthy and engaging campaign that works great as a single-player experience but can also be played cooperatively online. The result is a new SOCOM game that offers great value for returning SEALs and new recruits alike.

The story campaign takes place entirely in the fictional country of Adjikistan. The 18 missions take you from snowy mountains to crumbling cities and seaside industrial complexes. The mission parameters are varied and, for the most part, well designed. Each mission has several primary objectives that you must complete, as well as optional secondary and bonus objectives. You complete these objectives to earn badges, as well as unlock new weapons and extras. The objectives require you to do things like neutralize all of the enemies in a specific area, demolish enemy structures or supplies, capture enemy officers, gather intelligence, and so on. As you play, you'll gather information that sheds light on the story. It's this context that will go a long way to keep things interesting as you make your way through each mission.

You're given a bit of freedom in the way you tackle the campaign. For one thing, you can choose the order of the missions that you play. You're usually given two or three missions to choose from, which makes the progression of the campaign slightly less linear. However, it's not completely open-ended because you still have to complete every mission to beat the game. The missions themselves are similarly flexible. The levels are large and open, which means you can move about freely to complete the objectives in any order. However, some objectives aren't available until certain conditions are met. Also, the levels are fairly expansive, but one look at your tactical map will reveal an obvious logical progression through each level. As a result, each mission will feel very much the same each time you play it. Even so, it's much less constricting (and more fun) than simply running from one end of a level to the other, killing everything that moves.

The basic gameplay in Combined Assault is very similar to the previous SOCOM games, with a few minor but appreciable tweaks. Before each mission, you can choose your gear to suit your needs. There are plenty of machine guns, rifles, pistols, grenades, and nonlethal weapons to choose from for your mission. You'll find that having the right equipment for the job is essential. Once you're loaded up with an arsenal of high-tech tactical treats, you can set out on your mission. The gameplay sticks closely to the sneak-and-shoot style of previous SOCOM games. In most missions, it behooves you to keep your distance from enemies and pick them off one by one before they're aware of your presence. If you prefer a more kinetic experience, you can rush in guns blazing. However, rushing in is often a good way to get killed. It only takes a few shots to kill you so, of course, you'll want to be sure to eat as little lead as possible. If you do happen to get shot and not die, you can use a medkit to restore about half of your health. You only get a few of these at the beginning of each level though, so you have to use them wisely. SOCOM vets need not worry because even with the medkits, the underlying tactical combat in Combined Assault is as satisfying and challenging as ever.

You're accompanied on each mission by a team of three SEALs. Your squad mates are controlled by the game's artificial intelligence, but you can issue commands by using the Team Command menu. You can bring up this menu with the circle button; then choose which SEALs to order and what orders to give them. There are command options for just about every situation you'll face, but pulling up a menu in the middle of combat isn't an ideal way to issue orders. Thankfully, you can issue just about any commands you'll ever need with a single, context-sensitive button. You can simply aim at any object or area and press the L2 button to issue commands, such as opening a door, planting a bomb, taking down an enemy, or moving to a specific location. This system is intuitive and easy. Unless you want to get into advanced tactics, you can easily play through the entire game without opening the Team Command menu once. You can still use a USB headset to issue voice commands to your team, but that option feels antiquated because it's much easier to just aim and press a button.

The only problem with the team command system is that the artificial intelligence isn't always responsive. As a result, you'll find that it's easier to simply do everything yourself rather than relying on your team. Doing that, however, defeats the purpose of having a team at all. Sometimes it does come in handy to have a team that you can send into a room to clear out enemies or send out into a clearing to draw fire for locating your enemies. But for the most part, you don't have to pay attention to your teammates at all as long as they stay alive. If all of your teammates are killed in battle, you automatically lose the mission. This can be frustrating, but usually the artificial intelligence is at least sufficient enough to keep your teammates out of harms way. Your teammates also have problems just moving around at times. There are pathfinding issues that will cause your team to get separated from you. In close quarters, such as narrow hallways, your teammates will bunch up and be unable to move. Even worse, they'll get in your way so that you can't move either. These problems are more exaggerated on certain levels. When they do occur, however, they can be very frustrating.

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