Official Website

Platform: PSP

Genre: Action

Number of Players: 1, 1 - 10 via AdHoc, 1 - 16 via Infrastructure
 

The PSP allows for a lot of different game play. You have sports and puzzle action, you have your fighting games, and if you get a little tried of gaming, you can always watch a movie or two. What some gamers have been wanting however is the means to kill terrorists and protect freedom across the world. SOCOM is without a doubt one of Sony's hottest properties on the PlayStation 2 and fans of the series have been waiting for the game to finally debut on the PSP. Fireteam Bravo, the first PSP SOCOM title, now lets gamers do what they've dreamed of; take out evildoers on the go.

Fireteam Bravo is the same SOCOM action that many have grown to love, just in a smaller package. There are some difference however in gameplay as well as the setup. While the PS2 version of the game has players controlling Specter and his team in various portions of the globe, Bravo is a different unit led by Sandman, and instead of having a group of four, you only have two men. However, these boys are well trained and can get the job done no matter what part of the globe they are deployed to.

Aside from having only two SEAL members of control, there are a few differences with the controls. Though some things do remain true to the actual SOCOM series, the lack of having two analog sticks makes from some rather interesting changes. You will still move with the analog, but without having a second analog, the method used to target a terrorist has been changed. The R button is used to lock onto a target (something I kind of wish that the PS2 SOCOM had, but I guess that would make the game a little too easy) while the L button will serve as a means to side step. These options can be a little tricky at first, but you'll soon be playing just like in the other versions of SOCOM.

Fireteam Bravo also features the zoom option and this will be done by pressing up on the D-pad. This can be another interesting move with the game since the D-pad is right above the analog stick, but it's just another minor change for players to grow accustomed to. By pressing right on the D-pad, you will enter freelook, a mode that allow you to remain stationary but examine your surroundings. Pressing left will access your available weapons. Just like with the PlayStation 2 version of SOCOM, you will also find commands at the bottom of the screen that are done simply by pressing the square button. X remains your fire button while circle opens your command window to instruct your partner. So, aside from a few control changes, much of SOCOM: Fireteam Bravo remains identical to the other games.

The mission set up is the same as the games in the series. You will have you basic Intel that will give you some background as well as what your objectives are. There are also bonus missions at times as well as Crosstalk Missions, something that will be covered a little more in detail later. You can set up your weapons for both characters as you see fit, though you may find some mission where you must take a certain kind of weapon along. Playing through the campaign mode is important as this opens up options in the Instant Action mode. This will place you back in areas of the game that you have visited for some mini-missions. These are much like those found in the online mode and generally consist of a single goal.

Both Fireteam Bravo and SOCOM 3 feature what is known as Crosstalk Missions. In each of the campaign stages, your final stats will reveal if you have achieved any of these. In the option menus, you can see what these unlock. By linking Fireteam Bravo to the PlayStation 2 via a USB cable, you can transfer data between the two games. This will unlock things such as new weapons, new character skins of multiplayer mode, and even some new mission objectives. In order to accomplish this, one important thing is that you need to enter Crosstalk in both games and transfer data, otherwise you will end up with an error message. It actually took me a bit to figure this out (instructions, who reads those?)

Fireteam Bravo also features an online multiplayer mode and yes; you can even use a headset to talk with other players. Again, you will find that the PSP version of SOCOM is set up essentially the same way as the PS2 version. Online, you will find games such as Suppression where the team with the most men left standing wins. FFA or Free for All that pits terrorists against one another in the classic deathmatch mode. Extraction, Demolition, and Captive are all part of the online options as well. You can also still establish clans, keep a friend list or even make use of the ignore feature. If you've played SOCOM online on the PS2, you will find the online mode for Fireteam Bravo very easy to dive right into.

The PSP has been rather impressive visually with almost every game that has been released, and that remains true here as well. Fireteam Bravo is just as impressive in this smaller package as what SOCOM is on the PS2. The explosions are done very well and not over the top, something that does tend to be a trend with some other stealth games, and the terrain is outstanding. As stealth is a high priority in SOCOM, much of the time at least, you will find plenty of places that you can hide as well as buildings that can be entered, so Fireteam Bravo attempts to make things as real as possible.

The only thing that I found to be extremely frustrating with the game is that the lack of a second analog stick can make movement and readjusting your vision a bit of a nuisance. The solution that I found however is to be ready with the R button. This will automatically target a terrorist that is within range and can make movement from each point much easier, in theory at least. There are times when you may find yourself trying to get a handle on where you are, but this tends to be a bit less common by following gameplay with this method.

Good thing do come in small packages, and SOCOM: Fireteam Bravo is proof. The game give you all the action of the PS2 games, plenty of online options, and the Crosstalk links between this and SOCOM 3 make owning both titles a necessity. Size doesn't matter; the world still has terrorist threats and it's time for you to bring out the big guns . . . . just on a smaller screen.
 

-mike-