Since its first release on the PlayStation 2, one of the best aspects of the SOCOM games has always been the online multiplayer mode. It was impressive to find a deep and functional online multiplayer game with full voice communication via an accompanying headset. As the series progressed, the multiplayer game improved greatly. I mean, SOCOM fans still talk about SOCOM 2’s amazing online gameplay, maps and near perfect action. Therefore, it came as a pleasant surprise that the next game in the series was an online multiplayer-only game for the PlayStation 3. SOCOM: Confrontation was a great idea that would have been a truly satisfying multiplayer game but what we have here is a game that feels incomplete and a broken shell of what was meant to be something so much better.

First, I must make it known that this review was delayed on purpose. You see, we like to give each game a fair evaluation and since Confrontation’s launch, the game was practically unplayable for a long period of time. In fact, it is still hard to log on to a working server able to offer at least two hours worth of multiplayer fun before some glitch either tosses you out of the game or freezes to the point that you’ll have to switch off the console. This is rather vexing seeing as this problem didn’t show up during the Public Beta preview. In fact, new problems showed up and so I waited for SCEA and Slant Six Games to release a patch to fix the more problematic issues. They didn’t and this has left SOCOM fans greatly dissatisfied.

Aside from the lengthy installation requirements, installing Confrontation on your PS3 isn’t too painful. The problem, as I said, was trying to find a server that works. When the game does work or doesn‘t run into severe framerate problems, however, it shows its true colors and I must say that it is actually a blast … for the short time that it lasts. Once in you can tweak your avatar’s appearance and you can even create the look for your clan by designing your own uniform style and even your own unique arm patch. After that, you can join a match or create one with a number of options that include disabling friendly fire to deciding whether or not a player gets to respawn at all.

The game match types in the game are returning favorites for SOCOM fans such as Elimination or Demolition and there are also objective-based matches such as Breach, Extraction, Escort and Control. Once again, we also find Suppression so there are plenty of game match types to keep gamers busy. You can also set up a medley of game match types, offering a taste of each match type within a tournament or Clan Ladder Match. Ranked matches are easily setup as are unranked matches that - thankfully - are very accommodating to newbies. I was pleasantly surprised to see how welcome Confrontation players are with players new to the game. 

The stars of the show are the maps. There are seven maps available so far, each one of them offers new challenges that suit each game match type. Five of the maps include large versions that cover more territory but each of the seven is actually spacious enough for Demolition or Extraction matches. Returning SOCOM fans will recognize Crossroads, a map that takes place within an Arabic marketplace with enough corridors and buildings made for fierce battles. Urban Wasteland was just made for sniper fights thanks to the connecting buildings and Fallen - which is destined to be a fan favorite - contains Greek ruins to use as cover. While Desert Glory and Frostfire don’t have large versions, they’re great maps that make Elimination matches such a blast.

While you won’t get to hop into any vehicles like past SOCOM multiplayer matches, the game makes up for the squad-based action with an impressive number of load-out weapons. You can add attachments to most of your weapons and thus changing their rate of fire or even shot distance. If you don’t like your weapon, you can change them during respawn points. You even have a knife for those silent kills.  Yet the best part of the various weapon choices is the fact that you can back up your team by taking up the role of sniper or carry an explosive weapon such as an RPG.

Speaking of teams, it’s surprising to see players back each another up even in matches that contain 16 players on each team. Matches can be pitted four against four or eight against eight but the best matches are the ones that have 32-players on the map at once. Almost every player also uses a headset for communication, which is another pleasant surprise. Confrontation can be purchased via the PlayStation Network or the game on its own but the best deal is the game bundled with the excellent Bluetooth Headset for the PlayStation 3 (reviewed here).

The game’s controls aren’t bad at all either seeing as the game does make use of the SIXAXIS controller. You can tilt to the left or right just by tilting the controller and you can toss grenades more effectively by tilting the controller upwards or downwards. For the most part, your character -whether it’s a Special Ops member or a ruthless mercenary - moves slightly different visually. Special Ops crouch the way they were trained while mercenaries crouch less formally. It’s a nice touch, actually.

Yet all of this makes no difference when the game is this broken. Say you do manage to find a server that is actually operational. There are times when you’ll be playing for an hour when the game freezes or you are taken out of the server with a message that says that connection to the server was severed. The worst part comes during game matches, though. Glitches have grenades exploding but not taking out their target sometimes and sometimes your bullets don’t even reach your enemy. There are even times when your weapon disappears completely. Your soldier will be carrying an invisible weapon that doesn’t even fire. On top of that, there are times when a teammate would just disappear and reappear as if he teleported. You can’t go one match without a teammate telling you his enemy just vanished but is still on the player roster.

Having participated in a number of tournaments thanks to invitations that show up in the Calendar in the main menu screen, the ranked matches weren’t even counted in my personal stats page. It’s as if I never played a single game at all. It’s just as it was during the Public Beta and there doesn’t seem to be any signs of fixing these and the various other glitches. Thankfully, what has improved is the loading time between matches. Still, with the way things are, the limited fun you’ll have in the game just isn’t worth the purchase price at this moment. Hopefully, the team behind the game will work on the many issues that plague this game.

Visually, Confrontation looks slightly better than recent SOCOM games. The character models and faces are still a bit on the awkward side and character movement can be a bit gawky so don’t expect the characters to move smoothly. An unsteady framerate and the fact that squad members simply vanish does not add realism, although the blood does fly in this game. At least the maps look good (especially Fallen and Quarantine) and the visual effects are exceptional. The game’s sound is the most ignored in a game where actual players are communicating. Sometimes the voices seem to come via the screen itself, which drowns out the game’s intense music at times. You will hear plenty of background noises such as distant gunfire and explosions in the game that will startle players.  

There’s a lot to like about SOCOM: Confrontation for the PlayStation 3 but there is a lot more to hate about it as well. Like most SOCOM fans, we patiently waited for patches to make the game playable but so far all we are left with is a game that feels incomplete despite its engrossing action. Oh, but when Confrontation works it really shines brightly. Sadly enough, it just doesn’t work as often as it should if at all on some days. The bundle comes with the official Bluetooth Headset for the PlayStation 3 but other than the excellent headset there is very little reason to buy this game now.

Gameplay: 6.5
The tilt controls are great and the familiar SOCOM controls are back but Confrontation’s many problems simply keep the game from being fun. The times the game does run smoothly, frustrating glitches pop up and take you out of the game. At least the maps and game match types are good.

Graphics: 7.0
Visually, the game looks sharp on the PS3 but there’s nothing here that really give you the impression that this is a next-generation SOCOM game. That said, however, the explosions are gorgeous and many of the maps do look good.

Sound: 7.0
There are times when the sound will disappear but when its back you’ll hear the different gun shot noises, distant explosions and good music. Of course, you’ll be concentrating on a teammate’s warning to pay too much attention to the few voice clips in the game.

Difficulty: Medium/Hard
You’ll be up against a number of skilled SOCOM players in this game and backing up your team in a 16-versus-16 match is tough. Unfortunately, you’ll also have to deal with some game crippling glitches that will leave you without weapons every now and then.

Concept: 6.5
All the right elements are here and there are a number of cool load-out weapons to use in the various maps and game match types. You can buy the game via the Network or the game on its own but the bundle that includes the official Bluetooth Headset for the PlayStation 3 is worth the extra green for the headset alone. It’s just too bad the game is this broken.

Multiplayer: 7.0
When the game does manage to work, you’ll witness gamers working in teams and covering each another during the more heated game matches. You can form your own clan and participate in tournaments and mostly everyone uses their headsets for this game. The 32-player matches are the best.

Overall: 6.5
Technically flawed in almost every way, SOCOM: Confrontation is one of those games that would have made for an amazing online experience if it weren’t for its problems. The potential for greatness is clearly visible when the game does run smoothly but these moments are far too rare to recommend this one to anyone.