Syndicate

---

[ Register or Signin to view external links. ]

---

Information
Developer: Starbreeze Studios
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Designer: Andrew Griffin, Rickard Johansson, Viljar Sommerbakk
Writer: Richard K. Morgan
Engine: Starbreeze Engine
Platform: Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
Release date: February 21, 2012
Genre: First-person shooter
Mode: Single-player, multiplayer

---

Synopsis
Syndicate is a first-person shooter video game developed by Starbreeze Studios, released on February 21, 2012 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 platforms. It is a reboot of the Syndicate series developed by Bullfrog Productions, changing the genre from a tactical shooter to a first-person shooter

---

Gameplay
Syndicate has the features typical of any FPS game. It is refreshed however by the inclusion of the "Dart 6 Bio Chip" which is a piece of technology which allows you to do many things, this includes seeing things as if time were slowed down, seeing enemies through walls, and being able to manipulate enemies to use them to your advantage. This gives an extra level of dynamic to the gameplay which makes it very fun to play as there is more than one way to defeat an enemy and combat any given scenario. The missions are very good and take place in different places so you always feel as if you are going somewhere or doing something new. This coupled with the awesome gameplay mechanics means that you never really repeat the same thing more than a couple of times throughout the campaign, this is really good because as the gameplay is varied you don't find yourself getting bored on the gameplay becoming stale. The standard elements of FPS are there as well and done very well, there is a large selection of weapons to use and the gunplay is very satisfying. Overall the gameplay is really solid.

---

Story
The story to this game is off the back of the 1993 syndicate game. You play as a weapon for a syndicate (a group that are in control) and this is how you are in possession of the advanced chip technology, there are other syndicates who at cyber war with each other, you are essentially in the middle of these opposing groups. The story mode is quite good and the actual narrative and cutscenes work together quite well. Sometimes the story can seem linear as you go from task to task but the fluidity of the gameplay and the long term story arch more than compensate for this. It would be nice to see a little empathy and understanding of the characters being put into the game but it is often lacking.

---

Multiplayer
The multiplayer is up to 4 people who can create their own syndicate and play up to a total of 9 missions together. These missions are varied and well balanced and the co-op makes it well worth the ride. It would have been nice for them to put a little more effort into the multiplayer (especially some kind of better story for the co-op mode) and make it better than it is. That being said though it is still a welcome addition to the game.

---

Graphics
The graphics on the whole are very good, they have really good detail on the weapons and environments even in the far distance. The textures are really good and you will have no issues with them, the lighting and shadows look professional as do the settings. The cutscenes are really well made and the graphics on them look superb for a game released when this one was. It would have been nice to have seen a little more effort being put into the enemy design though as they can sometimes look a little generic in my opinion.

---

System Requirements
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo (E4600) at 2.4 Ghz or equivalent (Athlon 64 X2) processor
CPU Speed: Info
RAM: 2 GB Windows 7 & Windows XP (3 GB with Windows Vista)
OS: Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7
Video Card: ATI Radeon HD 4650 or NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT (min. 512mb RAM) or better
Sound Card: Yes
Free Disk Space: 10.5 GB

---

Ratings
Gameplay - 8/10
Story- 6/10
Multiplayer- 6/10
Graphics - 8/10
Overall - 7/10