SOCOM: Tactical Strike isn't for everybody. For example, it's not for people who don't like to think. If good graphics terrify you, then you'd best shy away. If tactical thinking in military situations has you pissing your pants, then we recommend getting a Bratz game instead. However, for everyone else -- Tactical Strike is a winner. Of course, you can try the downloadable demo to find out for yourself.

For those of you ready to take the plunge into the full game, check out this week's Best Buy circulars. You'll see that Tactical Strike is on sale this week for a measly $20. Go to your local Best Buy, or simply buy online.

[Via CAG]

We <3 SOCOM: Tactical Strike, although we'll admit that fans of previous SOCOM games may be disparaged by the sudden change in genre for the franchise. This strategic approach to SOCOM will make you appreciate the real tactics employed by the SEALs and will challenge you with some of the most compelling gameplay we found on the system so far.

It takes a lot of hands-on time to really understand what Tactical Strike is about -- and thankfully, there's a downloadable demo on the PLAYSTATION Store. It's a hefty download, but it's worth it, featuring videos that aren't even in the final version.

SCEA wants you to download the demo and answer a few questions. If you do, you'll be entered in a drawing for some Tactical Strike prizes. And hopefully, you'll get to see why we loved the game so much.

SOCOM: Tactical Strike is one of the most compelling games of the year. With component cables in hand, never has a portable game garnered such a stunned audience. Friends and roommates would stare at the TV with the kind of attention reserved for games like Bioshock, Halo 3 and The Orange Box. It didn't matter that the game was running on a PSP: Tactical Strike is filled with more polish than average console games can dream of.

Slant Six Games' first foray into game development takes the SOCOM franchise to completely new places. No longer a shooter, the game turns into a tactical action game, akin to a real-time strategy game. SOCOM fans new and old may find the change to be jarring, and a bit disappointing. However, the game requires careful execution of masterfully thought-out plans, and the tension caused by the brevity of each battle has created a game more tense than anything the series has ever offered. Stealth is encouraged, of course, but there will be many battles where a barrage of bullets will be flying through the air, and the environment around you gets destroyed. An apt film comparison? This is Black Hawk Down: the game.

SOCOM: Tactical Strike recently went gold, and it's been in our hands for the past week or so. We have to admit, we're totally enamored with this brand new re-imagining of the SOCOM series. It's hard to think of a single flaw with Tactical Strike -- it's just that good. Of course, there's a lot more we have to do. After the first five hours of play, we've only gone through three missions. Ignoring any Instant Action replays or Infrastructure-enabled multiplayer, it's clear that Tactical Strike will offer at least twenty hours of gameplay, if not more.

Tactical Strike delivers on so many levels, and is easily on its way to becoming more than just PSP Game of the Year. No, the sheer quality of this title makes it an easy contender for Game of the Year on any platform. The technical excellence is absolutely astounding. Graphics like these simply shouldn't be possible on the PSP, as it easily bests most of the PS2 library. If you thought Logan's Shadow of Chains of Olympus looked good, you haven't seen Tactical Strike. Textures are incredible, especially for a PSP game. The character models are well detailed, and feature incredibly detailed animations. Then, you add real time lighting, fantastic volumetric smoke effects, and large, expansive, detailed environments that must be seen to be believed. Just wait until you see the streaks of sunlight pour through the jungle flora above you. On the PSP screen, or connected to a TV, this game looks absolutely incredible. These screenshots just don't do the game justice: it must be seen to be believed.