Review
Played on: Xbox One XReleased: 2012
Introduction
Forget the old Syndicate games when playing this new one. To recap, Syndicate was a tactical strategy title, from 1993, depicting a dystopian future with mega corporations taking a hold on society. It became popular and spawned a similar sequel in 1996, titled Syndicate Wars, transitioning from 2D to 3D graphics while retaining the isometric viewpoint.However, this 2012 release is a distant relative to the old releases in the franchise. 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 massive change of genre, but if you play it with no prior knowledge of the old series it's actually a solid experience.
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 to 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 story 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 titles, 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 like a standard first person shooter, although slightly lower paced. You're often rewarded for battling forward in a slow, careful manner rather than using a fast and aggressive tactic. Firefights have a dense and heavy feel, 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 are "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.
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 surprisingly satisfying, it has a weighty feel and loud sound to to the large variety of guns on offer. In combination with the "Dart" mode, it brings back nostalgic memories of playing F.E.A.R. Where utilising slow-motion as in combination with cover based and carefully progressing firefights through indoors locations is a great tactic. The gameplay, combined with abilities and great artstyle, is the best part of Syndicate.
I found the gunplay surprisingly satisfying, it has a weighty feel and loud sound to to the large variety of guns on offer. In combination with the "Dart" mode, it brings back nostalgic memories of playing F.E.A.R. Where utilising slow-motion as in combination with cover based and carefully progressing firefights through indoors locations is a great tactic. The gameplay, combined with abilities and great artstyle, is the best part of Syndicate.
Video
I had to put on my last-gen goggles on for this one. It|s locked to it's 720p@30fps settings from that era and there|s 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, but I enjoy it as a artistic choice
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 dirty looking environments too. It does have a low field of view, like a lot shooters from this era on console, but it runs smoothly in 30fps.
The slow motion has similar cool effects when activated, giving distinct sound of slowing everything down. Music suits the game well, with futuristic, electronic vibe that goes along with the setting and environments. There's even a bit of cool dubstep, a typical trait 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 with less memorable key moments in the story.
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 dirty looking environments too. It does have a low field of view, like a lot shooters from this era on console, but it runs smoothly in 30fps.
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 vibe that goes along with the setting and environments. There's even a bit of cool dubstep, a typical trait 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 with less memorable key moments in the story.