SOCOM: Confrontation – first hands on look at the beta
Many SOCOM fans have been waiting a long time for the next Zipper installment in the legendary franchise. Unfortunately, by the look of things, gamers will have to wait a bit longer as there has been no official word from Zipper if SOCOM 4 is being worked on currently. All is not lost as fans can quell their SOCOM thirst during the interim with SOCOM: Confrontation.
SOCOM: Confrontation is currently being developed by Slant Six, the studio responsible for all of the PSP SOCOM games. SOCOM: Confrontation will be the studio’s first foray onto a next gen platform. Currently, the beta for Confrontation is underway after a rough start. We reported that the overwhelming demand on the dedicated servers has caused numerous issues.
I’ve had some hands on time with the beta recently and many of the issues seem to have been improved. The load-in time seems to have been cut in half, also the lagging issues that were initially present seems to have quelled. There are still some bugs present, but it is expected as this is a beta.
The control scheme takes a bit to get used to. You will find yourself utilizing the D-Pad quite frequently as all of the view mechanics are mapped there.
Pressing up on the D-Pad will zoom in to “over the shoulder view,” and tapping it once more will zoom in on that view. Pressing left will switch the “over the shoulder view” position (left to right). All firing mechanism has been mapped to the R1 shoulder button, much like Call of Duty 4.
The health system is regenerative, meaning if you are ever injured badly, just stay out of harm’s way until you are completely restored. The shooting mechanics are satisfying, as the sound effects from firing an assault rifle are authentic. Depending on the weapon of choice, the recoil is very realistic.
The overall graphics and textures in the environments are impressive for a downloadable game. An improvement in the textures for the players would be a step in the right direction. The overall time I had with the beta was quite enjoyable. If you are a Qore subscriber, give this beta a shot it might just be your cup of tea.
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17 Responses to “SOCOM: Confrontation – first hands on look at the beta”
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September 15th, 2008
Have it, installed, but never bothered to play it! I keep meaning to tho
September 15th, 2008
great game, been a socom fan since socom 1…
about zipper, a little bit inside me thinks they wont be making socom 4, maybe they left behind the socom franchise completely to slant 6.
I think they are only focused on their new ip MAG (Massive Action Game, if you dont know it, youtube it). It looks pretty sick
September 15th, 2008
They health doesn’t regenerate although it may seem like that. Actually there is a health bad in the bottom left corner of the screen. As you are being shot your screen will go red, and if it wasn’t enough to kill you, the red will clear up. You have still suffered damage that you can’t get back, this may be why you thought the health regenerates.
September 15th, 2008
SOCOM rulez all… Zipper Interactive is also developing another SOCOM game.
September 16th, 2008
Is it me or does the graphics of this look a bit “meh” ….
September 16th, 2008
@ Bourne, It’s just you.
September 16th, 2008
Nojerome,
yes your right, I got a closer look at the health system last night and it is not regenerative.
Thanks for pointing that out.
It seems like everyone in the beta have headsets which could be a good thing.
Bourne,
Remember it’s a DL game. It looks good for a 1.5GB game.
September 16th, 2008
Yeah i spose, i think i’m still left reeling from MGS4. Damn i guess its set the bar so high.
September 16th, 2008
@ Mike Ferro
I think your review was not only sub par but extremely inaccurate. For starters it’s obvious that you’ve never played a single game in the series or you would not have been so consumed by the fact that you have to use the D-pad so frequently. Any true Socom player will immediately tell you it’s been the same since the original game on the PS2. Second I’d like to address the fact that you thought that when you’ve lost health if you sit still you can regenerate in back, this leads me to believe that you did not even play this game for more then 10 seconds. Any person who has played more then 1 round of the beta will tell you that you’re a fool for writing that having actually (and I’m still unsure of this part) played the game yourself. Finally I’d like to note that while you were 100% correct about them working on the kinks in this beta, the finished product has a huge demand and quite a way to go before it’s as good as it should be.
This next paragraph refers to what I’d like to see in the finished product after getting to play this beta and not what I feel they need to do in the beta, just so we’re clear.
I feel the load times are still far to long, this will become a huge issue with the avid gamer.
The sprint function while a great new feature should have some sort of a cut off on it, I mean I can hold it down and run around the entire map and my character just huffs and puffs a little…come on.
In zoom mode when sniping it would be nice if we were able to use the sprint button (R2 in default) to hold the characters breath and gain a steadier hand. Again with a realistic amount of time unlike the unlimited sprint.
A party mode similar to that of C.O.D.4, the friend system introduced in the beta is far to primitive for any hardcore gamer to except and if that is how the finished product will remain I feel very strongly about a change. I do not want to have to go through all those motions to either accept an invite, or send one for that matter, if we have the technology to create a similar party system like some other games already have.
In closing I personally love the Socom series and am enjoying the beta for the time until the full version is released. For those of you are fan you will probably share most of my opinions, for those who are not…I really don’t care!
September 16th, 2008
ITS NOT A DOWNLOADABLE GAME!!!!!!……ITS A FUCKING BETA……WHY THE FUCK WOULD THEY WASTE MONEY PUTTING 1500MB ON A FUCKING 50GB BLURAY DISC AND THEN SELL IT IN STORES?…….WHY ON EARTH WOULD YOU DO THAT? I CAN GET A 1500MB DEMO FREE…..WHY WOULD ANYONE PAY $40 FOR 1500MB?…..ITS NOT FINISHED
September 16th, 2008
Matt, relax. Remember Warhawk isn’t exactly a huge file size either and that also comes on Blu-Ray too.
September 16th, 2008
@ Royzy….actually Warhawk is pretty damn big file size…its rediculous to have 1500MB as a game…..remember, this a beta….they are not going to give you the whole game…..they still have to add ALOT…
September 16th, 2008
This was made by slant 6 so zipper could persue socom 4…
Its an appetizer of sorts.
September 17th, 2008
Royzy, when are you ever on PSN?! we need to have a group Gamer blorge game, trouble is there’s no one game we all have i dont think…
September 17th, 2008
thats shit if your health doesn’t regenerate..
September 17th, 2008
Bourne,
Warhawk? Are we all on that?
-Arvis
September 17th, 2008
Erm im not sure Royzy is…. but i think thats the best bet. If i see loads of us online i’ll host a game, besides i could get the trophy were you dedicate your ps3 as a server or w/e.