SOCOM: Confrontation impressions

Wilk5280 · Post by **Wilk5280** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 12:00 am

I received a PM over PSN tonight asking to post some impressions here about the game so here it goes.

Let me first set the table for you. I was a very big fan of SOCOM 1 and SOCOM 2. The second one is probably what I consider to be the best console shooter in the history of console shooters.

I fell off the SOCOM bandwagon not long after the release of SOCOM 3. I played it a lot, but I didn't have the same love for that game as I did with the first 2.

So anyway, onto Confrontation.

I picked up the 59.99 package bundled with the new "Official" Playstation BluTooth headset. I'm not sure, but I think Sony is going to start selling the headset separately for 49.99 (or maybe it's 39.99) in November.

This headset is really nice man. Very good build quality as well as sound quality. Everything comes across very clear. There's supposedly some expanded functionality with this and it includes a High Quality (HQ) mode. Don't know too much about those, but as a headset itself it really is nice and bundled with the game I have no beef paying 59.99 for Confrontation and the headset.

Now onto the game itself. You should know this, but just in case you don't. This game is online only, there is no offline component to it.

Slant 6 is struggling with the launch right now because every night the servers have been a nightmare. It's nearly impossible to get online because you keep getting the following error message:

"network initialization error"

/6 has a message out that they are aware of the server issues and are working diligently to get them resolved. Well that's nice and all but this is now the 3rd night in a row that I've tried to hop online with my friends and play, but no-can-do.

That's the ugly.

The beauty is that I skipped out of work early today and decided to get a couple of hours in with this during the day. LOVED IT!

There's 7 maps with the usual SOCOM game modes: Suppression, elimination, Extraction, etc etc etc. As for the maps there are some old favorites like Crossroads, Frostfire and Desert Glory with 4 new ones mixed in. From my understanding there is supposed to be a steady flow of maps as DLC, but their history of stating maps are coming and actually delivering isn't too good.

Each of the 7 maps includes a 16 player and 32 player version and I'm pretty sure each map includes all of the gameplay modes.

From the 2 hours I got in today I can tell that I'm really going to be in love with this one once they get the servers ironed out. The online interface isn't nearly as intuitive or polished as CoD4, but the gameplay exactly the way I like it. It's not nearly as run and gun as CoD4 (which I do love, btw) and teams who utilize teamwork and communication well will have a lot of success.

If you're a fan of the older SOCOM games on the PS2 I think you'll really like Confrontation. It's gone back to the more intimate maps and taken out the vehicles and extremely large maps that were introduced with SOCOM 3.

One thing I forgot to mention are a few additions that really add to the experience:

1. Sprint button (R2). The sprint button comes in nice when you're trying to get through a danger area in a hurry. Whether it to be running from one area of cover to another, getting across an open area or whatever. You get the idea.... sweet add.

2. Proximity chat. I didn't know what this meant at first... or guess I should say I misunderstood what it meant. What this is though, is that you can hear players of the other team chatting if they're in close proximity of you and are hammering away on the mic. Today I heard a guy in the same building as me calling for back-up as there was "one above us, back me up".

You don't hear them in your headset though, but rather through your tv speakers. Very nice touch.

3. SixAxis controls: You can tilt the controller to look around corners. It's pretty nice I guess, but I could live with or without using the SixAxis to accomplish this. If I remember correctly in the old days you used the d-pad left or right to do it. So it makes it a little easier I guess.

I guess this is long winded enough. If you want to know more and have any specific questions just fire away.

Gamecocks625 · Post by **Gamecocks625** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 9:32 am

I picked it up this week, but haven't had a chance to open it yet. I'm hoping to get some time with it this week, and hopefully the servers will be in a better position to handle the amount of players.

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 10:32 am

Sounds pretty good. I'm still undecided whether I should open mine or not since I got it with the TRU deal. Maybe I'll hold off a little bit longer and see if they get the server issues straightened out.

Spooky · Post by **Spooky** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 1:03 pm

I find it very interesting that not ONE game site has posted a review of this yet. Hmmmmmm....!?!?!

Macca00 · Post by **Macca00** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 2:27 pm

Thanks for the impressions PR, I'm going to be picking this one up later today. My PSN Tag is DrMacca

Diablo25 · Post by **Diablo25** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 4:59 pm

I am guessing the game on the PSN is the same thing? $39.99 for download.

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 5:36 pm

Slant 6?

What happened to Zipper?

Sport73 · Post by **Sport73** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 7:06 pm

I downloaded the game from PSN for $39.95 and got my first chance to play this afternoon.

It's definitely a solid online shooter, with a much more tactical feel than COD. Re-acclimating to some of the 'bite-sized' sessions, where once your opponent achieves its objective (kill your VIP, etc.) the game is over - and this can sometimes take 60 seconds - will take some time.

All in all a good option for fans of games like Ghost Recon or (of course) Counterstrike.

Wilk5280 · Post by **Wilk5280** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 8:46 pm

wco81 wrote:Slant 6?

What happened to Zipper?

Zipper Int. is working on true sequel to the SOCOM franchise for the PS3. Their game will include online and offline game modes.

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 2:39 pm

I received my review copy on Monday and I have been unable to log on to the servers even once. It's starting to make me thing it is my connection and not their servers.

For those who can get it is it pretty stable, I mean are they up and you can get in or is it hit or miss?

Wilk5280 · Post by **Wilk5280** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 3:10 pm

I haven't had any problems logging on the past few days or nights.

Spooky · Post by **Spooky** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 4:49 pm

Anyone here still play this at all?

I got a copy this weekend and tried both Sat. and Sunday and was NOT able to even fire my riffle once!!!!!!!!

I was not able to successfully join any sessions and the ones that I managed to get into I was booted within 10 seconds. Most of the time I would just get signed out of my PS account entirely and get sent to the main screen.

WTF!?!?!? I thought this sh*t was fixed months ago.

Are there still major issues abound? Did I just hit a bad weekend?

There should be a class action lawsuit for christ's sake. I mean, I buy a game but am unable to play it after 2+ hours of update downloads for an ENTIRE weekend!?!?!

macsomjrr · Post by **macsomjrr** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 5:03 pm

Killzone 2 comes out this week what the heck are you doing buying SOCOM: Confrontation now!?!?!

Seriously though I can't help you sorry. I saw the bad reviews and steered clear of SOCOM.

Spooky · Post by **Spooky** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 6:09 pm

macsomjrr wrote:Killzone 2 comes out this week what the heck are you doing buying SOCOM: Confrontation now!?!?!

Seriously though I can't help you sorry. I saw the bad reviews and steered clear of SOCOM.

Yeah, well, the funny thing is that I had a BB gift card so I decided to get Socom for the PS3 headset in anticipation of Killzone 2 (since it was just $10 more to get the combo). Bad decision I guess. Although I can trade in Socom for $15 or so, so I guess it kinda evens out.