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> Results: SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs Tactical Strike
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The ESRB Says
Violence: GamerDad ordered his squad to dispatch enemy after enemy throughout the game. Drug Reference: As usual the enemies you are taking out include bad guys related to the drug trade. SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo and its' sequel are two of the best shooters for the PSP. For SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs Tactical Strike takes a very similar looking game in a totally different direction - it is now a tactical squad-based shooter in the style of games like Full Spectrum Warrior. At first glance this is a wonderful addition to the series - the interface is very nice, the commands work well and are intelligently placed, and the two-unit system allows you to use advanced strategy and tactics to accomplish your tasks. But there is a problem - several actually. The checkpoints are poorly placed and spaced, a problem exacerbated by some very long load times. Adding insult to injury is the way that enemies will occasionally ghost-spawn: this means that just as you think your squad has cleared an area you will be surprised by several enemies who have appeared impossibly from a walled off area, for example. This sort of 'system cheating' is poison to a strategy or tactics game, and is made worse by the way squad members you haven't given orders to will sometimes just stand there and get blown to bits rather than take cover and return fire. You will die too often due to these problems, and since the load times are long and the checkpoints too far apart this means waiting too long to have to repeat too much of an area - a sure-fire recipe for frustration and resentment. You will continue playing for the times that your tactics pay off, because I mention those moments are gratifying enough to carry the game - just barely. I don't recommend this unless you are absolutely starving for a tactical shooter for the PSP and are willing to put up with the significant frustrations associated with this game.  
The vast majority of SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs Tactical Strike is very similar in style and intensity to the original games as well as other T-rated games like Call of Duty, but this time the indirect action adds a layer of abstraction. The focus of the game this time is the single player experience, and the multiplayer modes have fewer features and chances for encountering poorly behaved individuals online. Overall it remains a solid T-rated shooterthat is appropriate for teens and adults and earns a 14+ GamerDad Age Seal.
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