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SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs: Combined Assault

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SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs: Combined Assault
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Developer(s)Zipper Interactive
Publisher(s)Sony Computer Entertainment
Platform(s)PlayStation 2
ReleaseUnited States November 7, 2006
Genre(s)Third-person shooter
Mode(s)Single player, Multiplayer (Also supports LAN play), Co-op Online

SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs: Combined Assault, was released November 7, 2006 (North America) for the PlayStation 2 gaming console. Combined Assault features an entirely new campaign, new vehicles, weapons, multiplayer maps and much more.

Combined Assault's campaign mode is completely new and offers 18 missions. Rather than spanning multiple countries like past games in the series, the game takes place solely in the fictional country of Adjikistan. The country is supposedly situated somewhere in the Afghanistan/Pakistan region of Central Asia and features a number of environment and climate zones, allowing for the game to feature a wide variety of landscapes and settings while working within one large, connected story.

New Features

One of the main new features of this game is the ability to play an all new story mode online. Set in the fictitious region country of "Adjikistan" replacing the SEAL team with up to 3 other players via online play.

In addition, the online play section includes all the SOCOM 3 multiplayer maps as well 10 new multiplayer maps for Combined Assault. The SOCOM 3 maps can be played with players using a SOCOM 3 disc, however SOCOM 3 disc users would not be able to play any of the new maps Combined Assault maps without purchasing the game.

The ranking system has been reworked. The player doesn't just have to defeat the other team to get one's rank higher, but the player also has to win games and rounds.

Also, there is a new "Instant Action" mode. This mode allows you to play any unlocked level in single player on a variety of game modes. This definitely adds replay value to the offline game, as you can also unlock "Badges." This is a new reward system for completing certain single player goals, such as beating the game within a certain amount of time or getting a certain amount of headshots.

The biggest addition to Combined Assault is the Co-Op online portion. You can team up with up to 3 other friends and either play single player campaign missions, or the instant action missions. Unfortunately, there is no split-screen option, so you cannot play with 2 or more players on the same PS2.

Some other changes include totally upgraded AI, a different in-game command menu (more like SOCOM II), and the ability to complete a single player mission in any order the player wishes (for example: you can complete objectives in no specific order, and you can choose which mission to play).

Changes

To comply with the game's new rating of Teen by the ESRB, some elements of the game were altered. Some major changes were the removal of blood and changing the names of the enemies to mercenaries and paramilitaries to make the game more politically correct.

Storyline

After a few years since the Soviet Union's collapse, the former Adjikistani Socialist republic has finally gained independence. Ismail Karim is appointed Adjikistan's first president. After a SEAL Team's helicopter was shot down in the northern area of the country, the US send in the Navy SEALs to find out what happened and rescue the crew and the fireteam. As the story progresses, US intelligence finds out that not only a Paramilitary group has been in contact with President Karim but acts of Genocide has been imminent with concentration camps been placed throughout the country. The situation grows worse when Karim holds a US senator hostage. However, rebel groups are helping the SEALS to combat Karim's Adjikistani Army. In the final midst of battle, the dictator's strength has been crippled with a final showdown against Karim while his Government has been punished by world authorities for their genocide acts.

Characters

Able Element

Bravo Element

The Bravo Element of the 4-man team are the backbone of the team. They carry out all orders given to them either separately (if ordered) or as a pair.

Other SEALs

  • BOOMER - His real name was Hutchins and was in Kahuna's element in SOCOM 1. After the first game he broke off and went to another fireteam. You're told that he was injured by friendly fire in SOCOM 2. In Combined Assault he is downed in a chopper (along with the rest of his team) and is designated as missing in action. SPECTER finds him dead in the first mission of the game.
  • VANDAL (v.b. Nolan North) - His real name is Alex Halda and he was a part of the Bravo Element in SOCOM 2. He broke off and joined another fireteam and eventually became commander of that team. His helicopter was shot down in Combined Assault and you later find him in a paramilitary held town later in the game.
  • WINGTIP - A member of VANDAL's team alive in an old barracks later in the game.
  • SANDMAN (v.b. John Cygan) - A member and commander of Fireteam Bravo. He is involved with the team by communicating intel and providing support in most missions. He is also the main character in SOCOM: Fireteam Bravo and SOCOM: Fireteam Bravo 2.

Other

  • H.Q. (v.b. Jennifer Hale) - A female Navy Officer that guides the player through missions in SOCOM I, II and 3. At the conclusion of Combined Assault, she is shown at a computer. She was also voiced by Monica Murray in SOCOM I, and Vanessa Marshall in SOCOM II.

Weapons

While Socom US Navy SEALs 3 had a large number of weapons to choose from Socom US Navy SEALs Combined assault has even more the list goes to about 58 weapons to choose from (not including attachments such as grips, thermal radar, supressors, etc.)

Assault-Rifles

Submachine-Guns

  • MP5A3N- Labeled "HK5" in-game.
  • MP7- Labeled "HK7" in-game.
  • Uzi- Labeled "9mm Sub" in-game.
  • P90- Labeled "F90" in-game.

Machine-Guns

Sniper Rifles

Shotguns

Pistols

Attachment-Weapons

Explosives

Online Gameplay

Verification

Previously, a credit card was needed for additional features on SOCOM Combined Assault such as ranks, clans, friends lists and the ability to join ranked games. However, Zipper Interactive removed account verification and newly created account is automatically verified.

Online Maps

There are 10 new maps in Combined Assault, and each one can be played with multiple game modes. Including the SOCOM 3 online maps, there is a total of 25 maps available for play including the 3 downloadable maps that can be purchased through the SOCOM 3/Combined Assault Community.

Socom 3 Maps

Breach Demolition Suppression Escort Extraction Control Convoy
Citadel Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Crucible No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes
Devil's Road No No Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Killing Fields No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes
Antenora Yes No Yes No Yes Yes No
Boneyard Yes No Yes No Yes No No
Storm Front No Yes Yes No Yes Yes No
Tidal Fury Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No
Blackwoods No Yes Yes No Yes Yes No
Fault Yes Yes Yes No No Yes No
Harvester Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Waterworks Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes No

Combined Assault Maps

Breach Demolition Suppression Escort Extraction Control Convoy
Summit Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No
Copperhead No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes
Threshold No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Retaliation No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Boot Camp Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Anchorage No Yes Yes No Yes No No
Echelon Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No
Aftershock No Yes Yes No Yes Yes No
Siphon Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No
Prowler No Yes Yes No No Yes Yes

Downloadable Maps

Breach Demolition Suppression Escort Extraction Control Convoy
After Hours No Yes Yes No No Yes No
Last Bastion Yes Yes Yes No No Yes No
Liberation No Yes Yes Yes No Yes No

Downloadable Maps

The first map pack was released on June 27, 2006 and contained the 3 HDD Maps from SOCOM II. The maps are After Hours, Last Bastion, and Liberation. The map pack is still available to purchase through the SOCOM 3/Combined Assault Community for $5.99 (USD).

A second map pack has been announced by Zipper, but the maps and the release date has not been announced.

Although these new maps are released and available to all SOCOM 3/Combined Assault online users, once the two-week trial period expires, a minuscule number of players actually purchase the map packs, and rarely does one see a game with the downloadable maps included in the map cycle.

European users will not be able to download any map packs; the reason for this is unknown and unannounced by the developers.

Online Ranking System

The ranking system is currently un-frozen as of April 5th 2007, and is currently recording stats and ranks normally. The ranking system in SOCOM: Combined Assault is based on raw points. To help demonstrate how this system works, one team will be designated as Team One, and the other team, Team Two.

On a general note, if Team One has a combined overall score (that is the number of points a user has, NOT his/her overall position) greater than that of Team Two, and Team One wins the game, Team One's players will not have gotten as many points than if Team One had a total number of points fewer than that of Team Two.

There are many variables and factors that affect this. If Team One has a total number of 10,000 points, and Team Two also has 10,000 points. If a cat Team One wins the game 6-4, each player would not have gotten as many points had Team One won the game 6-0. In short, winning games in as few rounds as possible will help acquire the most points. In addition, playing games with more rounds cause the most dramatic changes in points, be it winning, or losing. Furthermore, acquiring more kills than deaths after the game has finished will help gain points. However, if Team One has a "big negative", an account with an extremely low negative score, such as -100,000, Team One will now have a total score of -90,000, which results in major point loss towards Team Two. In fact, even if Team Two beats Team One, Team Two will still lose points because Team One's score is so low. "Big negatives" are created through the use of glitching.

Quitting, disconnecting, and getting voted out of ranked games will all contribute to losing points. While in-game, committing suicide or killing friendlies, hostages, V.I.P.'s, etc. will also make one lose points.

While the general higher rankings of Socom 3 and Combined Assault seem to glitch with "big negatives", about 20% of the top 10,000 positions are "legit" and do not cheat.[citation needed]

The Online Community

The online community in SOCOM: Combined Assault has slightly changed from previous SOCOM games. The number of people online during the day simultaneously has dropped from around 30,000-35,000 in SOCOM II, to 20,000-25,000 in SOCOM 3, to about 16,000-18,000 now in Combined Assault. Recently, with a change to the game's rating, younger fans have influenced the playing hours from around 5pm (EST) to around 8pm (EST).

Since SOCOM 2, the number of user created videos has sky rocketed. Most commonly found on socomvideos.com or youtube.com. Normally touted as "Ownage" or "Pwnage" videos, they show player(s) playing a regular game set to any kind of background music. Over the past year or so, SOCOM reality videos are also increasing in popularity. Reality videos have a story line with characters that are either original or remakes of other movies.

Glitching/Cheating Issues

The glitching in the newer SOCOMs (SOCOM 3 and Combined Assault) has not been as large of an issue than in the previous SOCOMs. Because of the similarity in style amongst SOCOM 3 and SOCOM: Combined Assault, Combined Assault has been exploited faster than any of the previous SOCOMs. Those who usually go unpunished, in most rooms, are "booted" through the voting system in each game. People do not vote out players who are observed glitching they allow them to cheat or start cheating themselves.

People have created "mod disks" that allow players to jump to extreme heights, shoot single-shot sniper rifles fully automatic, and run faster than the normal speed. Problems arise when these so-called "glitchers" ruin legit games, especially games that are ranked.

Clans

Clans of up to 32 people per roster (with an infinite number of rosters) can be created in SOCOM: Combined Assault. The choices a leader has is to change a clan tag, remove or add a player, register the clan for Clan Matches or delete the clan altogether.

Clan government can range from one end of the spectrum to the other, with dictatorial rule, military style rule or democratic rule. In most cases, especially with larger clans, the clan leader delegates rule to other trusted clan members. Although most clanmates meet in-game, strong friendships can result from this intimate interaction and teamwork and it is not uncommon for clanmates to interact outside of game play.

Clan Wars

A Clan War is a battle between two clans. These wars can be unofficial or ranked scrimmages, clan matches, or official tournament rounds. Each clan should ideally have the same number of participants, though it is not uncommon for clans to play a player or two down. Each clan chooses a map and a side (Seals or Mercenaries). Each clan has a right to exercise weapons restrictions (usually outlawing Long Range Explosives), time constraints (usually 5 minutes or less), and friendly fire options. Once each clan has picked a map, a tie breaker map is agreed upon. The most common tie breaker map chosen is Killing Fields (Demolition), which overflowed from SOCOM 3. However, Prowler (Demolition) is now becoming a more widely accepted tie breaker map. Most clan wars are set for 11 rounds per map, though clan wars with fewer participants can be set for fewer rounds played.

Unless one clan wins both chosen maps, the tie breaker map is played, with the clan with most rounds won chosing sides. If each clan won the same amount of rounds, the clan with the higher MVP score wins. If MVP scores were the same, most clans use the number of kills each MVP had to determine which clan gets pick.

Unofficial and ranked clan wars are a common occurrence and very easy to organize and play. Game Battles (GB) wars are highly organized, requiring each clan to be listed on the website and report the outcome of each war. Clan matches are organized in game play between clan leaders and game statistics are handled through the DNAS servers. Tournament rounds are organized through a tournament host. Tournament rounds are organized previously with a tournament representative and referees may be called in to assist with issues such as glitching or any other form of cheating.

Official SOCOM: Combined Assault Player's Guide

Concurrent with the game's release, BradyGames published "SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs: Combined Assault Signature Series Guide"

The guide covers all multiplayer and single-player aspects of this game. This includes maps, complete mission-based walkthroughs, secrets including unlockables, hidden Bonus and Crosstalk objectives, battle tactics, weapons, stealth, sniping, and PSP connectivity.

Trivia

  • The idea of a chopper being shot down while picking up a Navy Seals team is probably based on Operation Red Wing in June 28, 2005. Eight SEALs were lost along with eight Army Night Stalkers when a Taliban rocket-propelled grenade shot down their helicopter in Afghanistan. This chopper mission was attempting to rescue a four-man SEAL reconnaissance team involved in a firefight. Three of the four on the ground were killed. The fourth evaded the enemy and was rescued days later. [1] [2]
  • Boomer finally returns in one level after an absence of two games. He is not one of the teammates though, but gets killed off during the mission as a plot direction and a satirical jab at the player base's negative reactions towards the character in the first SOCOM game.
  • Vandal returns in this game after an absence of one game. He is not one of the teammates.
  • This is the only SOCOM game for the PlayStation 2 not to be rated M[Mature], it is rated T [Teen].
  • This is the only SOCOM game for the Playstation 2 that allows Online Co-Op gameplay against the computer.
  • At the end of the game (when watching the GNS station), it is revealed that this game takes place 5 years in the future after SOCOM 3, because it says Mahmood's NAPF party was defeated exactly 5 years from the showing.
  • At the very end of the game, you finally see the female Navy officer who guides you in your missions over the radio in the SOCOM series. She is wearing a standard naval uniform and has very short brown hair and is seen finishing the Fireteams report.
  • At the end of the game we also see for the first time GNN correspondent, Mark Tepper. Tepper covers military movements from a journalistic standpoint in the first games.
  • Throughout each mission, there are sausages that can be found in different locations, usually each has a location that the player wouldn't bother to get to if he/she doesn't know the existence of them in the game. The sausage can be "eaten", with the player's character saying, "Mmm, spicey.". Also, at the end of the game, when watching the GNS broadcast, you can see on the scrolling words that sausage stock products inclined, which probably relates to the sausages in the game.

See also

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