Good Article on Socom 4

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SOCOM 4 Updated Impressions

• By Brian Ekberg, GameSpot
  
• Jun 14, 2010 7:01 am PT
  
• 0 comment
  

Squad tactics, shooting enemies and big things going boom: It's our latest look at Zipper Interactive's upcoming Move-based shooter.


The latest edition of the squad-based shooter series from developer Zipper Interactive is coming for the PlayStation 3, designed specifically for use with the upcoming PlayStation Move control system. We had a chance to get a peek at the SOCOM 4 E3 2010 demo last night ahead of the opening of the show.

Previous Coverage: SOCOM 4 was unveiled back in March when Sony debuted the PlayStation Move system to the press for the first time.

What's New: This demo opens with an insurgent attack on a South American city. You are part of a small peacekeeping force and have a squad of four additional soldiers (organized into two fireteams) that you can control. You can give orders to your squadmates to move to certain areas on screen or attack certain enemies, simply by pointing to the location on screen and pushing either left or right on the d-pad.

From a shooting standpoint, the controls in SOCOM 4 are motion-based and look to be just as accurate as they were back in the GDC demo. Undoubtedly the new control scheme will take some getting used to but small touches, such as the ability to zoom in for more accurate shots look to improve your chances of getting the kill.
Thanks to dynamic enemy AI, encounters will be slightly different each time you play through a level. As a result, squadmates are essential to success. In addition to being able to send your squaddies out one objective at a time, you'll be able to chain together objectives simply by pointing to the screen and then holding the appropriate directional pad direction at the same time. These chained objectives will be on "hold" until you hit the "go" button (up on the d-pad). This ends up being a sort of battlefield improvisiation, where you'll be able to plan and executed coordinated attacks. It also places a premium on field of view--having an elevated position on your enemy will give you more options for coordinating attacks, for example.

Also new were the airstrikes, one of several assets you'll find in the final version of SOCOM 4. To launch an airstrike, you just point at the target and press the R2 button; a few seconds later, the airstrike hit its intended target and things blew up nicely. We had infinite airstrikes available to us in the E3 demo but producers told us that there will be different types of these military assets available to you, some of which will be limited in number.

Updated Thoughts: Cool squad tactics, big explosions, and emergent enemy AI aside, SOCOM 4 is going to live or die by its shooting controls. From what we've seen, using the Move controller to aim a gun looks to be simple and effective. In the past, the shooter community has been sharply divided between PC mouse vs. console controller in terms of effectiveness. Perhaps, in a few years, that debate might change to mouse vs. Move?

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Building on the success of the multimillion-selling franchise, SOCOM 4: U.S. Navy SEALs delivers the ultimate next-generation combat experience blending rich cinematics, PlayStation Move integration, a robust single-player campaign and industry leading competitive multiplayer exclusively for the PlayStation 3 (PS3) system.

Experience what it’s like to be an Ops Commander as you lead a 5-person squad in a special mission to discover what’s behind the annihilation of NATO Special Forces in Southeast Asia. Continuing to raise the bar for tactical gaming, SOCOM 4: U.S. Navy SEALs introduces new ways for players to engage in combat. For the first time in franchise history, players will be able to utilize both the PlayStation Move and DUALSHOCK controllers to enable precise, tactical control over their A.I. teammates.

Control meets chaos when a SEAL team confronts a no-win situation. Thrown into an international catastrophe, the Ops Commander, Cullen Gray, attacks with expertise and tenacity. With only six days, the OpsCom must lead his team to capture a militant revolutionary aimed at destroying the world’s most vital waterway and disrupting the global economy.

The OpsCom leads a multinational force comprised of First Lieutenant Park Yoon-Hee (call-sign "45"), a South Korean covert operations specialist; Chief Petty Officer Dion Wells; Heavy Weapons Operator Eric Schweitzer; and Chung Kwan, a South Korean reconnaissance operative. The team is assisted by ORACLE, a surviving intelligence analyst aboard a crippled NATO carrier offshore.

* Rich cinematic experience supported by a strong contemporary narrative.

* Full PlayStation Move integration makes shooting intuitive and precise. Players can utilize weapon scope control to enable ultra-precise shots.

* Fight through 14 robust single-player missions over the course of a desperate six-day battle on the ground in Southeast Asia.

* Dynamic enemy AI exhibit advanced squad tactics that adjust to the team’s every move, ensuring that encounters are unique each time through the combat zone.

* New command system allows for quick contextual commands, enabling precise tactical control over the AI teammates. Players can additionally create their own custom maneuvers.

* Utilize real-time access to supporting air assets ranging from UAV surveillance drones to devastating aerial bombardments. (Whattttt???)

* New cover system mode enables players to take defendable firing positions and allows cover barriers to be destroyed with heavy weapon fire and explosions.

* International Forces – The nationality of your character and teammates changes depending on your region.

* Active Armory – Scavenge enemy weapons to build your arsenal.

* Industry leading competitive MP.

Sony Computer Entertainment America will support SOCOM 4: U.S. Navy SEALs with a blockbuster multimillion dollar marketing campaign. This will include aggressive national television, print, online and viral advertising campaigns, full promotional support, dedicated point-of-purchase displays and merchandising support, broad-based public relations support, and an immersive and interactive website.