SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo E3 2005 Preshow Report

The SOCOM series of games has been one of Sony's most popular franchises in the PlayStation 2 era, mainly due to its tightly focused and very exciting online multiplayer mode. Now, the series is going portable on the PSP with SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo. It will have many of the features that make the series so popular on the PS2, plus it will be able to exchange data with SOCOM III on the PS2.

The data exchange feature means that the missions in Fireteam Bravo are somewhat related to the missions in SOCOM III PS2. As you complete missions in one, you can hook your PSP up to the PS2 and transmit some data, which will change the layout of some of the missions. This means that, for instance, if you go in with one fireteam and clear out a bunch of enemies, the other team will have an easier time.

Fireteam Bravo will have a single-player element to it, which consists of 14 missions. Most of the missions will tie in to SOCOM III, but there will also be a Chile scenario that is exclusive to the PSP. The game also has an instant-action feature that will drop you into one of these missions with randomly placed enemies and objectives. You'll work in a two-man team, and you'll be able to order your artificially intelligent comrade around to make sure he's an effective teammate.

Fireteam Bravo will also have wireless play in it and will support local games via ad hoc mode and infrastructure mode for Internet-based gameplay. A final number of players that can play in these modes hasn't been confirmed at this time. Much like in SOCOM III, you'll be able to customize the weapons in Fireteam Bravo, choosing from a pool of more than 30 weapons and add-on parts.

SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo is scheduled to be released in the fall. We'll have more details about Bravo's gameplay from the show floor at E3.