SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo 2 puts you back in the shoes of “Sandman” as you’re dumped in the fictional country of Adjikistan and sent out to clean up all the wrong doings. By wrong doings, we're talking about things like drugs, weapons and slave trading. Over the course of fourteen reasonably lengthy missions, its up to Sandman to get out there, go Rambo on the enemies and save the day. Well, it’s not quite as simple as that but you get the picture.
The progression is somewhat linear, as you'll have a choice of various missions to tackle throughout the game. You’ll have a computer-controlled buddy to help you out with each of the missions. Throughout each of these missions, you’ll basically be following one objective to another. However, the objectives are quite varied and the missions and locales are actually quite large. These objectives range from rescuing slave workers to eliminating enemy forces to destroy key enemy fixtures. Furthermore, there are a bunch of secondary and bonus objectives along the way, such as capturing a certain amount of enemies alive.
Raiding fictitious countries is quite liberating.
An addition to SOCOM 2 is that, by completing the extra objectives, you earn “command equity” and “local influence” points. As you earn command equity, you’ll get access to bonus equipment, such as Air Raids. By rescuing slave workers, you’ll earn the local influence. By doing so, the locals will give you black market access to weapons and useful information. While this may not seem like anything revelational, it actually helps the game because you can utilise the gains almost as soon as you earn them.
The other major addition to SOCOM 2 is that of 'Cross-talk'. Basically, the PSP game and the PS2 counter part SOCOM: Combined Assault have linking stories and mission objectives. The two can be connected together, and you’ll have the choice of partaking in extra objectives. Later, this can be used to alter how a mission is played out in the other game.
Other than these two additions, the game is actually quite similar to its predecessor. This is quite welcome, as the original was easily the most functional shooter on the PSP upon its release. It was great to see how well the developers managed to actually fit in functional action controls as well as item management and squad commands without too much clutter. Basically, it’s more of a scheme in line with Metroid Prime, as you will lock onto enemies, though you can free-aim when standing still. Sure, it takes a little time to get used to and its not as good as it would be on a console but it gets the job done effectively.
Mr Sandman... Bring me a dream...
The game is put together quite nicely as well. The levels are quite large, varied and there is a lot to find in them. However, there were two annoyances that get in the way. Sometimes when we walked up to what was meant to an objective marker, nothing happened. Given the level size, restarting could get quite annoying. Some checkpoints would have been nice as well. Furthermore, some of the lengthening of the levels was caused by the dragging out of pathways. The issue that this has caused is that when you go around some corners, it can be tough to get the camera the way that you want it. That, and for a few split seconds, you’re a sitting duck.
Still, the single-player experience is one of the beefiest, enjoyable and replayable on the PSP. Each mission can be replayed with bonus objectives and rewards. Even with a fairly sizeable single-player, the game comes with a very well equipped multiplayer mode as well. With 12 maps, 7 modes and support for up to 16 players, so long as you have a connection, you’ll have something to do. There are three new modes over those found in the previous game. These are tug-of-war, where teams look to capture various points of interest under a time limit, free-for-all, which is somewhat like an individual king-of-the-hill and intel grab, which is a variation on capture the flag. The headset that was included in the last game is compatible in this game as well.
Multiplayer features also include friends lists and leaderboards, though the game was release a little while ago in the US, so games may be a tad hard to find at times. For the most part though, multiplayer plays an excellent folly to the substantial single-player mode. The two come together really nicely and provide a game that is not just a good shooter but a pretty damn good PSP game in its own right. If you haven’t already played the last one and are looking for some sophisticated and well-made action on the PSP, then you need not look any further. On the other hand, if you didn’t like the previous game or any SOCOM games in general, there is nothing here that is going to change your mind.
The multiplayer is action can get quite intense.
In terms of the graphics, the game is again, similar to its predecessor. And again, its nothing to take away from the game as its quite well built and looks quite good. There seems to have been a slight upgrade, as the game looks a bit sharper, even though the environments are now on a bigger scale. Minor details look sharper as well and the game is closer to being inline with a PS2 game. However, there are a few curly issues and loose ends that stop the game from being superb, not to mention patchy frame rate at times. Still, the load times are actually quite good and the presentation suits the game very nicely.
In terms of sound, SOCOM 2 on the PSP is one of the better showcases available on the system. The sound effects themselves are quite rich and vibrant, really adding to the atmosphere. You can actually feel like you’re in the shoes of Sandman, though a couple of the weapons needed more “oomph”. There is more voicing here than in your usual PSP game and it’s of good quality. The music is somewhat clichéd given the genre, but it gets the job done.
SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo 2 is really an expansion on its predecessor. As we’ve mentioned a few times now though, the predecessor was a fine title and its sequel is no exception. The content in both the single and multiplayer rivals console games and is quite a lot more than the majority of handheld shooters. The gameplay itself is actually quite solid and well designed around the system limitations. It does take a little to get used to and the game itself does have a few loose ends, but overall its one of the better games that are available on the PSP.
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