SOCOM 4: U.S. Navy SEALs

SOCOM 4: U.S. Navy SEALs is a tactical third-person shooter from Zipper Interactive, the studio that made a name for itself with the SOCOM series back in the PlayStation 2 era as a pioneer of online console shooters and voice communication between players. The fourth installment sends a SEAL team commander into a fictional conflict in Southeast Asia, where the player leads a squad of teammates, issuing orders to attack, take cover, or reposition, combining cover-based firefights with tactical planning of advances through insurgent-held territory. The player can issue orders to teammates either through a classic menu or by aiming directly at a target, which was meant to speed up command in hectic firefights.

On PS3 the game supported control via the PlayStation Move controller and the Navy SEALs headset included in a special edition, which allowed voice commands to squadmates, aiming to offer a more immersive alternative to traditional gamepad control. The campaign emphasized taking cover, methodically clearing areas of enemies, and cooperating with AI teammates, while the sound design focused on a realistic weapon roster and authentic military communication solutions between team members in combat. Jungle, village, and port city settings gave the campaign visual variety compared to the more austere military bases of competing shooters.

Multiplayer had traditionally been the heart of the SOCOM series, and the fourth installment offered expansive maps and a varied set of game modes for team battles, although the launch version struggled with technical issues and weapon balance problems that developers gradually patched. SOCOM 4 received a mixed to mildly positive reception and was the last major installment in the series developed by Zipper Interactive before the studio's subsequent closure. For fans of tactical shooters it remains an interesting reminder of a time when consoles were searching for new ways to control military action and experimented with voice command and motion controllers.

Why play it: For fans of tactical shooters, SOCOM 4 is an interesting reminder of a time when consoles experimented with voice command and motion controllers, despite its rocky launch technical issues.