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[MustacheBandit_]

Destructoid's review is up:
(LOL)
http://www.destructoid.com/review-socom-4-u-s-navy-seals-198597.phtml

3/10

Without a doubt one of the most poorly researched reviews ever.

taken from the review:

"In my short time with the online (and it was short, because I couldn't keep playing what was, essentially, unplayable)"


that pretty much made me disregard the entire review.

 

[spats]

Destructoid's review is up:
(LOL)
http://www.destructoid.com/review-socom-4-u-s-navy-seals-198597.phtml

3/10

Without a doubt one of the most poorly researched reviews ever.

Eurogamer gave it 6/10.

SOCOM: Special Forces is not quite the unqualified success Sony may have been hoping for, proving a largely generic, intermittently glitchy experience. Despite being tortured souls, the leads are difficult to sympathise with, and each mission is approached with little more than resigned acceptance.

On the plus side, the visuals are reasonably impressive: the foliage is redolent of Far Cry 2, and film buffs will recognise the Kubrickian lighting in the missions set in the so-called 'magic hour' before dusk. The animations are decent, the scenery is pleasant, and there's a mildly bombastic score from the Skywalker Symphony Orchestra.

Special Forces is not without its moments of drama and excitement, but ultimately there is an overriding sense that you are simply going through the motions – Move or no Move.

 

[Greg]

got a bit of free time this afternoon, so I'm officially starting on the OT now

teaching myself some things in the process, so hopefully it turns out well

 

[Cyberia]

There's a definite sense that Special Forces' campaign doesn't quite live up to the game's billing as a top-of-the-range PS3 exclusive. However, there's still the prospect of competitive multiplayer to consider - and given SOCOM's heritage, you could argue that this will be the more important half of the game. While we've spent a fair bit of time with the beta, we've not yet had a chance to assess how the final code fares. Under the circumstances it would be unfair to score the game as whole, so I'll be updating these impressions shortly after April 21.

http://www.videogamer.com/features/article/12-04-2011-1494.html

They get it.

 

[Loudninja]

GameTrailers 7.8

Story - 7.5
Design - 8.0
Gameplay - 8.0
Presentation - 7.7

http://www.gametrailers.com/video/review-hd-socom-4/712717

 

[W1SSY]

Destructoid's review is up:
(LOL)
http://www.destructoid.com/review-socom-4-u-s-navy-seals-198597.phtml

3/10

Without a doubt one of the most poorly researched reviews ever.

Just a few excerpts from the review that I found interesting.

Which leaves SOCOM 4's competitive multiplayer as its saving throw and ... Zipper didn't even roll a one. In fact, the dice fell off the table and rolled into a pile of stinking feces. The problems that plagued Confrontation are back, and may very well be worse than ever before.

In my short time with the online (and it was short, because I couldn't keep playing what was, essentially, unplayable), I saw grenades hovering in mid-air, never moving or activating. I saw bodies floating five feet off the ground. I saw people dying from explosions that didn't actually happen. I've seen disconnections and game kicks of every description. In short, I've seen every major problem an online game could have, all magnified to absurd levels.

Almost sounds like someone pissed in Mr. Sterling's Cheerios. In the review he complains about it being outclassed and behind other games like it which to me is crazy considering nowadays most shooters are not third person but first. I might look at his other revies to see what he usually says.

 

[J-Rzez]

Worse than that, SOCOM 4 just doesn't feel like a game that should exist today.

Heh. Yes, lets get rid of all the hardcore-competitive shooters and make them all shooters on training wheels like CoD, BC, KZ, and Halos.

 

[spats]

Jim Sterling is a fucking idiot. Impossible to take him seriously.

 

[Raoh]

Destructoid's review is up:
(LOL)
http://www.destructoid.com/review-socom-4-u-s-navy-seals-198597.phtml

3/10

WOW

I know socom isnt a favorite around many but... ... Judged the campaign without playing it?

Really?

 

[KingDizzi]

The reviews so far aren't good at all, bleh Zipper is definately the weakest western dev Sony have. Was kinda looking forward to this, bleh.

 

[darkwing]

lol reminds me of Confrontation

 

[W1SSY]

The reviews so far aren't good at all, bleh Zipper is definately the weakest western dev Sony have. Was kinda looking forward to this, bleh.

Who else has reviewed it so far?

 

[bob page]

Zipper should have just canned the campaign and made it online-only. To be honest, I was expecting a poor campaign, but I don't know anyone who buys SOCOM for a single player experience. If they're not reviewing the online portion using the final netcode, what's the point?

 

[GQman2121]

I'm not surprised the single player experience is shallow. I am however shocked that he had so many issues with the game functioning properly online. That's something I didn't really run into during the beta. Outside of the occasional lag, where bullets would register seconds later than they should, it performed pretty well.

What is odd to me is that he failed to mention having to fight the camera to have an optimal view of his surroundings. Also, no mention of the party system or online map designs in general. That leads me to believe that his only experience with the series is Confrontation, and that's not really a good reference point, as that game is rather poor and created by an entirely different team.

The beta honestly showed me all I needed to see to know where their heads were at during the planning and development process.

 

[Loudninja]

thesixaxis reivew

Special Forces is not a bad game, in fact it’s a reasonably good one, there are just inherent flaws that pop up now and again. Throughout most of the game, you’ll have a lot of fun: the new command controls work very well, and the game looks and plays just as nicely. It’s those cursed 45 missions that completely bring the game down and once you’ve experienced a couple you might start to notice what else the game hasn’t quite got right. Having said that, it’s a fair effort for Zipper’s first SOCOM game on PS3, and hopefully signifies a rebirth for a series with a large and devoted fanbase.

http://www.thesixthaxis.com/2011/04/12/review-socom-special-forces-single-player/

As always great review from them.

 

[valentine71]

Heh. Yes, lets get rid of all the hardcore-competitive shooters and make them all shooters on training wheels like CoD, BC, KZ, and Halos.

C'mon you know BC doesn't deserve to be there between those fucking children games.

 

[DMeisterJ]

These reviews are making me afraid for my pre-order... D:

 

[W1SSY]

I feel like Sony tried a multiplayer only SOCOM and it didn't work out. I get SOCOM for multiplayer but I do also like having a single player or co-op game to play. I don't expect the big flashy summer blockbuster like most shooters nowadays and am hopeful that they stuck with a more tactical game. I loved the early SOCOM single player games because of how slow you had to play.

 

[bob page]

I'm not surprised the single player experience is shallow. I am however shocked that he had so many issues with the game functioning properly online. That's something I didn't really run into during the beta. Outside of the occasional lag, where bullets would register seconds later than they should, it performed pretty well.

What is odd to me is that he failed to mention having to fight the camera to have an optimal view of his surroundings. Also, no mention of the party system or online map designs in general. That leads me to believe that his only experience with the series is Confrontation, and that's not really a good reference point, as that game is rather poor and created by an entirely different team.

The beta honestly showed me all I needed to see to know where their heads were at during the planning and development process.

Well according to what he's saying to me on Twitter, his prior experience was with Confrontation and he completely ignored my question about his opinions of SOCOM 2.

 

[Carl]

Eurogamer review reads like the guy decided he hated it before he started playing

 

[darkwing]

yeah reminds me a lot of Confrontation, remember the review scores back then lol

 

[GQman2121]

Zipper should have just canned the campaign and made it online-only. To be honest, I was expecting a poor campaign, but I don't know anyone who buys SOCOM for a single player experience. If they're not reviewing the online portion using the final netcode, what's the point?

The single player experience in the first two games are actually really, really underrated. People sleep on the voice command system with the AI, but it was quite brilliant when used properly. The S2 missions were very engaging and built entirely around stealth teamwork. That something they didn't even try to replicate with S4 it looks like.

 

[J-Rzez]

GameTrailers 7.8

http://www.gametrailers.com/video/review-hd-socom-4/712717

Well, that's what happens when you try to quasi-mimic other shooter's campaign styles and you don't go too far over the top lol. It's a shame to hear they went this route we all knew they would take just from viewing that initial trailer, and they should have stuck to their roots with the more traditional SOCOM style SP, which in this day and age would be totally unique.

MP will be it's saving grace though, and this turns out to be another example that they should have went simplified with the SP, if having anything to it at all, and should have put more effort into MP to get in more maps, modes, and weapons. Then again, I'm sure Sony had some say, in the form of "DLC" on this.

Oh well, (from my beta experience) this and BF3's MP will make me a happy shooter fan this year!

C'mon you know BC doesn't deserve to be there between those fucking children games.

BC isn't as big of an offender perhaps, but BC2 felt a step back to me, oddly enough. Certainly not on the level of hardcore like S4, and what I hope BF3 will be.

The single player experience in the first two games are actually really, really underrated. People sleep on the voice command system with the AI, but it was quite brilliant when used properly. The S2 missions were very engaging and built entirely around stealth teamwork. That something they didn't even try to replicate with S4 it looks like.

Yes. S1 and S2's SP are by today's standard model unique, and hardcore. The missions were for the most part believable, and looking back on them, I wish they went that route because then SP would get some of my time. But then again, this isn't SOCOM US Navy SEALs exactly.

 

[MrToughPants]

Zipper should have just canned the campaign and made it online-only. To be honest, I was expecting a poor campaign, but I don't know anyone who buys SOCOM for a single player experience. If they're not reviewing the online portion using the final netcode, what's the point?

S1 single player was great.

 

[bob page]

So according to Sterling, Sony thought the game was representative of the final product (since they set the embargo date so early). Why the hell would they not give Zipper a chance and set the embargo to the launch date or something?

Sony decided the game was representative of the final product. Usually their review netcode is *better* than the final version.

 

[Loudninja]

GameInformer 7.75
http://www.gameinformer.com/games/s...ations-and-old-problems-arise-in-socom-4.aspx

So yeah we can pretty mcuh expect high 7 scores.

 

[Dr. Malik]

Can we have a new thread for the reviews, they are going to get lost here.

 

[M.W.]

The beta isn't very good so these scores aren't shocking.

 

[darkwing]

So according to Sterling, Sony thought the game was representative of the final product (since they set the embargo date so early). Why the hell would they not give Zipper a chance and set the embargo to the launch date or something?

because they thought they would get higher review scores

 

[bob page]

because they thought they would get higher review scores

Even though they were aware Zipper was going through beta and working on a day-one patch? Seems ridiculous to me, and I'd be frustrated as hell if I worked at Zipper.

 

[W1SSY]

While I enjoy creative modes like Bombsquad, which tasks your team with escorting a randomly chosen bomb technician to different explosive caches, too many of the game types lack respawning, and those that have them are prone to spawn camping. The 32-player count is impressive, but lag became an issue in some of the matches I played.

Seems like most reviews are from people that do not have any real experience with SOCOM. But around a 7.5 seems what the game will be around after the reviews get out.

 

[darkwing]

Even though they were aware Zipper was going through beta and working on a day-one patch? Seems ridiculous to me, and I'd be frustrated as hell if I worked at Zipper.

because its a SOCOM game, quite different from other shooters, I guess they thought it would make it stand out

 

[Loudninja]

G4TV - SOCOM 4: U.S. Navy Seals Review:4/5
http://www.g4tv.com/games/ps3/63342/socom-4-us-navy-seals/review/

 

[backbreaker65]

I'm a little skeptical now. I'm not an online player and was looking forward to the game. Hell they delayed it and still looks mediocre, how does that happen?

 

[darkwing]

G4TV - SOCOM 4: U.S. Navy Seals Review:4/5
http://www.g4tv.com/games/ps3/63342/socom-4-us-navy-seals/articles/74216/socom-4-us-navy-seals/

its linking to the preview page, here's the review

http://www.g4tv.com/games/ps3/63342/socom-4-us-navy-seals/review/

 

[bob page]

I'm a little skeptical now. I'm not an online player and was looking forward to the game. Hell they delayed it and still looks mediocre, how does that happen?

In my opinion, I would never recommend a SOCOM game for the single player. I've beaten all of them but I've also put 500+ hours into SOCOM 2. Online is the star here and always was to begin with.

 

[darkwing]

nice conclusion from g4tv

A Tactical Achievement

Zipper Interactive has taken the criticisms of past games to heart and delivered a terrific update of Sony's long-running series. While the game isn't perfect, the overall result is a fun, smart, and intense take on the military-shooter theme. With solid, team-based play both online and off, SOCOM 4: U.S. Navy Seals puts the series in firm competition with the likes of Call of Duty and other AAA-shooters. The superb tactical gameplay and third-person viewpoint, however, gives the game a distinction that sets it apart from the slew of military-themed games out there.

 

[bob page]

A lot of reviewers have the mentality that you "review what you play." But they are also given embargos that sometimes occur before the release date, so they all race to publish their articles exactly then. What happens when what you're playing (thus reviewing) isn't the same as what people on launch day are playing? Does this give the review any relevance?

 

[darkwing]

A lot of reviewers have the mentality that you "review what you play." But they are also given embargos that sometimes occur before release date. What happens when what you're playing (thus reviewing) isn't the same as what people on launch day are playing? Does this give the review any relevance?

only review that matters is yourself, if you liked the Beta but saw the review scores and don't buy it because of it, i guess Metacritic has won

 

[bob page]

only review that matters is yourself, if you liked the Beta but saw the review scores and don't buy it because of it, i guess Metacritic has won

Exactly, but a huge amount of people still haven't played the beta. Reviews are a pretty big deterrence nowadays and it sucks for Zipper to have to lose business/reputation because of this.

 

[darkwing]

Exactly, but a huge amount of people still haven't played the beta. Reviews are a pretty big deterrence nowadays and it sucks for Zipper to have to lose business/reputation because of this.

unfortunately that's true, I guess game developers have to make games that will have a high Metacritic score to succeed in sales

 

[weekend_warrior]

Almost sounds like someone pissed in Mr. Sterling's Cheerios. In the review he complains about it being outclassed and behind other games like it which to me is crazy considering nowadays most shooters are not third person but first. I might look at his other revies to see what he usually says.

Jim Sterling is an idiot. He's notorious for letting his favoritisms affect his reviews. If he doesn't think he'll like a game going into it he'll play about 20 minutes, look for all the problems he can, and condense that into a "review". I take anything written by him as serious as I would if it was written by Bozo The Clown.

 

[Raoh]

Add to the poor reviews that mortal kombat featuring kratos and portal 2 with steam support is coming out at the same time.

Good luck with the sales Zipper.

I am enjoying the game and still plan to pick it up, but i'm the only one in my circle. I'll have to make new friends to play with cause I cant say I know anyone who wants to play it or will want to once they see the reviews.

Truly sad times for socom fans.

 

[TTP]

unfortunately that's true, I guess game developers have to make games that will have a high Metacritic score to succeed in sales

Or Sony shouldn't allow reviews of unfinished products, especially when online portion is a big part of it. I guess some genius over there though the SP portion was enough to get good enough scores.

The very existence of these reviews doesn't make any sense at all.

 

[bob page]

The very existence of these reviews doesn't make any sense at all.

Truth.

 

[FINALBOSS]

I am going to purchase this video game. I found the online extremely fun and rewarding and I, surprisingly, never got sick of playing the same 2 maps over and over again. I love it.

 

[Raoh]

Since Zipper plans to make a post release patch.

Does anyone think Socom 4 is going to get re-reviews like confrontation got post patch?

 

[bob page]

Since Zipper plans to make a post release patch.

Does anyone think Socom 4 is going to get re-reviews like confrontation got post patch?

I doubt it- I don't think I've seen anything like that lately and I know Destructoid never does. I think if it has a successful, dedicated online following, that'll mean more than any review.

 

[Das-J]

I think if it has a successful, dedicated online following, that'll mean more than any review.

100% agree - The support this game will see after launch should go a long way towards that as well!

 

[Giriath_89]

Got my Move and am charging the batteries. The beta ends tomorrow (the 13th), right? What settings are you Move users playing with?