SOCOM US Navy SEALs launched the PS2 tactical online series. Military approach, squads to lead and a headset bundled at retail. A community classic on the console.
Your verdict
Category
Third-Person Shooter4 players16+
Co-op
Description
A Zipper Interactive and Sony military TPS released in 2002, the first flagship entry in the SOCOM franchise. Tactical command of a Navy SEAL squad on international missions, with voice control of teammates via included USB headset. Cover-based shooting, tactical AI advanced for the time and revolutionary online multiplayer for console.
SOCOM - U.S. Navy SEALs review
3/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Polished"
3/5
Music
★★★★★
"Memorable"
3/5
Story
★★★★★
"Solid"
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"Pleasant"
Addictiveness
"Captivating"
Difficulty
"Balanced"
Lifespan
"Massive"
Commanding a Navy SEALs squad through tense infiltration missions unfolds a demanding tactical shooter where coordination comes first. The campaign is doubled by a pioneering online multiplayer that extends the experience almost endlessly. That tactical depth, paired with team play, founds a longevity fans of realistic shooters savour.
Technical info
💾2,7 GB📅27/08/2002
Published by Sony Computer Entertainment
SOCOM - U.S. Navy SEALs (PS2) price, value & rarity
The Japanese edition of SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs, a market where the American online shooter found little echo and the local run stayed modest. Its appeal lies in this reduced Japanese distribution of a title otherwise emblematic of the West, making it a variant less common than the PAL and US NTSC versions. A target for collectors of atypical imports on PS2.
Better with friends
A tactical squad shooter where coordination trumps the trigger, played as a team on maps that punish recklessness. Cooperation is queen: splitting the angles, calling your contacts and advancing in cover turns an operation into a tense military ballet. More cerebral than nervy arenas, it rewards discipline and patience, and every objective met together brings a rare team satisfaction.
Is SOCOM - U.S. Navy SEALs still worth playing in 2026?
Released in 2002 on PS2, Zipper Interactive's project was a pioneer by establishing the tactical squad shooter and above all online play with a headset on console, a novelty that paved the way for a whole genre. The voice commanding of teammates, the realism of the weapons and the emphasis on stealth installed a credible military experience. The solo campaign and the competitive multiplayer formed a solid duo for the era. The shutdown of the servers now deprives the game of its founding online side. A piece of history for those curious about the origins of tactical shooting on console.
