Super Street Game Reviews
| Game Title: SOCOM II: U.S. Navy SEALs |
| Genre: Action/Military Strategy |
| Console: Playstation2 |
| Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America, Inc. |
| Developer: Zipper Interactive |
| Hot: Excellent graphics, killer missions (no pun intended) |
| Not: Controls may be hard for some |
| Score: |  |
The original SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs has set some impressive records over the past year. Sony stats reveal that during peak playing times SOCOM has approximately 11,000-14,000 players gaming simultaneously with a total of 50,000-60,000 gamers playing an average of three hours a day online. That's a lot of SOCOM being played to say the least. Developers must have been under tons of pressure to not only maintain current fan loyalty, but to attract hordes of new fans as well. Gamers won't be disappointed because SOCOM II: U.S. Navy SEALs promises to keep players fighting the good fight in 12 new missions spanning the continents. It comes loaded with improved AI, cool features, new weapons, and enhanced communications to guarantee tons of hours of outstanding game play.
In these new missions you'll be collaborating with Special Ops forces from British SAS groups and Russia's Spetznaz to help you annihilate the enemy. Of course, the graphics of the game are excellent and lend that real world feel to all the missions. In SOCOM II, you have plenty of options to play either a single player game offline, a multiplayer game online, or a newly added LAN game. For the LAN game, all you have to do is manage to sneak the game past your IT department and your boss. Easy enough, ya? Now, you and your work mates are set to face danger and destroy terrorists--striking that blow for freedom and the chance to do a victory dance among the office cubicles.
Online gamers will be stoked to know that two new types of missions have been added. Don't worry-Demoliton, Extraction (Hostage Rescue), and Suppression challenges are still available, but now your team can try Breach and Escort as well. Plus, the original 10 online missions are still playable and have been updated and enhanced. Using a SOCOM or USB headset allows easy verbal communication, and it now has a couple of new features. Sub-channels have been added so that team members can use them for offense and defense plans, and a new on-screen display box will show who is speaking.
There are 15 new weapons to use, including machine guns, laser designators, anti-personnel mines, shotguns, handguns, sniper rifles, plus T72 Tanks and Apache helicopters. Take careful aim before shooting, because weapon accuracy depends on your movement and how the weapon recoils. Developers weren't fooling around in their quest to bring you the most realistic military game around.
SOCOM fans can look forward to playing this excellent follow-up to the original. There are many more features and enhancements than we were able to mention-it's just easier for you to check it out for yourself. If you've never played SOCOM, but like shooting games, military games, then SOCOM II: U.S. Navy Seals should top your list of games to buy and try. We give this game a strong five nukes.