With two PSP entries under its belt,
SCEA’s SOCOM US Navy SEALs: Fireteam Bravo franchise ranks among the premiere
shooters on the system, benefiting from great controls and comprehensive
multiplayer features. Now, Sony and developer Slant Six Games have released the
third entry, Fireteam Bravo 3 to PSP owners everywhere.
Fireteam Bravo 3 is definitely a
different beast from its predecessors, sporting a more streamlined and
simplified set of gameplay mechanics, doing away with a great deal of the game’s
tactical depth in favor of a more action-oriented (read: less strategic)
approach. While this might work for newcomers who want to get in on the action
right away, the series vets will take issue with the easy single-player campaign
and lack of overall depth.
In Fireteam Bravo 3, you’ll play as
Wraith, the leader of your four-person SEAL unit. You are put behind Soviet
lines in order to find a missing mole that has lost contact with his superiors.
Your team goes in alone, working covertly and silently (with no contact from HQ)
in order to figure out the mole’s status and discern what went wrong. Things
take a quick turn for the worse when one of your SEALs is taken hostage,
complicating matters a lot more.
The game’s squad controls have been
made much easier than in previous iterations. Your character will be able to
have command over each of his units by holding down the circle button to pull
open your command radial. By simply pushing the circle button, you’ll be able to
send your units to wherever you are currently aiming. This is a fine addition,
cleaning up the controls quite a bit.
Unfortunately, the simplicity
doesn’t really end there. Mission objectives are pretty streamlined and lack the
complexity of previous Fireteam Bravo games, often having you simply moving from
one point to another clearing out hostiles. There are secondary missions to be
found, but these rarely move beyond searching out buildings for Intel and
persons of interest. Additionally, the lock-on mechanic makes these engagements
far from engaging, as many of the weapon load-outs are more than capable of
taking out enemies from a good distance without having to take the time to aim
properly. This and the linear nature of the mission design makes this a very
easy single-player experience. It doesn’t help matters that the campaign is
pretty short, clocking in at a little under the six hour mark.
However, while the single-player
missions may leave a bit to be desired, the multiplayer delivers in spades. The
game boasts a solid four-player co-op mode (a first for the PSP system), and
myriad competitive modes, including classic modes like Capture the Flag and Team
Deathmatch, as well as modes like Escort and Demolition that shake things up.
The modes also run very solidly without lag. Couple that with voice chat
capabilities and you’ve got a great multiplayer experience that technically
rivals anything you’d see on a console.
Graphically, Fireteam Bravo 3 is a
solid looking title. The character models look pretty good for a PSP game, and
the environments are well-detailed. The action also unfolds at a smooth clip as
well.
The sound is also very good. The
music does a great job of setting the stage for the game’s theme and general
mood, and the voice acting is solid. The sound effects are also well done, aside
from a few instances of cutting out.
While Fireteam Bravo 3’s
single-player campaign is short, easy, and pretty drab, the competitive
multiplayer element really helps carry the experience. Just don’t expect the
level of depth as other SOCOM games.
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Gameplay: 7.0
While the controls are as solid as ever (a feat considering the PSP’s
limitations in this area), the game’s single-player element lacks the creative
spark of the previous iterations. The game feels very simplified compared to the
other titles, and the overall brevity of the campaign and its ease makes for a
somewhat lackluster experience.
Graphics: 8.5
Fireteam Bravo is a pretty sweet looking game, with nice character models,
detailed environments, and a smooth clip.
Sound: 8.5
The music and sound effects are both very solid, and the game features some
quality voice work to boot.
Difficulty: Medium
Concept: 7.0
The story is a bit of a drag, and the simplistic nature of the gameplay
might turn off series stalwarts.
Multiplayer: 8.5
Certainly the high point of the experience, the game’s multiplayer is
comprehensive and runs very solidly on the system with minimal lag.
Overall: 7.5
While the game’s single-player campaign isn’t as fleshed out as we would’ve
hoped and the mechanics have been overly simplified, the game’s solid
multiplayer definitely gives it some long-lasting legs.
