We're going to be pitting games against each other every now and then here @ ALT+F4 and what better place to start than two of our favorite shooters - Killzone 2 and SOCOM: Confrontation.

We should start by pointing out the fact we know KZ2 is an FPS and SOCOM is really a 3rd-Person shooter; however, when you zoom in on the scope SOCOM can be called an FPS. Yes, this is stretching it a bit but the games are similar in many ways though so a comparison between the two seems natural.

Lets see how they stack up against each other on features:

Killzone 2	SOCOM: Confrontation
Game Type
FPS	3rd Person
Game Modes
Single Player Assassination Body Count Search & Destroy Search & Retrieve Capture & Hold Skirmish (bots)	Suppression Extraction Demolition Escort Breach Control Elimination
Online Players
16 V 16 (can be bots)	16 V 16
Maps
8 Maps	7 Maps
Character Classes
6: Rifleman Medic Engineer Tactician Assault Saboteur Scout	2: Commando Mercenary
Customizability
Class selection Badge selection Weapon selection	Weapon selection Character skins Outfit colors Outfit armor Clan patches
Chat (VOIP)
Squad Proximity	Proximity-based
Squads
Create Join	None
Spawn Points
Base Squad leader Mobile spawn beacons (set by Tactician class)	Random at one Base

They stack up well against each other but let's run it down category-by-category to find our winner.

Game Modes:

They both offer essentially the same game modes just with different names (Assassination = Escort, Search & Destroy = Demolition) but Killzone 2 offers a single player campaign, skirmish where you can play on all maps against bots and the ability to add bots to a live online match with other players.

Winner: Killzone 2

Online Players:

It seems like a draw with both offering 16v16 play but Killzone gives you the ability to fill out a slow server with bots making rounds a bit more interesting.

Winner: Killzone 2

Maps:

This is a tough category, Killzone 2 comes with 8 maps (we're not counting DLC maps here) and SOCOM delivers 7. Both sets of maps are detailed and include interaction with the environment but not full destructibility. The maps include multi-level buildings with lots of choke points but also good sniping spots. I like both sets of maps and this is just too close to call. The one KZ2 map advantage doesn't make them the automatic winner here.

Winner: Tie

Character Classes:

Killzone 2's six classes each with distinctive abilities, weapons and attire are hard to beat. SOCOM has only 2 "classes" but these are actually the two sides in the game - Commando and Mercenary.

Winner: Killzone 2

Customizibility:

Killzone lets you choose your class, weapon for that class and the secondary ability (badge). SOCOM lets you got to town making your character look like you or not like you with facial features, hair, hats, etc. It goes even further by allowing you to customize your kit without having to select a class. Everyone can get a sniper rifle, no class required. Players can change the color of their camouflage and create distinctive clan badges. You really have a lot of choices with SOCOM that KZ2 just doesn't come near or even try to.

Winner: SOCOM

Chat:

Killzone comes with proximity VOIP where you hear nearby friends and foes, in addition to squad-based chat that allows you to communicate with your squad privately. This is all well and good but the fact is the VOIP in KZ2 is awful. Most of the time you cannot tell what was said at all, kind of like a subway conductor. SOCOM on the other hand has proximity-based chat that is very clear. The way it works is you can hear the people around your - enemies included. It's directional and works great.

Winner: Tie

Squads:

No real contest here, SOCOM does not have squads and KZ2 does. Coming from PC gaming and Battlefield 2 in particular, there is little that promotes teamwork like in-game created squads.

Winner: Killzone 2

Spawn Points:

Along with squad VOIP, KZ2 allows squad members to spawn on their squad leader. In addition to this and the standard base spawning, the Tactician class can deploy spawn markers manually on the map creating infinite spawn points (although the do expire after a time). Killzone 2 also has the spawn camera so you know if you're going into a spawn-raping situation. SOCOM has standard spawn at a couple of places near your base.

Winner: Killzone 2

Not all of these categories should be weighed the same but any way you add it up, Killzone 2 comes out as the clear winner using the categories chosen. This isn't to say that SOCOM is a bad game or that it's not better for some people than KZ2. In the end though, comparing apples to apples, Killzone 2 comes out ahead in the features and capabilities department. Both are fun but just like in the Highlander, there can be only one - in this round of Vs it's Killzone 2.

Overall Winner: Killzone 2

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