Kombo's Review Policy: Our reviews are written for you. Our goal is to write honest, to-the-point reviews that don't waste your time. This is why we've split our reviews into four sections: What the Game's About, What's Hot, What's Not and Final Word, so that you can easily find the information you want from our reviews.

What the Game's About
SOCOM: Confrontation is the first PS3 offering of the mega popular franchise that put Sony on the map when it came to online gameplay back in the PS2 era. Confrontation strips the game down to the online mode and allows gamers around the world to compete in objective based missions between the Navy SEALS and terrorist mercenaries. This review was done from the 1.30 patch.

What's Hot
When team-based games are done right, they are action packed and thoroughly engaging. Confrontation does an admirable job at creating strong team based gameplay. The reliance on your squad mates is second to none. You need to keep your eyes peeled around every corner and each angle covered for an enemy ambush.

The levels are multilayered and object-laden, which contribute to getting into the atmosphere of the Navy SEAL lifestyle. Smoke rises in the distance and the heat from fire distorts the air surrounding it. Each map will twist and wind its way around as you try and complete/thwart mission objectives. The maps all have slightly different feels and will keep you thinking of ways to out flank your enemy.

Strategy is the key to scoring frags in Confrontation. This isn't a run-and-gun third person shooter in the least bit. If you think five steps ahead of the other team, you are going to be in a better position than if you blindly charge into the middle of a room. Confrontation is very successful in this respect and when you can out-think and work as a team better than the opposing side, all the working parts come together and

What's Not
The first game I ever played online, there was a bug that made my soldier go into a "t-pose" before hitting the deck when I was under fire. A game like SOCOM, which is based on tight teamwork, can't afford those kinds of flaws even once because it throws what would have been a delicate balance out the window. The bug wasn't encountered again, but the uncertainty is what makes each match unnerving.

Getting into matches still takes some time. It is a good thing to see the servers filled with players eager to get into a match but the curse is obvious. The lag isn't too bad when you are in the game but the initial start-up often is hard to swallow when you want to get into the action.

Confrontation's focus was on the multiplayer game. With that, any type of single player mode isn't included. Because Confrontation doesn't offer anything but multiplayer, it feels like it is missing an important piece of the game. Historically, the single player mode has always been a strong suit for SOCOM and it is sad to see it off the table this round.

Final Word
Confrontation, with version 1.3, is a good SOCOM game. It feels a little light due to being online only and veterans of the series will certainly feel that. The teamwork and immersion of the actual gameplay remains intact and, at the end of the day, is what really matters.