SOCOM U.S. Navy Seals: Tactical Strike Member Review for the PSP

The Good: Great new approach to the SOCOM formula, interesting online play, great graphics and audio, decent length

The Bad: New formula is not so good for old fans, online play will disappoint fans, irritating camera, rips off Full Spectrum Warrior, basically not a game for old fans

The first thing you'll notice about SOCOM is how you control the game. Instead of playing the game like on the PS2 or previous PSP games you control it kind of like an RTS or Full Spectrum Warrior. Don't freak out though because the game handles very well and is very well executed. You control the four member squad by tell them where to go via a cone and you can tell them to stealth to position and what not just like in the other SOCOMs. You tell them to fire upon enemies by hitting X and they fire. You can seperate the four members into two groups or control them individually. You can a member with a sniper rifle to snipe and depending on how high you've leveled him up the faster he'll zero in. You can throw grenades; use medpacs etc. just like in other SOCOMs.

This style just feels perfect for the PSP and is actually better than the Fireteam Bravo games. While it may turn die hard SOCOM fans away just give it a chance. The game has you trying to find an American ambassador who was capture by Panamanian cartel. You have to find the ambassador and also stop everyone in the weapons smuggle. The online play is great as well but is a different approach. Instead of 16 people against each other its 4x4 teams like in Full Spectrum Warrior. Overall TS is a great new approach to SOCOM and I'm sure Sony will stick to this formula for future SOCOM games on the system.