Product Description

Protect America from enemy forces over sea, air and land in SOCOM: US Navy SEALs. The game places you in the role of an elite SEAL commander whose team is asked to fight terrorists in 17 deadly missions within four real-world environments. With more than 30 weapons and unparalleled skills and tactical manoeuvres at your disposal, you must annihilate those who dare challenge the US Navy SEALs while completing your missions. SOCOM: US Navy SEALs comes with a USB microphone/headset, and is online-enabled (a separate PS2 network adapter is required for online play). The game offers 12 unique single-player missions and support for up to 16 players via the network adapter and a broadband connection.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #14325 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: Sony
• Released on: 2003-06-11
• Platform: PlayStation2

Amazon.co.uk Review
SOCOM: US Navy Seals is Sony's first ever online console game, and one that gives you and your friends the chance to join the army and kill terrorists without ever leaving the comfort of your home.

Even though every British schoolboy knows the SAS are the hardest Special Forces group in the world, market economics dictate that SOCOM allows you to fill only the designer camouflage suits of their US counterparts. The game is a squad-based solider simulator in the vein of Rainbow Six, although because it's been designed specifically for the PS2 it works a lot better than any other similar game with a simple-to-use control interface and excellent graphics.

Unfortunately, where the game doesn't break tradition with other similar titles is in the AI, which is fairly naff and means friendly fire is far more likely to kill you and your team-mates than anything the enemy might do. Of course playing the game online with up to 15 of your friends makes this far less of a problem and is where the game really shines.

The SOCOM package comes complete with a free headset that plugs into your PS2 and lets you hear and talk to anyone you're playing with or against online. However, to actually get online you'll need a Network Adaptor, which is sold separately, and a broadband Internet connection. Getting everything working online is nice and easy though, thanks to the various deals Sony has made with the UK's biggest broadband providers, and you'll be online zapping terrorists, friends and family in no time at all. --David Jenkins

Official PlayStation 2 Magazine
"Engrossing tactical action, with the added bonus of online play. 8/10."

Customer Reviews

You become totally absorbed into this game!
This is one of the best games I've ever played. I don't have any online facilities so I play on 1 player mode but it is still a kick-ass game. You actually find yourself peering around the screen to get a better viewpoint of the enemy because the graphics and headset get you totally absorbed into the game. Using the headset makes the game much more real. You feel a bit of a plonker wearing it if your mates are around but it really adds to the game to be fed information that only you can hear from the HQ. Working as a two or 4 man team, it's also great having to rely on the others to cover you. Postioning them at the correct place to best cover you can often make the difference between completing a level or getting killed. It is more expensive than other games, but comes with a headset also. It is one of those games that even though you have completed a level, it's fun to go back and try completing it taking a different route and using different tactics and weapons. Sniper rifle is also superb! Definately a 5 star buy!

An amazing game
So, it's finally here!... the future of console gaming - interaction with other players via online connectivity.

Socom has, since day one of its conception, had carry the burden of the being called the above and a lot more. Sony had better get it right if this was going to be a quiet revolution.

Happily, and with much relief on the faces on the Sony execs!, Socom is perhaps the biggest and best game to be released in years.

The game revolves around a four man crack navy US seal team - the player taking the lead whilst controlling the rest of the team via the joypad or through a USB connected headset - this is where it really starts getting fun!!!!!.
Commands such as "Bravo lead to Delta". (Bravo being the call sign of your backup team), or Attack to Charlie, means that you have at your disposal the ability to work as a team - or not, if you feeling a bit gung-ho!.
The game is set over 12 locations/levels, and the AI of the enemy is very good and will leave you with sweaty palms everytime as your trigger finger remains constantly itchy.

But what about the online capabilities?? - i hear you cry.

Once again, Sony have delivered well.

The idea being, once connected using a network adaptor and broadband connection, you go online to a server. Once on the server there are a number of game rooms or "lobbys".
Simply choose the lobby and either join a game or create one of your own and wait for other player to join.

Run around as either a seal (goodie!) or a terrorist (you guessed it -baddie!) and you can speak to your team mates via the headset.
So you can choose to storm a barge, or sneak up on a bad guy and pop a cap in the proverbial!, or even clear an area as a team with a methodical approach.
Oh, and dont worry if you die!, you'll be able to talk to your other dead colleagues about tactics, (or anything!!) , in readiness for the next game.

All in all a superb game, will keep you going for hours and hours.
You could lose a lot of sleep playing this so don's say i didn't want you!!!!!.

Oh and did mention Socom II due out in March 2004????!!!!

But that's another review, perhaps?..............

Excellent Online!
I have been testing the UK release of SOCOM since March, and have to say that it is a fantastic game online, though less so offline.
Rather than talk about the offline (single player) mode, I'm going to concentrate on the online game.
Setting up your network adapter and settings is a doddle if you are with one of the big networks. (BT, NTL etc). Once you are in it's just as easy to find a game.
The basic gameplay is very simple. There are 2 teams of up to 8 players each, the SEALS and the terrorists. You go around the map and either kill all the other team, or complete another objective.
There are 3 game 'types' depending on the map you play on. On all maps, if one team are all killed, the round is over. Suppression (last team standing wins), Hostage rescue, and Plant the bomb in the other teams base.
You use the headset to communicate with your team mates and it is a truely great gaming experience.
There is so much more, but I'm trying to keep it compact. I would recommend this to anyone who intends to buy a network adapter and plans to play online, but would suggest playing a demo before buying for the single player only.

By the way, if you do buy and go online, look out for people with [PL] before their names. We are a clan called the Phoenix Legion and we're a friendly bunch!

See you online!