Nov. 2, 2007
SOCOM: U.S Navy SEALs Tactical Strike
Third Game In the PSP Series Will Keep Fans Wanting More
-
Play CBS Video Video "SOCOM: Tactical Strike" "SOCOM: Tactical Strike" hits the PSP as a strategy based game focusing on tactical maneuvers and command and control. You can also take control of foreign Special Forces teams.
-
-
Jungle warfare set in Panama. (SCEA)
-
Simple commands to order your teammates around. (SCEA)
-
Clear out enemy strongholds. (SCEA)
-
Stealth Kill. (SCEA)
-
Launching a grenade attack. (SCEA)
-
-
Screen Shots SOCOM: Tactical Strike SOCOM is back on the PSP, but this time with a whole new Command and Control style of play. Take a look at some screenshots.
Just like its Playstation counterpart in Tactical Strike you can order Able element to a specific location and have Bravo element cover them, so use of either elements or the entire fireteam is flexible.
Using the L and R shoulder buttons allows gamers to select each element of individual members in the element. Also available is the ability to heal wounded teammates. You can issue the command when the he is in need of health or when wounded on the ground, but in those cases you have to tend to you teammate quickly or else he dies, which means mission over. One annoying aspect to the overall game is the load time after you die during a mission.
The game goes to the stats menu then the main menu before you can restart from your last checkpoint. That coupled with the PSP's load time makes it annoying. After a while you get desensitized to it and use it as an excellent time to change the playlist on your MP3 player.
Slant Six has kept the same basic mission format from the previous titles. You have to complete a series of objectives in any order, with some bonus objectives in the mission, before you can call it day. At any time once you have completed a mission gamers can replay that mission in Instant Action mode.
Enemy AI seemed to be a bit intelligent at times, ducking and taking cover but there not too mobile and that's what key in a firefight. Occasionally, the enemy will position snipers in some obscure places making it tricky to win a fight. Likewise, what gets frustrating is when your team members don't seek cover while out in the open. A seek cover command is surely needed and absent from this title.
In some cases combat can seem slower, but we have encountered heavy firefights where you had to diver actions to different places at different times. Tactical Strike is very engaging because in certain cases when the situation turns sour, you have to order you're some of your squad members to provide suppressing cover fire while you heal a wounded member. Tactical Strike is also playable in a multiplayer format with 2-4 player Ad Hoc mode and online Infrastructure play with voice chat, if you have the PSP headset.
Above all, gamers that like hardcore shooters would actually enjoy this one as will fans of the series. There are three difficulty settings and multiplayer mode will keep you busy for some time, giving it a high replay value. At the Lieutenant level, veterans of the series should be able to breeze right through the game. Tactical Strike is put together well with solid gameplay, and should be part of every gamers holiday list. Check out some additional in game screenshots here.
SOCOM: U.S Navy SEALs Tactical Strike is rated "T" for Teen (Content suitable for ages 13 or older) and is available exclusively for the Playstation Portable gaming system.
By Cristyan Nevers
© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
More From GameCore
Best-selling author Mitch Albom on his first nonfiction work since "Tuesdays with Morrie."
