Hands on with Socom Confrontation: community is best part

We hit on the subject yesterday about the lack of reviews for Socom Confrontation. I say lack; I could not find one review of the game, which I thought was a bit strange. The game was released on Tuesday, October 14, so there should have been something on their by now.

I searched on the day but still nothing appeared, so I asked if anyone had the game if they could post a review. Well thanks to one guy called Defkon, he has given us a cool review of Socom Confrontation.

I picked the game up Tuesday so I’ll try to give an unbiased review. As a new PS3 owner I purchased the game based on previous experience with the franchise, and was surprised to learn that it is an online only game, only after getting it up and running. The box has a small description of this fact on the corner of the case, but as many retailers opt to keep titles behind glass cases that are behind counters, combined with the utter lack of any editorial reviews may lead to a large number of customers with the same experience.

The game does require a small installation, which of course seems to take forever, coupled with the fact that when you go to run the game, you’ll be told your install is out of date, and needs to be updated before you can play. Server problems and new release fever lead to a lengthy download and install time. I encountered some profile corruption and was instructed to delete my socom profile before I could play. As a new PS3 user I mistakenly deleted my install and had to go through the entire lengthy process again. 3 hours later I was able to see the menu screen. It’s worth noting that even after you install the game, and get it up and running, that every time you put the disc in, you have the option of reinstalling it. This was just the first indication to me that the game felt very rushed or unpolished.

Once into the game you’ll be given the ability to customize your avatar. It’s very similar to the load out process from Rainbow 6: Vegas although with fewer options. Heavy, medium or light armor. Pick your weapon, your optics , etc. It would’ve been nice if some kind of virtual shooting range similar to MGS:4’s or even the ability to explore the maps had been included as an offline component, but that’s not the case. My biggest gripe is that all the voices for the op-for are middle eastern. I know its a sign of the times, but in previous titles the bad guys always were diverse. Hearing the narrator constantly spout “rejoice this” or “Holy land that” gets tired quick and leans on almost racist overtones considering the op-for are described as “mercenaries” not religious zelots.. Anyhow…

Servers are broken down into categories based on region, and finding a random one nearby isn’t all that difficult. After joining a game there’s lobby screen where the players can change their gear, and chat via mic. There are a number of different game types available although i’ve only had a chance to play a few of them. The realism bar is set somewhere between counter strike and R6:Vegas, so those demanding a simulation style of gameplay like ARMA, or AA may be somewhat disappointed. Movement only effects shot placement marginally and side to side movement seems as fast as forward locomotion, so the old dance of “strafe and spray” tactics seems to be more effective most of the time at least in CQB. Another odd detail is that with the exception of actually shooting (or talking) characters don’t really make much sound while moving. Knife slashes are instant kills and have a good reach, so you can opt to play like a ninja too if you like.

The best part of the game though is the community surrounding it. Thus far most of the players i’ve met have been focused on playing the game, and not abusing the microphone. I stopped playing Gears of War (and many other titles) online because i wasn’t thrilled with 6 year olds screaming into my ears.

Overall i’d say the game is pretty fun as an online run and gun title, it’s got some flaws, and lacks polish, but the core gameplay is simple enough to be enjoyed, and the community is fairly mature and a good group of gamers… and this being an online only game, is quite possibly the most important aspect of having fun.

Thanks again to Defkon