SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs: Fireteam Bravo 3
The Fireteam Bravo boys are back in action this fall on your PSP.
After stumbling with the unimpressive SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Tactical Strike in 2007, Sony is back on the warpath with SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo 3. With this PSP release, the developers retained the action-packed tactical/shoot-em-up excitement from the first two games, but added several key additions that could make this the best entry in the series.
Sony worked closely with members of the U.S. Naval Special Warfare Command to make Fireteam Bravo 3 as accurate as possible. This means realistic weapons, gear, formations and strategies.
In the game, you'll team up with several ex-secret operatives across a series of missions as you seek out former KGB agent Alexander Gozorov. It seems he got his hands on some nuclear weapons and he's ready to hit the nuke button. Your team has to move in and take him down before it's too late.
Developer Slant Six made Fireteam Bravo 3 the best-looking portable SOCOM game to date. Characters and environments look better than ever, and now you can see much further, something that comes in handy for snipers needing to take out distant targets. There are also weather effects that play a part in each mission, including snow and rain. The characters also look more realistic this time around, thanks to better modeling and motion-capturing.
There are also some minor changes to the gameplay. While team-based tactics are about the same, you'll need to keep a close eye on your health. If you get shot, the screen quickly deteriorates and you'll need to find a safe spot in order to heal up. You can also call upon teammates to lend you a hand if you're under fire. As expected, the game supports multiplayer action through AdHoc and Infrastructure, although Sony has yet to announce a final player count.
Finally, you can also customize the weapons you and your team carry throughout each mission. You can arm yourself with a typical assault rifle and grenade while arming your fellow soldiers with sniper and heavy assault gear, depending on their skills. This adds a strategic angle to the game, where how you arm each soldier can have an effect on how they perform.
SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo 3 looks like another handheld winner for the PSP. We'll hit the battlefield when the game arrives later this year, and let you know if it's a war worth winning.
