Review
Played on: Xbox One XReleased: 2012
Introduction
Just forget the old Syndicate games when playing this new one. To recap though, Syndicate was an old tactical strategy game from 1993, depicting a dystopian future with mega corporations taking a hold on society. It became popular and spawned a sequel in 1996, titled Syndicate Wars in a similar style, but transitioned from 2D to 3D graphics while retaining the isometric viewpoint.This 2012 release, however, is a distant relative to the old games. This is a first person shooter, with a few tactical elements thrown into the mix. I can understand the frustration from old fans with this title, but if you play it with no prior knowledge of the old series, it's actually a quite good title.
I recently found it on sale and remembered it had gone backwards compatible on Xbox One. So, since I'd missed out in 2012, I decided to give it a go!
Plot and setting
You play as a corporate agent, named Miles Kilo, assigned to kill other agents from rivalling, evil companies. Taking down rival agents, allows Kilo take over their chip abilities and upgrade his own augmentations. As you progress, you discover that your own company, EuroCorp, doesn't really have the best of intentions either.It's not a super impressive or deep storyline to follow, but it suits the style and setting of the game. Giving nods to classic movies like Blade Runner and games like Deus Ex Human Revolution. In fact, Syndicate reminds me a lot of the modern Deus Ex games, albeit with a less revolutionary main character wanting to change everything.
I went along with the ride through the story, but found little that drew my attention to new ideas. It's a predictable plot, with mostly the various agent boss fights bringing unexpected situations to the mix.
Gameplay and features
Syndicate plays very much like a standard first person shooter, thus slightly more slower paced. You're often rewarded for battling forward in a slower, more precise manner, at least that worked for me, rather than using fast running as a tactic. Firefights have a dense and heavy feel to them, requiring you to hide behind objects and use your tactical chip enhancements to give you an upper hand in combat.These enhancements set Syndicate apart from just a standard shooter. The main ability is "Dart" mode, which slows everything down, boosts your health and increases your damage. Other abilities yare "Suicide", which makes an enemy take his own life with an explosion, killing nearby enemies. "Back fire" electrocutes the enemy, staggering the enemy to the ground and makes nearby enemies vulnerable to increased damage. The third ability is "Persuade" which basically turns an enemy into an ally that will attack the others.
The "Dart" mode and all these three abilities are essential to surviving the fast and fierce gunfights and can be upgraded by killing bosses and taking their chips.
I found the gunplay extremely satisfying, it has a weighty and noisy feel, making it satisfying to fire the large variety of guns on offer. In combination with the "Dart" mode, it brings back nostalgia of playing F.E.A.R. Utilising slow-motion as a tactic in combination with more cover based and slower progressing firefights through indoors locations. The gameplay, combined with abilities and great artstyle, the best part of Syndicate.
I found the gunplay extremely satisfying, it has a weighty and noisy feel, making it satisfying to fire the large variety of guns on offer. In combination with the "Dart" mode, it brings back nostalgia of playing F.E.A.R. Utilising slow-motion as a tactic in combination with more cover based and slower progressing firefights through indoors locations. The gameplay, combined with abilities and great artstyle, the best part of Syndicate.
Video
I had to put on my last-gen goggles for this one. This game is locked to it's 720p@30fps settings from that era, with sadly no backwards compatibility enhancements for my XB1X.I still enjoyed it's visuals though. There's a strong art direction here, with a atmospheric depiction of a futuristic city and and buildings. It reminds me visually of the new Deus Ex titles. Lighting is well done and although some might not like it, it has incredibly over saturated visual effects. Including heavy bloom and high contrast to the visuals. A sign of the time it was made in.
I really appreciated the varied locations and the vibe of the graphics, it has a sleek and cool look to it, without leaving out worn down and dirtylooking environments too. It does have a low field of view, like a lot first person shooters from this era, but it runs smoothly and is something you get used to playing with.
The slow motion has similar cool effects when activated, giving distinct sound of slowing everything down. Music suits the game well, with futuristic, electronic music that goes along with the setting and environments. There's even a bit of cool dubstep from the time it released!
It might not be for everyone, but it's one of the forgotten last-gen shooters, that really should deserves a look. Solid, entertaining and energetic gameplay, giving me flashbacks to classics like Deus Ex Human Revolution and F.E.A.R., although, less memorable.
I really appreciated the varied locations and the vibe of the graphics, it has a sleek and cool look to it, without leaving out worn down and dirtylooking environments too. It does have a low field of view, like a lot first person shooters from this era, but it runs smoothly and is something you get used to playing with.
Audio
The sound design is incredibly good, especially the way the weapons sound. Gunfire has a heavy bass and is noisy, giving the weapons a thump to the feeling of firing them. Firefights become extremely loud and powerful, giving me vibes to the great sound design of the Battlefield games. Rooms have great echo effects and the surround further heights the intensity of battle as you end up in dramatic indoor shootouts.The slow motion has similar cool effects when activated, giving distinct sound of slowing everything down. Music suits the game well, with futuristic, electronic music that goes along with the setting and environments. There's even a bit of cool dubstep from the time it released!
Summary
Syndicate quickly came and went back when it released, overlooked and in no way will rock your boat when it comes to it's plot. That said, it's a strong and tactical shooter, with cool gameplay twists, helpful abilities and a well designed futuristic, sci-fi setting. It lets you feel how bad-ass a Blade Runner agent would be, with the same aesthetics and questionable moral choices, combined with action filled gunfights.It might not be for everyone, but it's one of the forgotten last-gen shooters, that really should deserves a look. Solid, entertaining and energetic gameplay, giving me flashbacks to classics like Deus Ex Human Revolution and F.E.A.R., although, less memorable.
