PlayStation’s SOCOM series has always stood out from the console shooter competition. The obvious reason is the third-person view. But more than that, the series has always stressed realism, tactics and strategy, which is why it puzzles me that Zipper Interactive decided to leave pistols out of its newest version of the game, SOCOM 4, for the PlayStation 3.
Other omissions irk me as well, such as the lack of classic game modes like Demolition and Escort, but the pistols decision bothers me the most. Instead of a pistol, you can carry two of any type of weapon: a sniper rifle and an assault rifle, or a heavy machine gun and an uzi. That just doesn’t seem realistic, or right.
One of the greatest “SOCOM moments” -- that adrenaline rush coursing through your veins -- you can have happens when you’re the last one standing on your team, you’ve run out of ammo for your primary gun, and you get the last kill by putting a pistol round or five into your opponent. Or when you and an opponent are duking it out with your primaries and you both exhaust your clips. While he's reloading his main gun, you pull the fast switch to your pistol and catch him with his pants down.
These "moments" are unique to the SOCOM franchise -- the loyal fanbase doesn't call it "SoCrack" for nothing. I have never experienced that rush playing any other console-based shooter (old Tom Clancy PC games, such as Rogue Spear, came close). The realism factor and the lack of respawn in SOCOM have a lot to do with that -- as do the pistols.
I'm sure at some point, after enough squawking by the fanbase, Zipper will release a Pistols DLC Pack, "which can be yours for the low, low price of $10." Obviously, the goal here is wring as much cash as they can from PlayStation's most popular franchise. They even have a fancy little attachment for the Move that will set you back another $40.
But I shouldn't have to pay extra for what should have been in the game in the first place. I just want a thinking-man’s shooter. Anyone can pick up Call of Duty, hold down the trigger button, and bag five kills in a minute -- then die and instantly respawn. I want to plot my every move. I want to have sit through a five-minute round spectating after I got killed, because it will help me become a better player. I want my SoCrack.