Socom II contains 12 single player missions with locations in places like Albania, Russia, and Brazil. Most of the single player action involves stealth on your part as the leader of a four man U.S. Navy SEALs team. You not only must accomplish your goals but you must command your men and watch out for their safety as well. I enjoyed the single player mode. You start the game with predetermined weapons, you collect other weapons from enemies and drop sites. As the game progresses you gain access to a multitude of weapons. The stealth aspect of the single player mode is nice but for someone more into the action area they might want to look toward the multiplayer modes of the game.

The graphics in this game are stunning. Characters are realistic with fluid movement. The landscapes is exceptional with very few glitches with movement throughout the game. Buildings and terrain are highly detailed with realistic obstacles as well as weather conditions.

The sound and music in this game are very well done. In game voice overs are clean and crisp. The sound effects are realistic, when you fire a certain weapon it sounds like that weapon, not just a bang or a boom. The background music really adds to the movie like feel of this game. Not only are you playing this game but it feels like you are in the game. Some games have a problem with the background music actually getting in the way and becoming annoying. This is not the case in SOCOM II, the volume level dies down at times when it is needed and picks up in action packed sequences. I really enjoyed this aspect of the game.

Controls in SOCOM II are a little confusing or awkward at first, but within 30 minutes to an hour you can play it like a pro.

The multiplayer modes is SOCOM II's claim to fame. While including updated versions of the 10 original multiplayer maps, SOCOM II also includes 12 new maps. Up to 16 people can play using the PS2 network adapter. There is one downside for people who do not have broadband internet access, they can't play in the online mode. The online multiplayer mode is broadband only. Sorry guys and gals but all the dialup gamers are left out on this one. There is however one other alternative and that is LAN play option. This mode allows for up to 16 PS2s to be connected for a multiplayer mode.

Back to the Online multiplayer mode. I can understand why the decision to be broadband only. Game play would be torture with the incredible amounts of lag over dialup, that is if you could connect at all. Aside from this, the online multiplayer mode is SWEET and very addictive.

There are 5 game types in the multiplayer mode. These include the original types demolition, extraction, and suppression along with two new types to SOCOM II, breach and escort.

And last but definitely not least is the addition of over 15 new weapons to choose from throughout the missions.

Overall this is a very solid and strong military action game. I thoroughly enjoyed the single player mode as well as the addictive nature of the action packed multiplayer modes. Also this is the 1st game released that will take advantage of the soon to be released PS2 HDD. This opens up the ideas and questions about possible expansions to the already expansive game.

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