Socom: U.S. Navy Seals Combined Assault is the latest in the series of Socom games for the PS2. Even though the game has some of the worst graphics to date, Combined Assault manages to offer gamers a fleshed out single-player mode and a multiplayer mode that is as high-impact as a gas tank full of nitroglycerine.

The story in Socom is a throw-away piece of crap about typical evil terrorists doing typical evil, espionage terrorist acts. Using paramilitary troopers as a cover-ops for their dirty deeds, the real threat in the game doesn’t become apparent until the middle of the single-player campaign. But that’s infinitesimal when compared to the game’s snazzy multiplayer options.

When in single-player, gamers have three comrades who are A.I. controlled, and they act very, very stupid. However, the multiplayer has two modes of play that allow gamers to participate in a cooperative campaign with up to three friends, or compete in a series of (team) deathmatch modes. Some of the multiplayer competitive missions range from escort missions, demolition runs, convoys, or even the classic Battlefield-esque mode where players will have to hold a capture point for a designated amount of time.

Both single and multiplayer modes have vehicles present and they can turn the tide of a battle either way. However, vehicle use is much more efficient in multiplayer games simply because other human-players are much more efficient than the A.I. Well, most people are more efficient than the A.I. There’s also a series of Badges for players to earn in the single-player Instant Action and Campaign modes. However, some of the stuff players unlock can be used in either single or multiplayer modes -- that includes playable characters and extra weapons. The game also has interoperable extras that support the PSP, which allows Socom Bravo 2 on the PSP to work with Combined Assault. So players can unlock even more content and view extra content.

When it comes to gameplay, though, Socom manages to infuse the standard G.I. Joe shoot-e’m-up-and-ask-later elements with tactical strategies that create an evenly balanced gameplay module. What’s more is that players can exchange blows with enemies by rifle-butting them until they surrender, allowing players to arrest them. It’s actually kind of cool being offered several different ways to incapacitate enemy threats without always firing a weapon. Not that firing weapons isn’t fun. Sometimes, though, a knuckle sandwich made up of cold steel seems to put the enemy in their place with equal valance.

Overall, players can swim, dive, run, sneak, snipe, drive, and give commands using a very extensive command feature. Whilst the graphics are on par with a bad bowel-movement from Call of Duty 3, the gameplay is at least intact and well designed. If you want some modern military combat you can’t go wrong with Socom: U.S. Navy Seals Combined Assault.