@Leobebes: A fanboy would conveniently skip the issues. The review (preview) points them out clearly but just says that they don't get in the way of an otherwise fine game.

FP_slomo788

Wait, so no cover, bots, or destructible environments? Not being a smartass, but what does it offer? Just straight-up old school shootin'? Cool, but not really my style.

$40 is a little steep as well, but I'm sure you get the money's worth. I just have a problem justifying spending more than $20 on a downloadable game. maybe that's why there are a slim number of them.

Narsil

@Striderhayasa - Phillyyakk on PSN and Live.: The single player for COD4 is great fun but the multiplayer is easy mode. The multiplayer for me was fun at first but after a while it just got to be rather boring because it was never difficult to kill anyone.

Detre

@Striderhayasa - Phillyyakk on PSN and Live.: I'm talking about invites to my private match, not the bare basics of getting my friends to PLAY the bloody game...try it in Vegas 2 and you will see what I mean.

Candlejack

Is it me or does this review sound like a fanboy wrote it? Not saying that Jim Reiley is a fanboy, but this little summary sure seems to contain a lot of excuses, but at $40.00 I guess it does keep things in perspective.

Leobebes

@Candlejack: huh? So sending a message saying "meet me in Socom" is hard?

@Jomi294: yeah, I just bought CoD4 and I'm not feeling it the way everyone else seems to. It's a good technical achievement but I hate the "lock-on aiming". It just seems so skilless. I'll give it another shot but I had more fun playing custom maps on UT3.

Striderhayasa - Phillyyakk on PSN and Live.

@R0YB0T: A far better multiplayer, and far superior gameplay in my opinion. CoD4 was just too "noob"-friendly, which is one of the reasons of its mega big success.

Jomi294

@Candlejack: Just send your friends a message through the XMB. "Socom?"

FP_slomo788

I hope they roll out cross-game/global invites soon enough...it's becoming so annoying when I want to play with friends. Or at least private chat in the background so I can instruct newcomers how to accept my invites. Man, I hate how most PS3 games handle private matches.

Candlejack

Yikes. 7 maps is a really bad limitation, even for a $40 game. In fact, I'd go as far as to say that a $40 multiplayer only game with only 7 maps is a rip off.

I know, I know, they can add them as DLC. Trouble is that not everyone buys DLC, and you end up with the DLC maps never being used because you can't get a group together where everyone has the same set of maps.

Gears of War only came with 10 maps, and it was a $60 game, but it had a full single player/co-op campaign, as well.

Rectangle

@kosbee: I bought Qore drunk, but am looking forward as well to beta

ChimDeathmonkey

Any word of when the beta is supposed to start? I bought that first Qore on PSN to get into that

kosbee

@TheHeeyyy: @mfwahwah: didn't know that, thanks for the info I'll bet it'll get rebranded as SOCOM soon probably
@Methusalah: I haven't been a big fan either but that was less to do with the games quality and more to do with being stuck with a slow ass internet connection for ages

excel_excel

I don't know about this game, something about the camera and animation just bugs the hell out of me. Mostly, it's the camera though.

Pistolaero

@D-Sovereignty: same here. Socom is so bought and will go nicely with my MGO addiction. Like coke and crack or gin and juice.

@GOD: LOL that was awesome, I like what you did there...

Striderhayasa - Phillyyakk on PSN and Live.

Not really a fan of the Socom series but am definately gonna give this a go on launch!

Dragnipur

@Elly: If it's anything like Warhawk, the larger 32 player maps will have the option of playing on smaller layouts of the maps. Not sure if they did it this way though.

Abno

FINAL (soon) THE SOCOM HAS COME BACK TO THE PLAYSTATION!

corchadog

@R0YB0T: full clan support, in game tournaments, in game calender to schedule matches, and a rather robust character customization.

Noks415

@Brian Crecente:
Oh - Intern!
Welcome aboard!

StupidityTries

@StupidityTries: I dunno but he seems alright. Check him for a wire anyways he might be a narc.

snakepliskin

I'll pass on this one.

Ricksterlau

Oh, and also, as I asked a couple posts ago in the other SOCOM write-up:
"Do you know if they fixed the walking mechanics of the game? In every video I've seen, people just seem to float and shuffle their feet... drives me crazy!!!"

StupidityTries

@StupidityTries: Look at the masthead.
:D

Brian Crecente

I have no input whatsoever on SOCOM.

I'm just here to throw things at the new intern. Ooooh, thumbtacks!

Tyber_Zann

Who's Jim Reilly?

StupidityTries

@R0YB0T:the ability to not play with you! Huge plus in my eyes.

GOD

@excel_excel:

To be fair though, MAG is being developed by the original SOCOM developers (Zipper).

TheHeeyyy

I already love PSN, Socom will just make me love it even more.

D-Sovereignty

@excel_excel: MAG is made by Zipper, who are behind the whole SOCOM franchise, so it's probably going to be very similar.

@R0YB0T: Customization, different gameplay, a headset (:D), every clan gets a webpage on SOCOM.com (with forum), and well... it's a completely different game really.

mfwahwah

@MrWhitmore: Imagine GRAW meets counter-strike really

NecronomiconUK

and so far no vehicles!
God Socom 3 was terrible. This one looks like its bringing the series back to its roots.

MINIBOSS

What other games out there have similar gameplay? GRAW? R6?

MrWhitmore

Damn, I was hoping for more than two 16 player maps. I miss the days of coordinated strategy and actual teamwork. SOCOM 3 turned it into "every man for himself" and lost the magic of the first two games.

Elly

The incredible bundle with that snazzy headset already sold me on the purcahse, but now it looks like I'll have more fun with the game then I thought I was.

immikeulate

@excel_excel: I've never been a fan of the SOCOM series...

Methusalah

Good to hear.

DigitalHero

I have at least 3 friends who play Socom. Diehard fans, this is an easy decision.

Ryfael

@R0YB0T:
A 3rd person view

Firemane

Sounds really good kotaku, now you got my eye in socom again!

xiked

What does it offer that CoD4 doesn't?

R0YB0T

I hope this game is good. Just don't know if i can justify buying it knowing that 1 month later gears of war 2 will begin it's multi-month stay in my 360 tray. Knowing my dumb ass, i'll buy it anyway.

MASOCHIST187

It looks really well, I'm glad those rumours about MAG being turned into SOCOM aren't true....or are they?

excel_excel

@MyLittlePwny: Clearly you haven't played Battlefield: Bad Company. The game is all about online multiplayer with destructible environments as a gameplay mechanic.

UVaDave

@Narsil:

In defense of socom:

What could it offer? Amazing gameplay especially team based/tactical gameplay. No other shooter besides halo 2 took up as much of my time as Socom 1&2 did.

F*ck bots, what do they offer really? And I havent seen a game elevate destructible environments from gimmick to actual gameplay mechanic, so f*ck it too.

MyLittlePwny

@Candlejack: I assume you get a message from a friend stating "Join me in Socom" with added Join-button and that's it (as in RSVegas). Because this is a PSN game, you don't even have to change a disc, so joining will be easy.
I do recognize that sometimes joining to a PS3 game was a pain in the ass, but emphasis on the WAS and things are getting better with every update and game.

Furu

@Toasticus: sorry mate. I was just taking the piss.

GOD

Looks decent, but I always thought Socom was an average franchise.

HaydenTenno

@R0YB0T A server list. Whoever thought using a party system was better than just telling your friends / enemies what server to join should be flogged.

SpeedNut

@Elly: keep in mind in combined assault and 3, there were small map versions of the 32 player maps. im sure itll be the same on there. trims down the mapsize.

krztov

i'll probably play this one instead of cod 4 because those damn airstrikes drive me nuts!

relax_guy

@GOD: It was a neutral question. Those unfamiliar with the series, including myself, are wondering the same thing; CoD has much more recognition at this point, so our first inclination is to ask how it deviates from games we're familiar with. And instead of taking an opportunity to point out what makes this game different and worth consideration in comparison to its primary comptetition, you decided to risk alienating potential buyers by making an ass of yourself.

Online competitive multiplayer is definitely the perfect genre for you, sir.

Toasticus

@DirtySyko: [kotaku.com]

FP_slomo788

MASTHEAD super bizarro change-o. hire me, damn.

mister_shhh

@Candlejack: Is there an online game these days where this feature is not implemented? Even GTA4 has that.

@Narsil: TF2 has none of these either. Guess what is still one of the best online shooters this generation?

FP_slomo788

I hope you'll be able to buy this game in stores as well as PSN, because I'm still not comfortable with buying full games and saving them on my HDD. 80 gigs won't last that long if I need to install games and save big PSN games to my HDD. Yes, I can buy a bigger HDD, but I'd rather squeeze by on what I have for as long as possible.

Please be like Warhawk and let me buy you in stores.

DirtySyko

@phloog:

So you'd be all over this if it had bots? I doubt that, maybe it fits certain games that are more arcade-y, like Time Splitters but for something with more strategy to it, it dosent fit, at least the AI ist there yet in games, and as for the community it is what it is, it sounds like you want a bot only game and really dislike the online portion.

MyLittlePwny

SOCOM is the staple for what MMO shooter games should be...I can't wait! *Fap fap fap*

Jimbuck

@UVaDave: I've played it, and didnt like it myself. The maps were too big for destructible environments to have any effect IMO or to make a noticeable difference in gameplay. "Yeah I could blow that up...maybe I'll get a lucky kill?"

MyLittlePwny

@Firemane: Sold

MKLOL

@FP_slomo788: You mean not at all? Well, GT5:Prologue for one.

But it's even worse when the functionality is there but it's broken or a pain to actually get decent use of. Joining a private match shouldn't involve more than selecting it in the menu and joining, like in SC4. Not finding an extra f*cking menu where you need to join a session before you can see the invites and so on (reference Vegas 2). Sorry for the rant.

Candlejack

I guess you can get do that with the bots if you'd like MyLittlePwny, but for me bots ARE important. Here's what they offer:

1) A chance to play the game with opponents that have a dialable difficulty - having inexperienced friends over? you can play a bot match and not have to worry about them just getting killed over and over.

2) The option to avoid the vast number of racist, misogynist, or just bad sports that seem to be common in online games

3) The knowledge that you'll still be able to play a game after it becomes less popular, without having to sit for hours in a lobby...and the knowledge that when (not if, when) the publisher decides to no longer support the servers, you can at least still play bots.

They add a lot for us, they don't add much to your game - you'll buy this, I won't...no problem.

phloog

looks like MGO, only uglier. I'm over SOCOM, but i'm sure i'll pick it up when it gets cheaper. Juggling between two shooters & two control styles gives me a headache after so long.

JohAE86

@MyLittlePwny: I respect that you didn't enjoy the game, but I'd have to disagree that it doesn't make any noticeable difference in gameplay.

In most online objective based shooters, there are commonly traveled paths and well known checkpoints that can be camped and defended, and often the whole match revolves around which team controls which "hallway". Destructible envrioments whole mechanic is to open up the maps, and prevent chokepoints. You can no longer camp/defend just two hallways leading to your base, since at any point the other team can blow a hole in any wall making a new path towards the objective.

If you want "blow stuff up" just for your kill count, I don't think you're looking at it the right way.

UVaDave

Fooled me once(Warhawk; online only, crappy voice communication, no bots, no single player)shame on you, fooled me twice shame on me.

Jaysius

@phloog: I hear you but I disagree to an extent. UT3 has some of the best bot setups around. After playing a fellow kotakuite (vertigness? did I get your name right this time?) I was harshly reminded that no matter how good you think you pwn bots, it's always better playing against skilled opponents. Of course, bots battles are good for learning a stage and weapon placement and trying loadouts but a group of friends all learning the game together is a much better experience and accomplishes the same things.
MGO is a great example of training through stages with a friend or two, learning tactics, building up skills, learning levels...no bots needed.

Socom...best played with friends...

Striderhayasa - Phillyyakk on PSN and Live.

well, i'm sincerely tired of all this FPS/war themed games, all of them looks the same, the only difference from one to others are the weapons the history is nearly the same in all of them.

ingerudo

So many shooters, which ones to buy!? I might pick this one up with the headset bundle. I've heard it's really nice. Never really played a SOCOM before but I have a couple friends who are diehard fans. Hopefully this one will be a good one to grab.

ƒox

@FP_slomo788: Ah. Point taken.

Narsil

Im a BIG fan of the socom series, and I can not wait to play the 4th PS installment. But Im worried they have simplified it to much. Also it will bring out the ppl with no life what so ever to cheat and point rape. I hope they have found a better way to deal with these useless kids that do this.

KINGZ

@GOD:

Trolling as a career can only last for so long. Gotta balance the contributing with the piss taking.

Sometimes you gotta take the piss, and sometimes you gotta leave the piss. :p

@Brian Crecente: Masthead? Are you running some kind of pirate shi~

Oh, nevermind.

Welcome intern! Are ye livin' the life of Reilly?

Man that was a horrible joke.

Billkwando

@FP_slomo788: TF2 also didn't include any of those extra frills and is one of the best multiplayer-only games ever made, this is very true. But it debuted at $30 standalone, not $40. I think that's worth pointing out. The console version isn't worth mentioning in comparison because it was only available bundled with multiple single-player games, which significantly tips the value scale.

Toasticus

can't wait, I know 4 people waiting to get a PS3 for when this game comes out. That includes my father.

DrunkRaba

why does everyone talk shit about socom 3?
its fine! people use teamwork, and just its friggen fine!
11-3 NB! 11-3 NB! jeeze! how hard is that?
11-3 NB - sniper rifles + teamwork = a very fun game!

Devil240Z

@GOD: It's alright, just try to be less confrontational, I guess. No need to go around making enemies for no reason, yanno? Shameful thing is, I could stand to be more civil myself, most of the time. I'm not sure what it is about commenting on blogs that brings out so much aggression. I have more fun commenting when I'm not taking things so seriously anyway! Oy!

Toasticus

Well im sold on the $60 bundle, that headset looks SAAAWEET!!!

fokin_pikey

@Devil240Z: It's not that we hate on it. It's just that it was missing the essence that was socom. close quaters intense action, but with great teamwork and strategy. Granted, Socom 3 did have strategy and teamwork, but they expanded the terrain so much that it took sofaking long to get into the action. ^_^

Jun581 won't give you tree fiddy!!

@Billkwando: as they apply to me.

Billkwando

@Toasticus: Word.

I agree on all of the above.

Billkwando

@MyLittlePwny: Bots really are a big deal in determining whether to buy an online only game that's at a full-game price because they help determine flexibility and longevity, as mentioned by phloog.

Adding to phloog's reasons for bots, co-op play is another; I often like to play shooters with friends where we play together against bots. Why bots? Have you ever tried to get into a TF2 server with 7 people and consistently keep them on the same team, let alone on the same server in the first place? Also, it's a game mode in itself - you can refer to Vegas's Terrorist Hunt as a console example.

Furthermore, you can control the number of bots. When we play CounterStrike, we play against bots in a 3:1 bot:player ratio, and before that, we played a zombie mod of Unreal Tournament(zombiemania? corpsemania? I forget) which FILLS levels with zombies that we fight together until we lose our only life. We also played Unreal Tournament 2004 against the maximum number of bots allowable, all using an Agent Smith model, running at slo-mo speed. This "team VS horde" setup is also why I'm looking forward to Left 4 Dead; there really haven't been any good multiplayer zombie games, including all the existing FPS mods.

Don't forget that you don't have to use bots; if you don't want them, turn them off. But I think it's a copout to not even include them as an option, particularly for an session-based online-only game.

Chef

To add to the above, I enjoy the ability to do a botmatch in times when my internet is down or when just starting out a game. I'd rather not piss off team mates because I don't have the game mechanics down yet.

Narsil

I'm not sold yet....as much as I love the SOCOM Series....from all the films I've seen of the gameplay....the character models are kinda basic and they've kept similar level design.

Let's be honest...COD4 level graphics these are not.
There was also alot of choppiness in the character animations....you figure after all this time they would have improved that....

THough I do expect some sort of snaking glitch to appear as soon as the game is released.

GoonieGooGoo2

Can't wait

Jay_Bomb

@DirtySyko:
I wouldn't worry too much... I've had the 80 gig since December and I've purchased Tekken, Pixel Junk Monsters & Encore, Flow, EchoChrome, Super Rubadub (yeah, I did) and Super StarDust... just about every demo that ever comes out. I've had to do installs for MGS4 & GTAIV, had tons of video downloads (all in 1080p) including the entire E3 conference in HD.... and I'm still looking at over 25 gigs free... with room to delete or move stuff (video's can go to my 500 gig external ($99 at Futureshop... that's Canada's Best Buy) I may eventually get a bigger drive to slap in there... but it's more because my external is filling up with HD content, then it is that my main drive is too full... We'll see where I am after LBP... that will tell the tale.

JimmyNice

"Damn, I was hoping for more than two 16 player maps. I miss the days of coordinated strategy and actual teamwork."

For the record, FF and DG are 16 players. All other maps have two versions, one 16, one 32.

"I hope you'll be able to buy this game in stores as well as PSN, because I'm still not comfortable with buying full games and saving them on my HDD."

You can buy it online for 40, or in stores (with a headset and 'extra features'... thing) for 60.

"Bots really are a big deal in determining whether to buy an online only game that's at a full-game price because they help determine flexibility and longevity, as mentioned by phloog."

40 bucks is full priced?

"THough I do expect some sort of snaking glitch to appear as soon as the game is released."

The animations look a lot better in game than they do in the videos online. Not sure how you'd glitch like that, we're never seen it.

For those asking about what differentiates it from say COD4, or Vegas, I would say it's more focused on 'semi-realistic' combat. It's not Rainbow Six: Rogue Spear realistic, but it doesn't have regenerating health, or magic-ammo-backpacks, headshots kill, guns have realistic ROF/Armour Penetration (or lack of)/weight, etc. Basically, it's like the Counter-Strike of the console world (only more realistic than CS.)

Durandal

Lets see, Socom 2 with with higher res textures. 32 man rooms = no real team/clan work no single player, bots, no cover system online only with so few maps.... Yeah Socom 2 was great in 2004 Its 2008, games like RSV and COD4 have raised the bar I was a huge S2 fan, but this is still just a 2004 game making a cash grab Ill pass

CaesarDingo

Im a huge fan of socom. Well socom II anyways. Socom 3 and Socom: Combined Assault were terrible. Wide open maps and vehicles were a terrible addition. Socom:Confrontation is a return to the close quarters maps we all have come to love. What socom offers over COD4 is a great customization of players. Also the community in socom is unheard of in any other online game. In all the past socoms you were hard pressed to find someone without a mic. Socom is far more tactical since the way it is meant to be played is without respawn on. Teamwork is heightened to a whole new level when you have to think about every move you make. The socom series offers the best online expierience I have ever had, even to this day no game currently out has beaten what socom has to offer.

ZurielSongbird

@DirtySyko: You can. It's coming for $40 standalone in stores or a $60 bundle with the new PS Headset.

TitanX7

@Toasticus: The game, though not as fast paced as CoD4 requires a lot more teamwork. If you notice over the mic it's very difficult to communicate with people on CoD and it's much easier on SOCOM. The core game is a 1 life per round game mode. Objectives vary according to the game, Suppresion (TDM), Breach (Destroy enemy targets while breaking through gates) and a hostage rescue scenario just to name a few. Accuracy is toned down so it's much more realistic, first few shots are dead on accurate but after that it begins to spray a ton. A lobby system creates great communities and clan participation. Very community based game that's much fun.

TitanX7

?

NOSlaver

sounds like one of the best games coming out this year... i'll definitely have a look at it

NOSlaver

I hope this will help me appreciate the PSN a little bit more. It has some potential.....

Algerian

this game is gonna be great!!! i cannot wait till this is released thanks for the info!!

EVIL_V2

@GOD: lol

I just hope they throw some more maps down the road, specially 16 players maps. We already have enough 20+ players games out there, I'd love a game giving us space to be a bit more tactical... or at least try.

But is it just me or the graphics doesn't look that beautiful? I'll definitely get this one eitherway.

PsyComa

yeah this game is looking good ill be picking it up. :)

thegriefer

Yea I'm looking forward to this game. I've heard that another BD only Socom game is being made too. no idea if it's true though.

string_theory

kinda lame about the maps, just 7????? cover system is no big deal though but bots????? I guess it doesn't matter since it's really only an online game anyway!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

freespeech2