SOCOM 3: U.S. Navy SEALs

Detroit Free Press

The controls are tight, the action tense and the graphics crisp. And, most importantly, lag was rarely an issue, even in 32-player firefights.

Official U.S. Playstation Magazine

The series has maintained - or improved - its gritty realism, its immersive, nail-biting single-player campaign, and its extraordinarily engrossing online play in spite of some substantial alterations. [Dec 2005, p.102]

Times Online

Games do not come much larger than SOCOM 3, which has been designed very much with the internet in mind: go online and you can play against up to 31 opponents.

eToychest

This is the best online action on the PS2, period. Nothing else is even close. Whether you want to gun down terrorists, hop in a tank and blow stuff up, smuggle goods across the border, or extract hostages from hostile territories, SOCOM 3 is where it’s at.

Gamer 2.0

Every element is represented in a way that keeps the game balanced and familiar, yet extremely fresh.

Gamezilla!

I think SOCOM 3 is a bigger jump forward then the second one was, but with the graphics engine of the PS2 at its limit, I can only hope to see a much better looking SOCOM 4 on the PS3.

Gaming Age

One of the best games in the crowded squad-based war genre. It has a few off and online glitches and bugs, but overlooking them there's a ton of authentic and addictive war gaming to be had.

Next Level Gaming

One of the best online experiences that I have ever had on the Playstation 2. The interaction with other gamers is a blast and is critical to success in the game.

PSM Magazine

Sony has delivered a worthy war-time shooter. [Holiday 2005, p.72]

PSX Extreme

More than an expansion pack with only minor improvements; it is a complete overhaul of one of the most popular and greatest games ever. With its new features, SOCOM III easily holds on to its title of the best online game for the PS2.

Cheat Code Central

There's nothing not to like about this game and I don't say that lightly. It's definitely a contender for Game of the Year - at least the online portion.

IGN

My favorite online game for the PlayStation 2 thus far. It has an excellent mix of the best elements from "Battlefield" and "Rainbow Six," both of which are games I love. The singleplayer is pretty good this time around as well.

Game Over Online

To be honest, this is really the sequel to the original "SOCOM" that players have long been waiting for. Expanded multiplayer, larger mission maps and a dedicated single player story makes SOCOM III stand out above the infuriating missteps of its predecessor.

DarkStation

The SOCOM goodness lives on with another blockbuster tactical shooter, featuring massive environment, interactive vehicles and slicker visuals.

AceGamez

With its breathtakingly expansive environments, unparalleled musical mastery and enough gadgetry to make Sam Fisher look about as deadly as Action Man with a broken arm, SOCOM 3 both dazzles and delights.

GameBiz

The bigger environments and drivable vehicles are both welcomed additions to the series. The only let down is poor enemy A.I. in the single player missions but these are forgivable once you start playing multiplayer.

Gaming Target

SOCOM 3: U.S. Navy SEALs appears on PS2 for another tour of duty that is improved graphically and expanded in size to surpass the series’ previous two outings.

Gamer's Hell

Improving on this venerable franchise with bigger environments, controllable vehicles, and a revamped online mode, newcomers and veterans to the series will both be able to appreciate the new features.

Game Chronicles

The massive maps, the use of vehicles, both as transportation and weapons in combat, as well as advanced tactical strategies for working as a team really bring this series into the next generation of military gaming.

GameSpot

Makes some significant strides over its predecessors, offering 32-player online play, drivable vehicles, much larger maps, and a worthwhile single-player campaign.

Gaming Horizon

Online play with vehicles, giant maps and customizable weapons are a blast that you won't get tired of any time soon, and the single player mode is a nice diversion especially with the addition of checkpoints.

Armchair Empire

The environments are massive compared to "SOCOM II."

VGPub

Even gamers who don’t have online capabilities should check this out as it delivers a good single player campaign on top of one of the best online modes of the entire PS2 library.

GameZone

If you have played a SOCOM game in the past, not much has changed, it's a tightly controlled game.

GamingTrend

It’s not anything spectacular. It is what it is, a competent tactical shooter that tries to require brains over brawn, but has no problem letting gamers open fire on anything that moves.

Stuff

The single-player campaign is the best yet in the series.

TotalPlayStation

The series has been refined and honed to near perfection, but some serious AI bugs and wonky headset performance hurt things. If it weren't for the ridiculously hardcore and juvenile online community, it would almost be good enough to be multiplayer-only.

PALGN

SOCOM 3 is everything a sequel should be. On-line and off, SOCOM 3 is a rewarding experience.

Pelit (Finland)

SOCOM 3: U.S. Navy Seals looks and feels polished. The decent save system and the vehicles are major improvements. The AI is still questionable. Multiplayer review in the next issue. [May 2006]

Game Revolution

SOCOM 3 has the distinction of being the best online offering the system has ever seen. Those without a PS2 network adapter need not enlist, but for the rest this game is practically a tour of duty.

Electronic Gaming Monthly

It's sad that two years after SOCOM II, the A.I. has improved so little. Ditto for the graphics.

GamerFeed

AI flaws and a couple of other things here and there keep it from being a must-have campaign. Still, fans will definitely want to invest.

G4 TV

SOCOM 3's entrenched community is huge, so it's a safe bet that you'll always have someone to trade fire with no matter when you connect.

Maxim Online

This third incarnation sticks to the violent battle plan by adding even more twisted tweaks.

Yahoo! Games

The core aspects of SOCOM 3 remain the same, so those who tired of the earlier games won't find much to win them back for a third round.

GamePro

Beyond the frustrating team dynamic, the overall single-player campaign exudes with special-operations intrigue. Several missions feel realistic to the point of reflecting what the actual SEALs train for and experience, which for fans of military shooters, is hard to pass up.

Deeko

With millions of copies already sold, the battlefields are filled with trash-talking opponents and serious fraggers...and those who would rather use vehicular manslaughter as their weapon.

netjak

Visually, it's understandable that Zipper had to make some compromises in exchange for the larger levels. As a result, SOCOM 3 looks no better than previous installments to the series and in some areas less so.

Da Gameboyz

The brightest star in the title is the online component and this aspect of SOCOM really had me sold as it has a great balance of features, huge maps, full rooms and minimal hiccups.

RewiredMind

Online, SOCOM 3 is better than ever, packed full of new locations and genuinely exciting. This latest edition will do nothing to dent the massive popularity of the SOCOM series.

Jolt Online Gaming UK

A very competent online shooter with some excellent features that can be extremely fun if you play it with the right people. Once again though, we must stress that we can’t recommend this game on the basis of its offline content alone.

Computer and Video Games

SOCOM 3's brilliant online gameplay is what makes it. Zipper Interactive has played to its strengths, making the internet experience the best that it can possibly be. However, the franchise's core weaknesses - juddery graphics and a dull single-player mode - have only been partially addressed. [PSW]

Play UK

It just has failed to carpet-bomb let alone surgically strike the problems of the previous two and so as such provides something of a disappointment. [Issue 141, p.112]

Games Radar UK (Pre-2006)

Online play would score high 80s but offline SOCOM 3 is an average squad shooter that treads the same tired path as many before it. [PSM2]

PSM2 Magazine UK

Online play wold score high 80s, but offline SOCOM 3 is an average squad shooter that treads the same tired path as many before it. [May 2006, p.54]

Game Informer

Definitely a decent game, but if the franchise doesn't evolve, it runs the risk of losing its crown as the dominant PS2 shooter. [Dec 2005, p.166]

Games Master UK

The best of its kind on PS2, but rather average in the great scheme of things. [June 2006, p.68]

Worth Playing

For online PS2 fanatics, SOCOM 3 is not the must-buy title that it should and could have been, but for the niche it has carved out, it serves well as-is.

Gamers' Temple

An online feast, but a single player famine, and SOCOM veterans with a Network Adaptor will enjoy gorging themselves on this game.

1UP

Most of the environments -- despite some moody weather effects in the eerie flooded streets of Poland -- look blocky and blah, especially compared to the much prettier "Battlefield 2." But if you absolutely demand realism over pizzazz, you'll have to re-enlist with SOCOM. It's still the most true-to-life shooter you'll lock-and-load on PS2. [*Single Player review]

GameSpy

If you're wondering if it's worth picking up, consider yourself warned if you're a newcomer -- it's a tough nut to crack. If you've been a long-time fan, close this browser window and head to the store.

Boomtown

SOCOM 3 doesn’t innovate in any way at all, but it does entertain.

Official Playstation 2 Magazine UK

Simplified PSP controls do dial down SOCOM's complexity, but impressive options both on and offline make this shine. [May 2006, p.90]

VideoGamer

With support for up to 32 players online there's nothing quite like this for the PlayStation 2 or on consoles in general.

Total Video Games

Personally we're not too keen on the change to bigger maps, it's made the experience feel more like ever other tactical/shooter available.

My Gamer

It’s nice to see the addition of vehicles, though they’re not as fun as you'd expect.

Eurogamer

If SOCOM is to remain Sony's flagship online war title, it needs a complete overhaul in time for its PS3 outing.

GameShark

The game seemed to take a lot of aspects of the previous versions of the game and just build off them, but seemed to lose focus of what the game was meant to be. And a lot of the improvements that came in this release just complicated the game, making confusing and hard to play at times.

Computer Games Magazine

It's like any flat stretch of road in the country, nice and smooth with some decent scenery that gets you where you have to go. [Jan 2006, p.89]