SOCOM, Soulcalibur, Tekken, More..

Sony Computer Entertainment today announced details regarding SOCOM 3: U.S. Navy SEALs, Shadow of The Colossus, Soulcalibur III and Tekken 5. These games are all huge franchises which we have, and will be watching for some time. Here are some details on these games:

SOCOM 3: U.S. Navy SEALs
Sony announces the release of SOCOM 3, the only military combat game developed in collaboration with the elite U.S. Navy SEALs. Due for release this autumn, SOCOM 3 will deliver an enhanced single player experience allowing you to discover if you have what it takes to command an elite US Navy SEAL unit

SOCOM 3 captures the reality of modern day warfare and builds on the success of the multi-million unit selling SOCOM franchise. It features three Areas of Operation: Southern Asia, Northern Africa and Eastern Europe and is packed with over 10 missions.

Driving the single player experience, the latest streaming environment technology has allowed the team at Zipper Interactive to expand each mission area, making them up to six times larger than in SOCOM 2 whilst allowing seamless progression during mission gameplay. Multiple save points eliminate having to replay a failed mission from the beginning

And, for the first time, SOCOM 3 sees land and water vehicles play a central role. Vehicles can be commandeered by both players and AI and cover a range of military and civilian vehicles including turret-equipped pickups and SEAL team military Humvee and SOC-R Assault Boats.

An innovative new weapon customisation system allows players to use more than 30 different weapons and attachments which, when combined, offer nearly a thousand possible customised combat executions. Larger maps, multiple paths to mission resolution and new team command actions guarantee a richer, realistic more intense strategic warfare experience.

Features:

• Areas of Operation: Southern Asia, Northern Africa and Eastern Europe are designed with detailed plots and varied mission destinations.
  
  
• Land and water vehicles, drivable by both players and AI characters bring new tactics to the SOCOM franchise.
  
  
• Using 31 authentic weapons and 21 compatible attachments on multiple hard points, players have nearly 1,000 different weapon combinations for customised combat execution.
  
  
• New Team Command Actions let the player direct the SEAL team quickly with a single button press.
  
  
• Complex AI behaviour makes use of cover positions, blind firing, and fallback behaviour to better simulate urban combat. Leader AI provides rallying behaviour and coordinated chain-of-command scenarios.
  
  
• Swimming and water combat play a tactical role in SOCOM 3. Use water for cover or pilot strike boats for waterborne assaults.
  
  
• Streaming environment technology enables gameplay maps five to six times the size than in SOCOM II. Larger maps provide much more varied and rich gameplay experiences.
  
  
• Multiple paths to mission resolution bring replay ability and variety to the single-player experience.
  
  
• New technology brings advanced particle and graphic effects for more realistic weaponry, environments, and equipment.
  
  
• Association with Naval Special Warfare Command ensures authentic and realistic SEAL gameplay and mission designs.
  
  Have you got what it takes?

Shadow of The Colossus
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe is pleased to announce the Q1 2006 release of Shadow of the Colossus, an epic new action adventure from the creators of ICO available exclusively on PlayStation 2. Developed by Sony Computer Entertainment Japan (SCEJ), Shadow of the Colossus is an atmospheric, brooding tale set in mysterious lands.

As a lone horseback traveller, your destiny is entwined with that of a lifeless young girl who lies on an altar within a vast temple. The girl is helpless, her soul has been lost and there is only one way to retrieve it...

Following a voice from the heavens, you embark on a dark and dangerous quest to seek out and slay the enormous wandering monsters that roam this strange world. Only you can defeat these formidable Colossi, and in doing so, only you can bring life to the girl who lies waiting on the altar.

Each beast is immense in size and strength, the team's new and unique motion control system giving an incredible depth of motion density. The 'Organic Collision Deformation' system enables the player to grasp and climb the Colossi with precision, stealth is also essential in navigating these ever changing, moving and dangerous terrains. You must climb these terrifying beasts and strike the deathblow that will bring them crashing to the ground. However, slaying such fearsome opponents is no easy task ? before these enemies can be toppled, you must first discover how to defeat them. And the challenge does not end there; after you have slain one monster you must begin the demanding task of finding the next...

The monsters in Shadow of the Colossus present the game player with one epic terrain but another is the world they inhabit. With only your trusty horse, Agro, for company, you must explore lonely plains, mountains, lush countrysides, sinister lakes, great caves and ancient ruins. Each Colossi is unique, organically reflecting the environment in which they reside. Each one you track down takes you one step closer to discovering your destiny and the fate of the girl who remains motionless and oblivious throughout.

An intense journey of exploration, puzzle solving and eerie battle, Shadow of the Colossus also includes the distinct, highly-acclaimed graphic style that came to prominence in ICO, making this an absorbing voyage of discovery with some of the most picturesque landscapes and formidable enemies ever to be seen on PlayStation 2.

ICO was one of the most critically acclaimed PlayStation 2 titles, renowned for its thoughtful and involving gameplay experience, hailed by many as one of the best games ever created. Oozing atmosphere and depth, Shadow of the Colossus is set to challenge perceptions and push the borders of action adventure gaming even further. Beautiful, unusual and absorbing, Shadow of the Colossus sets subtlety within a cinematic scope and creates a new standard in mythical action adventures.

Soulcalibur III
Soulcalibure III marks a new chapter in the epic tale of swords and souls that has caught the imagination of gamers across the world with its sword-fighting action and fully 3D combat system.

Once again, the Soulcalibur series will expand the possibilities of the "beat 'em up" genre with its wide variety of game modes. The immersive Tales of Souls mode offers unique narratives for each character, whilst the new Soul Arena mode provides the player with a series of high-paced battles with various special conditions and situations. Character Creation mode will allow SoulcaliburTMIII players to create their own unique warriors with customisable appearances and a range of fighting styles ? a feature that is sure to excite fans of the series.

The unique character can be used in other modes such as the Chronicles of the Sword mode, which combines elements from fighting games and real-time simulations.

Nothing less than dazzling presentation will be expected from the title, and it does not disappoint, with improved graphics, sound and animation resulting in a stunning combat experience. Three new and innovative characters join the roster of classic warriors, each of whom has their own unique fighting style and deadly weaponry. The mysterious Zasalamel wields a fearsome Death Scythe, graceful but deadly Tira plays with lives using her Ring Blade and Setsuka, the wandering beauty, fights with a sword concealed within her umbrella as she searches for revenge.

With a refined and fluid fighting system and huge range of game modes, including exciting multiplayer combat, the story of the two fated swords continues in Soulcalibur III in grand style.

Tekken 5
Loved across the world for its amazing characters, explosive graphics and lightning-fast gameplay, Tekken 5 promises to deliver the next generation of blistered fingers and bleary eyes as it brings players the ultimate, most visually stunning fighting experience ever seen in a Tekken? game.

Namco Ltd are confident that the title continues the quality that Tekken fans have come to expect: "Tekken 5 will propel gamers of all ages to the next level in the fighting genre," said Hideo Yanagihara, Director of Namco Ltd. "With the completely new fighting engine, customizable characters and interactive environments, no fighting game fan will want to be without it."

With sales of over 20 million units worldwide, the Tekken? franchise is one of the most successful fighting games of all time. Tekken? 5 brings back the popular cast of characters from the previous games along with three new characters for a total of 20 default characters to start, with even more to unlock as you progress in the game. The game allows players to use fight money to customize their character with various accessories such as hats, glasses and an assortment of different costumes. Each of the new characters is equipped with a variety of deadly techniques, and the returning characters have been updated with new moves and combos. New to Tekken? 5 is a bonus action adventure game that unfolds a side story to the action-packed fighting sequences.

After the completion of The King of Iron Fist Tournament 4, a fierce battle between father and son unfolded at Mishima Zaibatsu headquarters. Jin emerges as the victor in this battle and continues to defeat Heihachi, his grandfather ? but spares both Kazuya and Heihachi's lives in honour of his mother who loved peace. Soon after Jin's departure, a swarm of Jacks arrive at Honmaru and begin to attack Heihachi and Kazuya ? and in order to escape, Kazuya thrusts Heihachi into the swarm of Jacks. A great explosion destroys Honmaru, and a man watching from afar reports, "Heihachi Mishima is dead." While many presume the death of Heihachi Mishima will end the reign of Mishima Zaibatsu, an announcement is made for the fifth King of Iron Fist Tournament, with an unknown replacement to Heihachi leading the organization. The fight begins once again.

Keep it locked onto NZGamer.com as we bring you the latest in gaming news straight from E3.

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