SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo
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| SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo | |
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| Developer(s) | Zipper Interactive |
| Publisher(s) | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| Distributor(s) | Ingram Entertainment |
| Release date(s) |  November 8, 2005 |
| Genre(s) | Third-person shooter |
| Mode(s) | single player, Infrastructure |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: M |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation Portable |
| Media | Universal Media Disc |
SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo is the first SOCOM game for the PlayStation Portable. It is one of the best-selling PSP games next to Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories. It has both online play (infrastructure mode) and PSP to PSP play (ad-hoc). It is very similar to the Socom games released for the Playstation 2. Zipper has released a sequel to this game, titled SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo 2 [1]
[edit] Gameplay
The most notable difference between Fireteam Bravo and its PlayStation 2 counterparts, is the aiming system. The PlayStation 2's controllers have two analog sticks, while the Playstation Portable has only one. To aim, the player must "lock on" with the R button onto a target and then fire. This has caused much controversy amongst die-hard fans of the series, claiming it promotes a "run and gun" playing style, but nonetheless has been well accepted by the community. Within the game there are sniper rifles, assault rifles,machine guns, explosive attachments, ballistic weaponry, pistols and grenades. Grenades have become a large part of gameplay as they can take out a player in one hit if he is even within splash damage. Although all of the weapons are renamed due to legal issues, they are accurate in design to their real-life counterparts.
[edit] Online Multiplayer
This game's main draw was its online play. Its support for up to 16 players at a time, voice chat, and variety of games, plus the Socom name, propelled it to popularity. Since game launch, a community has formed in Sony's official PlayStation forums among players. Socom FTB is lacking a ladder of its own, so many sites have attempted to form clan ladders of their own. The most notable, being SocomArena (SA) [2]. Cheating inside the game is common, with Devhook mods such as infinite ammo, rankup rooms, and glitching. This hasn't demonstrated to be a real problem as these people can be kept out with passworded rooms, though a glitch has arisen allowing a player to break into a passworded room. Many players have learned different strategies throughout the game, the most notable being "HEing" and "No-Scope Sniping." HEs are types of grenades that take longer to explode. Many people throw HEs near the start of rounds in order to get quick kills, which are helpful in the Suppression game mode. No Scope Sniping is a skill involving any Assault Rifle without a Scope. Tapping up on the D-Pad twice enters the player into a 1st Person zoom mode with their gun. It allows somewhat clear view of places far away. Players can use No-Scope Sniping to freelook kill other players from a far distance, which is a great strategy as you cannot be locked onto from far away distances with the average assault rifle. No-Scope Sniping and HEing are mainly used in the maps Thin Ice and Rift, though can be used on most other Large maps.
[edit] Online Maps
- Market Day - Modelled around an Arabian market, this small map has many corners and streets to hide in.
- Rockslide - This large oasis type map has a large river at ground level going around the sides of the map. At the river bend, there is an island and a slope that takes you up to the plateau in the middle of the map. The river is often the site of grenade wars and the plateau is usually the site of firefights.
- Casbah - A small Arabian palace with many small rooms and halls. Ideal map for Doubles or 1 v 1. This is the map infamous for the Rank Glitch, or cheating.
- Village - A large village map with an arch and leading into the terrorist base. This map is known for camping by the terrorist who can often easily cover it with grenades or RPGs.
- High Altitude - A small level on a mountain top. There are caves leading down to waterfalls on the lower parts of the level while bridges occupy the top.
- The Bunker - A small bunker level. A very good level for 1 v 1.
- Lockdown - This small map takes place in a South American prison, there are cells, a bathroom, a medical room and a mess hall. Also good for 1 v 1 or doubles.
- Rift - A South American village is the setting of this large map, with Seals spawning in one village and Terrorists in another. In the middle lies a church and a cave leading into the Terrorist base. Grenade play and RPG camping is common. HEing is also common, but No-Scope Sniping mainly takes place between the cave and the Church area.
- Rolling Stock - This trainyard level takes place in South America. The level has a warehouse where Terrorists spawn, while the Seals spawn near a catwalk leading into the warehouse. Underneath the catwalk, there is a yard area with a fence going around the warehouse. The area around the fence is often bombarded by the Seals trying to get in the base and Terrorists trying to defend it. Grenade play is heavy on this level, especially on the catwalk where space is cramped there are blind corners ideal for ricocheting grenades at each other. This is the most notorious camping map for the terrorists, as they utilize their concealed warehouse spawn.
- Thin Ice - A snowy rural area is the setting for this large level. The Seals spawn in an area by a barn and a farmhouse. Running right up the middle is a snow drift leading to the Terrorist spawn. At their spawn, there is a house with a basement that leads you right under the snowdrift and to the farmhouse avoiding all conflict above ground. Burst shooting and grenades are common here. This is the most popular map around the Socom Community, as it allows a great combination of HEing, No-Scope Sniping, Grenading, and Camping.
- Deep Freeze - This map is modelled after a Polish city. Throughout the city, there is an empty canal with stairs going back to ground level and tunnels leading in and out to the Terrorist and Seal bases. On ground level, you can go across bridges into the buildings. Camping is common. This map was abandoned by the main portion of the FTB community, as it is known for "lagging."
