Line #5 VideoGame/SOCOMUSNavySeals


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/socom_us_navy_seals_cover.jpg]]
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3	Probably the ''VideoGame/CounterStrike'' of the [=PlayStation=] 2. ''SOCOM'' (Full name; ''SOCOM U.S Navy [=SEALs=]'') was a military ThirdPersonShooter franchise produced by Creator/SonyInteractiveEntertainment and developed by Creator/ZipperInteractive during the Sixth and Seventh Generation of consoles.
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5	These games follow a SEAL team TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture ([[NextSundayAD you wouldn't know it, though]]) consisting of four members (which usually change between, and during, games) combating international terrorism, from your basic Jihadi to a massive international Communist conspiracy to the Albanian Mafia being very naughty.
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7	A large emphasis is on stealth and commands given out to your team (The game used the [=PS2=] headset for voice commands, which, it shares with an obscure game called ''VideoGame/OperatorsSide'', a.k.a ''Lifeline''), and have an effect on your post-mission rating. Running-and-gunning, although you can go that way, can get you killed (and infuriating you, since you have to start ''aaaaaaallll'' the way pre-mission).
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9	The game had 5 main games and many spin-offs.
10	* The ''SOCOM US Navy SEALS'' trilogy (Platform/PlayStation2 - 2002, 2003, 2005)
11	* ''SOCOM US Navy SEALS: Combined Assault'' (Platform/PlayStation2 - 2007): A MissionPackSequel to ''3'' with the addition of new online modes such as the ability to play the campaign in co-op online.
12	* The ''SOCOM US Navy SEALS: Fireteam Bravo'' trilogy (Platform/PlayStationPortable - 2005, 2006, 2010)
13	* ''SOCOM: Confrontation'' (Platform/PlayStation3 - 2008): A multiplayer-only spin-off.
14	* ''SOCOM 4'' (Platform/PlayStation3 - 2011): The last game in the franchise and it revolves around a conflict in a fictional Southeast nation where an American (or European) and South Korean joint special forces team are sent to hunt the rebellion's ringleaders. It added RegeneratingHealth and the ability to [[TakeCover use objects for cover]].
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16	The franchise was known for being one of the first military shooter franchises to use actual Special Forces tactics, terms and gear, with the franchise being BackedByThePentagon for a time. In 2012, developer Zipper Interactive was shut down after the commercial failure of both ''SOCOM: Confrontation'' and ''SOCOM 4'' and the franchise was put on franchise limbo with Sony having no interest in bringing the franchise back for the foreseeable future.
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18	----
19	!!The series contains:
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21	* ActionGirl:
22	** In ''SOCOM 4'', you get to play Lt. Park Yoon-Hee, a.k.a "Forty-Five," in a few missions.
23	** Raven (a temporary teammate) from ''Fireteam Bravo 2'' counts as well.
24	** ''SOCOM II'' has Polish GROM operator Coldkill.
25	* AKA47: Some of the U.S.-made weapons are known by their real name (usually because these are military designations rather than trademarks), the names of other weapons... yeah, they're either short versions of the name or in the case of most weapons, have different letters but the same numbers as their real life counterparts.
26	* ActionizedSequel: ''SOCOM 4'' goes in this direction-the player is more durable than in previous games and it has RegeneratingHealth.
27	* AmericaSavesTheDay: Well, semi-Averted. Oftentimes, Special Forces from another country will assist you during missions (such as the Special Boat Service, Spetsnaz, or [=GROM=]). You don't do so when you're at the end of ''SOCOM 4''/Special Forces.
28	* AnyoneCanDie: And how! Boomer in Combined Assault as a jab at his constantly getting shot in the first game. Poor Lonestar took one to the chest in ''Fireteam Bravo III''. Oh, and lets not forget about what the terrorists are doing.
29	* AscendedExtra: Specter in the main [=PS2=] franchise, going from the sniper in the first to squad leader for the remaining games. Same goes to Wraith, who took over Sandman's job after ''Fireteam Bravo 2''.
30	* BigDamnHeroes: You come to the assistance of United Na... er, Humanitarian forces stuck in a rut in ''SOCOM II'', and you help rebels pinned under fire in ''SOCOM 3''.
31	* CallBack: Later games in the franchise started making references to earlier installments.
32	* ChekhovsGun: [[spoiler: Gorman's pen]] in the fourth game.
33	* ContinuityNod: After ''SOCOM II'', the developers make strong nods towards previous games. ''SOCOM 3'' saw a certain dictator return as the first antagonist, and ''Fireteam Bravo'' 2 saw an unnamed PMC from ''Combined Assault'' appear as the main antagonist.
34	* {{Countrystan}}: The nation of Adjikistan, first featured as an ally of the West before it's revealed that they've been doing nasty things to its own citizens. It's located near Afghanistan and Pakistan.
35	* CulturedBadass: Dion Wells and Forty-Five in the fourth game. They discuss a poem by Creator/WilliamButlerYeats in reference to the Operations Commander.
36	* DarkActionGirl: The RAFB is led entirely by them, with their leader, Quixada Christo, being so bloodthirsty that she simply ''won't'' be taken alive and the [=SEALs=] are forced to kill her. The leader of Force Majeure is one named Valeska Lukanov, who unlike Christo can be captured.
37	* DemotedToExtra:
38	** Kahuna returns as a member of Bravo Element in ''SOCOM Tactical Strike'' (Even though he was the protagonist in the first game), while Sandman gets demoted to being under Wraith's command.
39	** Let's not forget Lonestar, who gets killed off after being your main ally in the first two Fireteam bravos.
40	* DirtyCommunists: Force Majeure, a (rather large) international terrorist organization in ''SOCOM II''. Ironically, despite being based in Russia and led by Russians, a lot of them aren't even Russian, drawing from former Soviet states, Asia, and everywhere else.
41	* DiscontinuityNod: The main character of the first game disappears entirely until ''Tactical Strike'' where he now takes orders from an extra in the sequel. Same can be said for Lonestar who apparently left to join a PMC after he spent the previous two games fighting them.
42	* EscortMission: Any mission involving a hostage, captured leader, or mole has this. At least you can call down 'copter support in most missions, and your escortee is smart enough to take cover.
43	* FieldPromotion: The new Operations Commander in the fourth game as of the first mission. (An achievement for completing the mission is named as so.)
44	* FinalBoss: Averted. Even though they're in charge of their individual organizations, the various terrorist leaders are no more difficult to kill/capture than their mooks.
45	* FormerRegimePersonnel: The Iron Brotherhood, the first terrorist group the [=SEALs=] engaged in the first game, are ex-Spetsnaz troopers engaged in arms dealing and general terrorism for profit.
46	* HolidayInCambodia: The Riddah Rouge in ''SOCOM I''. Based in Thailand. The first mission in this portion of the game is even called "Golden Triangle Holiday."
47	* IdiosyncraticDifficultyLevels: Based on ranks: Ensign, Lieutenant, Commander, Captain and Admiral.
48	* ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy: [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] in ''SOCOM 3'', when the team raids a terrorist training camp in an abandoned Polish salt mine:
49	-->'''Spectre:''' So this is where they learn to miss.
50	* InfinityMinusOneSword: The [=M16A2=] in ''SOCOM 3'' and ''Combined Assault''. One of the [=SEAL=] weapons and easily unlockable, is very accurate at long range and can be used in conjunction with variable magnification scopes, making very easy headshots, as a poor man's sniper rifle. What prevents it from being a total game breaker is the lack of a suppressor like the [=M4A1=], but like its carbine counterpart, can mount a grenade launcher.
51	* ItsProbablyNothing: In some games, it is literally possible to stare one of the enemies in the face and get absolutely no reaction. Until your teammate accidentally bumps into them and alerts the entire enemy base.
52	* TheMafia: Albanian ones. The only reason why they're being taken down by the [=SEALs=] (and SAS) and not the police is because they started to try and sell arms and nuclear material to terrorists.
53	* MeaningfulName:
54	** Kahuna, who leads the SEAL team and serves as the PlayerCharacter in the first game.
55	** Jester frequently cracks jokes during missions.
56	* MissionControl: Creator/JenniferHale playing the Headquarters operator. In ''SOCOM 4''[='=]s campaign, it's [=MI6=] Agent Mackenzie Douglas, otherwise known as Oracle.
57	** Hale returns to voice HQ in the latter's Custom Campaign mode, however.
58	* NoNameGiven: The Operations Commander in the fourth game. He's either referred to as the [=OpsCom=] or Commander. Promotional material from Zipper, however, reveals his name to be Cullen Gray.
59	* NotSoDifferentRemark: Done twice.
60	** In ''SOCOM: Combined Assault'':
61	--->'''[[spoiler: President Karim]]''': What I did was necessary for the future of my country.
62	--->'''Specter''': Save it for your hearings.
63	--->'''[[spoiler: President Karim]]''': You know, you and I are alike. We do not fear the things we must do.
64	--->'''Specter''': You and I... are nothing alike!
65	** In ''SOCOM 4:''
66	--->'''[[spoiler: Razad]]''': You and I are very much alike Commander. We're both pawns in someone else's game.
67	--->'''Operations Commander''': You and I are nothing alike!
68	* PacifistRun:
69	** Can be done in ''SOCOM 4'' and ''Fireteam Bravo 2''. In the latter, you can achieve any level with one with non lethal weapons and CQC takedowns, and it's somehow recommended by the system as capturing enemies give you bonus Intel points. it's also satisfying to hear enemies cry frustratedly over pepper spray.
70	** Ditto for ''Combined Assault'', where you get an achievement for completing any mission without having any fireteam member killing an enemy. (Achievements in CA are the basis on unlocking weapon sets and other content.)
71	* PrivateMilitaryContractors:
72	** The African mercenaries holding the Marines hostage in the first game - though, they're not a real company and are visibly less organized than actual [=PMCs=].
73	** [=ClawHammer=] from ''Fireteam Bravo 2'' and in the fourth game counts as well.
74	* PresidentEvil: In ''Combined Assault'', [[spoiler: President Ismail Karim of Adjikistan]].
75	* {{Qurac}}:
76	** ''SOCOM II'' and ''SOCOM 3'' have you dealing with a brutal dictator who has overthrown the Algerian government. And when you finally arrest him in ''SOCOM 3'', [[NoCelebritiesWereHarmed it's a thinly veiled reference to Saddam Hussien's capture]].
77	** In the third main game's PSP counterpart, the first ''Fireteam Bravo,'' one area of operations tied to where the dictator's forces was heading is Morocco.
78	* RedShirt: If you're a regular grunt, don't expect to last too long in the field.
79	* RegeneratingHealth: Present in ''SOCOM 4''.
80	* ScrewTheRulesIHavePlot: Even though you chose Wraith to accompany you for your mission in [=FTB2=], gave him a machinegun and a shotgun for weapons and had him waiting outside, the ending cinematic has him change skin tone, accent, weapon, and uniform into something else. More so in [=FTB3=] as that handgun you gave your guy magically became a rocket launcher so he could blow up an enemy formation prior to disappearing.
81	* SouthAsianTerrorists: ''SOCOM 3'' has the Fist and Fire, a gang of RuthlessModernPirates from Bangladesh who raid ships in the Bay of Bengal and sell their cargo to the highest bidder, who have stolen Land Attack Standard Missiles from an Australian freighter which they plan to sell to Al Shakoosh to use against the South Asian government.
82	* StealthBasedMission: Although stealth is one of the main focus of the franchise, at least one dedicated "do-not-get-caught" mission is in per game. ''SOCOM 4'' has several of these.
83	* StrawFeminist: The RAFB faction leader in South America exclusively uses women as elite troops. Men under her command are stuck doing shit patrol, and gripe about it frequently, especially considering she chews them out. Constantly. For minor things. She's also a lesbian. When you eavesdrop on her, you can hear her extol the virtues of women over men.
84	* TakeCover: ''SOCOM 4'' allows the player to enter and exit cover with the press of a button.
85	* TerroristsWithoutACause: Some.
86	** For example: it's not really known what the ex-Spetsnaz of the Iron Brotherhood are fighting for (except for gunrunning, which is just a side-business), and no one knows why a bunch of South African and British mercenaries kidnapped some US Marines.
87	** Averted in future games, starting with ''Fireteam Bravo II'' and ''Combined Assault'' where all terrorists turn into [=PMCs=] on a quest for either revenge or money.
88	* TheManBehindTheMan: The Naga guerrillas aren't the main bad guys in ''SOCOM 4''. [[spoiler:Clawhammer is.]]
89	* TranslationConvention: Zigzagged. While the enemies themselves speak in their native languages, the game helpfully provides English subtitles.
90	* UniversalDriversLicense: In ''SOCOM 3'', you can drive boats and any vehicle. Except tanks, planes, or choppers. Obviously, this exists in real life, being, you know, the fact that [=SEALs=] are trained to do as such?
91	* WarForFunAndProfit: The Iron Brotherhood terrorists and the African mercenaries in the first game. The Albanian mafia has its ass-kicked as a result of trying this.
92	* WesternTerrorists:
93	** Lots of them. In fact, the original game didn't have your typical Jihadis show up until the last three missions.
94	** Averted by ''Combined Assault'' where they are all renamed mercenaries. Because we all know mercenaries have nothing better to do than plot to destroy America.
95	** WouldHitAGirl: Hit and shoot, in this case. Female enemies encountered in the series are just as deadly as their male counterparts and the [=SEALs=] treat them so.
96	* YouAreInCommandNow: In the fourth game, [[spoiler: Lieutenant Park becomes the new Operations Commander after the main PlayerCharacter gets fatally wounded by Gorman in the ending cutscene of the penultimate mission.]]

Context VideoGame / SOCOMUSNavySeals