SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo 3

"Socom is a solid package; it looks good, has loads of options with a detailed single player and extensive multiplayer  Alan Bell, NZGamer.com
"This is hands down the best Socom to date...  Ramon Varela, VandalOnline.com
"Fireteam Bravo 3 is definitely not a flawless portable experience, however that doesn't mean that it's not a ton of fun...  TotalPlayStation.com

IGN.com 8 of 10
Bear with me if you've heard me talk about this before, but I never really clicked with the SOCOM games of old. When SOCOM launched on the PlayStation 2 with its packed-in headset and modem, my best friend and I bought it as visions of us duking it out in online matches raced through our heads. However, when we got it home and hooked up, we found a well put together game that was a bit too focused on commands and orders for our action-skewed interests. The game and accessories quickly began to gather dust, and the series lost its spark for me...SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo 3 is so good that pulled me -- someone who has greatly ignored the SOCOM series for the past few years -- in from the get-go...Here, you'll play as Wraith, a SEAL squad leader who just put together a four-man squad for an ultra hush-hush mission. Seems a U.S. operative is behind Soviet lines and everyone the government sends to check in with the mole never reports back. So, the SEALs are going in on their own to get to the bottom of the conundrum. What Fireteam Bravo 3 does that the other SOCOM games didn't is put the focus on action and the responsibility on your shoulders. The guys are on a black-ops mission -- there's no HQ chirping in their ears, no fancy intelligence using 3D, and no rescue boat right around the corner. Before every mission, Wraith and company pour over a worn map and some black and white photos to plan their attack. When things go wrong on the inside -- like a squadmate becoming a hostage -- the SEALs react on their own and formulate a plan...When I first started reviewing SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo 3, I was a bit disappointed by the short campaign. Then, I remembered how cool it is to go through the missions cooperatively. Then, I discovered how much fun custom missions are. Then, I found the joy in dancing over fallen opponents in competitive multiplayer. Fireteam Bravo 3 is a very, very nice package. I could do for some more diversity -- the story gets lost in the shuffle, the weapons all feel the same, and you're really just using the same tactics mission to mission -- but that doesn't spoil the experience. - Greg Miller