Syndicate (2012)

 PC
User Score
6.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 434 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 143 out of 434
  2. Mixed: 168 out of 434
  3. Negative: 123 out of 434
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  1. Pinochi
    Aug 10, 2022
    5
    1 из 10 - сюжет. Он крайне простой и скучный, да и в сеттинге "киберпанк" ничего нового не приносит и не рассказывает.
    1 из 10 - музыка. Игра 2012 года с дабстепом, без комментариев.
    5 из 10 - геймплей. За 6 часов он не успевает надоесть к концу игры, но и звёзд с неба не хватает. Можно было бы сделать динамичнее и быстрее, но тогда так было не принято. 4 из 10 - визуал. Графика    1 из 10 - сюжет. Он крайне простой и скучный, да и в сеттинге "киберпанк" ничего нового не приносит и не рассказывает.
    1 из 10 - музыка. Игра 2012 года с дабстепом, без комментариев.
    5 из 10 - геймплей. За 6 часов он не успевает надоесть к концу игры, но и звёзд с неба не хватает. Можно было бы сделать динамичнее и быстрее, но тогда так было не принято.
    4 из 10 - визуал. Графика безусловно устарела, но глазам больно не делает. Проблема с контрастом. Всё либо очень тёмное, либо очень светлое, раздражает. Дизайн локаций и персонажей довольно скучный. Стандартное недалёкое будущее.
    7 из 10 - звук. Для 2012 года нормально.

    Итог = 4,5.
    Игра не вызвала какого-то отвращения, просто проходняк, но из-за отсутствий игр в сеттинге "киберпанк" можно и поиграть.    … Expand
  2. EarthboyZH
    Aug 23, 2021
    10
    Even though this game is mediocre on some details, like FOV, over use of bloom effect. and the gun' weight feels weird. but it have some many innovations at that time and the time has proved these innovations are good and ahead of time. moreover, great level design, interesting bosses. this is definitely the most underrated game in my opinion. the devs behind it are truly talent. theyEven though this game is mediocre on some details, like FOV, over use of bloom effect. and the gun' weight feels weird. but it have some many innovations at that time and the time has proved these innovations are good and ahead of time. moreover, great level design, interesting bosses. this is definitely the most underrated game in my opinion. the devs behind it are truly talent. they founded machinegames and released wolfenstein new order after 2 year later… Expand
  3. Akadoo
    Jun 27, 2021
    7
    Игра понравилась,средняя для своих лет вышла и короткая,так как на один вечер.
  4. kndr
    May 21, 2021
    6
    Okay fps game with little bit hacking mechanics. Nothing too special but you can have fun with it.
  5. shauntmw
    Apr 24, 2020
    6
    I played this on EA Origin, and exclusively on the single player campaign only.

    This is a very standard cover-based, action shooter FPS game, but you have a special ability that you can use on your enemy to gain a little advantage over them. The special ability feels like a lost potential. It can be quite fun, but the game and level design doesn't seem to benefit a lot on those. The    I played this on EA Origin, and exclusively on the single player campaign only.

    This is a very standard cover-based, action shooter FPS game, but you have a special ability that you can use on your enemy to gain a little advantage over them. The special ability feels like a lost potential. It can be quite fun, but the game and level design doesn't seem to benefit a lot on those.

    The graphics are great, the music is not bad. The gun-play are mediocre at best. the story are quite negligible, it is just like a linear shooter, where you go sections by sections, clearing enemy clones wave by wave, with some occasional boss fights that are just tougher bullet sponge.    … Expand
  6. r03vg
    Apr 17, 2020
    7
    Довольно революционной считал работу со звуком - он меняется, в зависимости от помещения, в котором вы находитесь.
  7. Roberty
    Jul 4, 2019
    10
    Honestly, I do not understand where so many negative comments are. I have been playing at the syndicate.casino for almost a year, and during that time I have no problems. I like the wide variety of games and their variety. It just never gets boring.) I pay money for several days without any problems. I recommend this casino to almost anyone I know because it's really fashionable toHonestly, I do not understand where so many negative comments are. I have been playing at the syndicate.casino for almost a year, and during that time I have no problems. I like the wide variety of games and their variety. It just never gets boring.) I pay money for several days without any problems. I recommend this casino to almost anyone I know because it's really fashionable to effortlessly win big bucks. I spend only a few hours a day playing games and earning twice as much as my friends. Friends think you should not miss your chance, there will not be another.… Expand
  8. Bottlecaps
    May 25, 2019
    5
    Syndicate is a game that did exactly what i expected of it. and that is not a good thing. because i could look at the box and after the first 5 minutes of game play i knew how the story ends.

    Story: the story is so predictable i didnt even take it seriously, sure the world is cool but the story REALLY takes away from that (at least for me ) im not gonna spoil it for any one though.    Syndicate is a game that did exactly what i expected of it. and that is not a good thing. because i could look at the box and after the first 5 minutes of game play i knew how the story ends.

    Story: the story is so predictable i didnt even take it seriously, sure the world is cool but the story REALLY takes away from that (at least for me ) im not gonna spoil it for any one though. because i may just have experienced an over abundance of media and seen all plot points coming a mile off. but to me is cliche and under whelming. its an excuse for the action and thats all it needs to be i guess.
    story: 2/10

    World building: as bad as the story was its world was a high point. A world where considerations are the super powers and ran like country's, where corporate espionage is punishable by death and each company has its own pmc and you are considered an asset not a human. each company like a country dose seem to have their own set of weapons and fire arms development witch is a nice little detail. i liked the world it was good and had a lot of potential but i think because this was a very liner shooter the world takes the seat way in the back of a dodge grand caravan and was put there to make all the annoying problem children feel better.
    World building: 6.4/10

    Graphics: they arnt awful but certanily not great. far cry 3 came out this same year and that game still looks great today. and 2012 really isn't that far off. the graphics do have a decent style to them. the animations are stiff occasionally but detailed enough to make up for some of the stiffness. i don't like the over reliance on bloom . felt like the sun was always in my eyes.
    Graphics 5/10

    game play: its a generic linear shooter and that's exactly what i expected of it. mowing down generic soldiers in this game was fun. and if that's what you expect is a basic shooter then you can get a lot more enjoyment out of this game then if you expect a deus ex type game. the guns for the most part a fun but the shooting feels a little awkward and clunky. not a lot but enough to be annoying not necessarily frustrating.
    gameplay: 5.5/10

    Sound design: the voice acting was just ok BUT the music was actually really good its all high octane dubstep. and dubstep was a huge trend in 2012 and sure at the time it wasn't the best design choice because of dubstep fatigue. but the songs in this gave me the same feeling as doom(2016) sound track did just for a different setting maybe not as technically impressive as dooms is but a similar impact on me none the less. the music fits the tone and the setting perfectly. the gun sounds were good as well. not annoying like some shooters iv played this year but not bad satisfying enough.
    sound design: 7.5/10

    2+6.4+5+5.5+7.5= 26.4
    26.4/5= 5.28

    this game had alot of potential and to some it ruined a good IP. its mindless and can be fun if you take it that way. the setting was under utilized but the music was great. its not a bad game just painfully average.    … Expand
  9. JaydenPickens
    Feb 20, 2019
    9
    What a great game. The atmosphere and the gameplay is amazing. The idea of hacking enemies makes the game stand out from other fps games. I wish there was a sequel... Starbreeze never disappoints! Pickens approves
  10. Jay_Pickens
    Jul 25, 2018
    9
    What a great game. The atmosphere and the gameplay is amazing. The idea of hacking enemies makes the game stand out from other fps games. I wish there was a sequel... Starbreeze never disappoints! Pickens approves.
  11. Kamlo
    Feb 28, 2017
    0
    Idee interessanti, ma la fusione di meccaniche fps con poteri da rpg o arpg non funziona completamente.
    Farragginoso e non divertente come gameplay: alla fine la cosa più semplice è uccidere tutti i nemici con l'attacco instakill del corpo a corpo
  12. dandalis
    Nov 19, 2016
    6
    At start i had hard time liking this game, controls and animations on PC feel very clumsy, aiming feels overly hyper sensitive with insane mouse acceleration (turns out you must disable the V Sync to make the game even playable), insane over usage of bloom and chromatic abomination effects that can cause eye strain.

    But somehow i got used to it and half way thru i started to enjoy    At start i had hard time liking this game, controls and animations on PC feel very clumsy, aiming feels overly hyper sensitive with insane mouse acceleration (turns out you must disable the V Sync to make the game even playable), insane over usage of bloom and chromatic abomination effects that can cause eye strain.

    But somehow i got used to it and half way thru i started to enjoy playing the game. With few unockable upgrades game becomes more friendly to play. Gunplay is pretty solid and guns themselves sound beefy, good audio design and animation work make gunning down enemies pretty fun. Syndicate has a decent amount of guns to play with, both standard projectile based and futuristic types. Game is exteremely linear giving very limited exploration options and plot is forced down your eating hole. I had a feeling they could've add some choice options for you as a player to tailor your story a bit like in Mass Effect.

    Cyberpunk setting will be very inetersting to fans of such genre. Developers have put a considerable amount of work to create a interesting futuristic setting and lore behind it that you get to explore while playing, if you choose so. Story itself felt too bog standard and unimpressive, but its not bad, it just does it work and thats it, ending also couldve been better.

    Performance wise it ran pretty well on maxed settings on my GTX 650, apart from already mentioned V Sync bug. Graphics are OK, sadly lots of people got fooled by its insane visual FX usage to call them ''best of 2012'', futuristic setting also probably made the game look better than it is. But then again its a well made game knowing that it didnt had that massive of a budget.

    Solid game for futuristic action FPS junkies that i can easily still reccomend in 2016.    … Expand
  13. jelikey
    Jul 1, 2016
    7
    This game emulates the setting of an emotional, deep science fiction world. It sets up story threads that can evolve. However that's all anything is in this game amounts to, suggestions at a better game. The moment you step back, and take the game at what it is, a mindless shooter - the more you will get out of it - at least in singleplayer. Furthermore, if that's what you want out of this
  14. guiiimkt
    Nov 12, 2015
    8
    Very underrated game. The combat is good, gameplay it's great.
    Memorable boss fights, great sound design.
    The only negative is the bloomy light effects, some times it's over the top.
    Overwall this game is worth your time.
  15. gloriouspotato
    Jan 8, 2015
    6
    Despite its solid gameplay mechanics, the game still feels awfully repetitive due to its lack of variety. There are no exploratory or investigative elements to the game such as puzzles to break up the long stretches of battle upon battle. There isn't an engaging story to hook you in, and there isn't even much when it comes to enemy variety. I suppose the graphics and sound design isDespite its solid gameplay mechanics, the game still feels awfully repetitive due to its lack of variety. There are no exploratory or investigative elements to the game such as puzzles to break up the long stretches of battle upon battle. There isn't an engaging story to hook you in, and there isn't even much when it comes to enemy variety. I suppose the graphics and sound design is decent, though the amount of bloom is rather excessive. All in all, a fairly unremarkable game that didn't leave much of an impression.

    Overall rating - 6.3/10    … Expand
  16. yo_mama_so_fat
    Oct 22, 2014
    6
    Syndicate is an innovative sci-fi FPS that throws you into the deep end of corporate espionage. Solid gameplay mechanics are overshadowed by repetitive missions. Doesn't live up to its potential but definitely worth a try.
  17. BakaHaram
    May 25, 2014
    10
    This game has the most realistic depiction of our future I've ever seen in a video game. Really shows where the world goes, because even now corporations like Apple, Facebook and McDonalds have more freedom and power than any government in the world. Syndicate's story is miles better than Deus Ex's outlandish **** Here we have an actual, plausible and very possible vision of the future.This game has the most realistic depiction of our future I've ever seen in a video game. Really shows where the world goes, because even now corporations like Apple, Facebook and McDonalds have more freedom and power than any government in the world. Syndicate's story is miles better than Deus Ex's outlandish **** Here we have an actual, plausible and very possible vision of the future. This game was prevented from becoming a hit by the corporations, who didn't want gamers to see what the world is really going to be like.… Expand
  18. Goreaffection
    May 24, 2014
    8
    Some games are missed out due to an avalanche of video game launches at the same quarter. Syndicate is one of them. It is definitely one of the most underrated games to come out in the past few years. I thoroughly enjoyed the gameplay and visuals throughout the game. The story might not be that fresh but the scifi setting is believable! The games strength was in the weapons. Who wont wannaSome games are missed out due to an avalanche of video game launches at the same quarter. Syndicate is one of them. It is definitely one of the most underrated games to come out in the past few years. I thoroughly enjoyed the gameplay and visuals throughout the game. The story might not be that fresh but the scifi setting is believable! The games strength was in the weapons. Who wont wanna cut a person in half with the laser blast of the Coil or wield a minigun and charge head-on towards the enemy? Step into Kilo's shoes and gear up for one hell of a ride!… Expand
  19. NegativeNine
    Mar 2, 2014
    7
    [German / Deutsch]
    Das Spiel gibt einem schöne Schlauchlevel, eine 6/10 Story mit 4/10 Hauptcharakteren, viele Gegner, viele Waffen, viel Geballer und damit, was man von einem Shooter erwartet.
    Die Waffen im Spiel machen zum größten Teil Sinn, allerdings gibt es einige Waffen, die zu schwach, zu stark oder schlicht dasselbe sind, wie andere Waffen. Da hätte man einiges streichen können    [German / Deutsch]
    Das Spiel gibt einem schöne Schlauchlevel, eine 6/10 Story mit 4/10 Hauptcharakteren, viele Gegner, viele Waffen, viel Geballer und damit, was man von einem Shooter erwartet.

    Die Waffen im Spiel machen zum größten Teil Sinn, allerdings gibt es einige Waffen, die zu schwach, zu stark oder schlicht dasselbe sind, wie andere Waffen. Da hätte man einiges streichen können oder besser anpassen sollen.

    Die Steuerung des Charakters ist Standard und hat sich leider nicht sonderlich weiterentwickelt: Kaum geländegängig, was im urbanen Szenario aber kaum weiter auffällt. Über kleine Hindernisse wird gesprungen, geöffnet oder geklettert werden kann nur da, wo es vorgesehen ist.

    Da man sich nicht um Nebenelemente in der Spielwelt geschweige denn Handlungsfreiheit bemüht hat ist die Spielwelt zwar nett anzusehen aber klinisch tot. Der Shooter ist damit relativ schnell durchgespielt und dank absolut linearer Handlung sowie fester Skriptsequenzen ohne großen Wiederspielwert. Wer Abwechslung sucht kann maximal einen anderen Schwierigkeitsgrad auswählen oder Chipaufwertungen unterlassen / anders setzen.

    Syndicate macht trotzdem Spaß, solange man sich noch an der imposanten Spielwelt sattsehen kann, Interesse an dem Zukunftsszenario hat, welches das Spiel darstellt, gern mit den Waffen im Spiel hantiert gegen die Gegner im Spiel oder die Herausforderungen mag, vor die einen das Spiel bei den Bossgegnern stellt.

    Ich persönlich würde Syndicate als eigenständigen Titel ohne Beachtung der originalen Syndicate Serie eine 7/10 geben, weil es im Großen und Ganzen bugfrei ist, Shooter verspricht und Shooter liefert, die Spielwelt wirklich gut aussieht und die Kämpfe größtenteils funktionieren.

    Meine größten Kritikpunkte am Spiel sind die Art der Gegnergenerierung[1] und die Regenerationsmechanik[2], die einfach nicht zu Syndicate passt.

    [1] Die Art, wie Gegner in die Spielwelt gebracht werden wirkt arg gekünstelt: Sobald man einen Punkt überschreitet oder ein Objekt bedient öffnen sich irgendwelche Türen, aus denen Gegner strömen, teils Welle um Welle statt einmal alle zusammen. Für die Gegner öffnen sich dazu mit einem Mal irgendwelche Räume, Türen etc., die vorher verschlossen waren und es nachher teilweise auch wieder sind. Statt sich also den Weg freizuballern läuft man irgendwo lang, wo irgendwo um einen herum irgendwelche Türen aufgehen und Gegner rauskommen. Nachher sind diese Türen und Räume entweder wieder verschlossen oder vollkommen leer.

    [2] Die Regnerationsmechanik ist aus Call of Duty: In Deckung warten, bis die Regeneration startet, die relativ schnell 100% der Gesundheit wiederherstellt. Für Syndicate ist das aber unpassend, da man meist solo gegen mehrere Gegner antritt, die einen zu umzingeln versuchen, teils Granaten werfen und abgesehen davon gibt es im Spiel Flugdrohnen und gelenkte Projektile. Da passt so eine Regenerationsmechanik Marke 'In-der-Ecke-hocken' einfach nicht.

    Beim Original "Syndicate" hätte sich EA aber nicht bedienen müssen für dieses Spiel, denn bis auf einige Begriffe oder Namen aus dem Original hat das Spiel so ziemlich gar nichts mit ihm zu tun.    … Expand
  20. Ottomic
    Feb 17, 2014
    7
    It's a fun romp of a game, about the same quality as a FEAR installment. Top notch graphics, very good voice and motion capture. Although it is another generic shooter at its core, it has some nifty quality details that will make you keep smiling and say "cute!", and that sets it apart from the rest: the sci-fi setting, the atmosphere, the alternate firing modes, some seriously kickassIt's a fun romp of a game, about the same quality as a FEAR installment. Top notch graphics, very good voice and motion capture. Although it is another generic shooter at its core, it has some nifty quality details that will make you keep smiling and say "cute!", and that sets it apart from the rest: the sci-fi setting, the atmosphere, the alternate firing modes, some seriously kickass weapons, lots and lots of Codex-like info pages, the breach system, skills you unlock across the game; it all works very well, and it brings a frantic and fun gunplay that allows for a variety of ways to solve the situations the game throws at you. The UI feels "realistic" while remaining useful for the most part, the weapons feel meaty and useful, the enemies will usually put up a fight (if the AI gets around to it), and once you get used to the controls, they are actually pretty responsive, with the exception of maybe the slides, which are kinda spotty. On the downside though, it feels like a straight Xbox port, with a very narrow FOV that together with the flashes and postprocessing effects made me feel a bit unconfortable a couple of times. You can breeze through the game on Hard without dying too many times, the plot is neither very clear nor really interesting, and the player never does any choice, so the game more of takes you by the hand across a variety of rooms and tells you "alright, now kill these guys. Now these ones. Now these." until you reach the end.

    There's also the cheese value of this game, which cannot go unnoticed. Everything will be labeled, from "hobo" to "bench", which I found kinda funny as it seems like the protagonist has severe memory issues. There will be nonsensical cutscenes presenting enemies on a circle and a camera panning around "hacking" indows on the side, and most of the chip extracting scenes are so over the top violent that you can't help but to chuckle a bit.

    All in all I say this is a good game if you get it for about ~10-15€. It's fun for kiling an afternoon or two with, I've heard very good things about the coop missions (haven't tried them myself) and the gameplay is nice enough to at least make me consider a second playthrough in a future. And although it doesn't really fit in the 'Syndicate' series of games, as a standalone FPS I say it's a good choice if you wanna pewpew some baddies but you're tired of military, CoD-like games.    … Expand
  21. MorovicFox
    Nov 23, 2013
    8
    This game is perfect

    It has Nice co-op missions
    Amazing graphics
    Very-well made atmosphere

    But story is a 'lil bit boring and gets annoying on some way
    Game price is overrated *50 bucks for 6 hour campaign and some multiplayer?*

    You should try it maybe you'l like it
  22. MustisTheCat
    Oct 16, 2013
    7
    A mediocre first person shooter, though extremely frustrating at times. The gameplay mechanics are good, not too complicated or varied, just standard stuff. 90% of the game is fast, running and shooting, 10% is hacking. The gunplay is exceptional, all of the guns are loud, have a nice recoil, though there is only few of them. The controls are intuitive, so it is easy to use all of theA mediocre first person shooter, though extremely frustrating at times. The gameplay mechanics are good, not too complicated or varied, just standard stuff. 90% of the game is fast, running and shooting, 10% is hacking. The gunplay is exceptional, all of the guns are loud, have a nice recoil, though there is only few of them. The controls are intuitive, so it is easy to use all of the cybernetic features of your character. All of that is enhanced by believable soundFX and music. Sadly, all of that is somewhat ruined by questionable level and story design. The shooting would have been a nicer experience if the creators gave it more thought. Most of the fights is shootouts in open arenas, often with very scarce cover. If you do not play in coop mode with other humans, you are alone vs 10-50 enemies at once. Retaliating enemy swarm after swarm gets tiring fast and doesn`t make much sense. Even the fact that there are up to 6 types of them doesn`t change that. The same goes for the bossfights. I like the basic LEVEL-BOSS layout, although here the player ends up mostly at a big disadvantage against a boss and numerour other enemies, again in an open arena. This results in really lot of cheap player deaths. Moreover, the bosses have a special weakness that is not in any way explained, so you have to figure it out yourself, mostly after 4 or 5 deaths. Also, the mini puzzles are not explained so you often end up just standing in a room trying to figure a way out. The single player campaign on normal difficulty setting took me 5 and a half hours from which at least 20 mins is story cutscenes. I was tired with the game after 4 hours but went on just to beat it. I got the game for $10 and I don`t feel ripped off, but I would`t pay anymore for Syndicate.… Expand
  23. ChrisMcMahon
    Jul 6, 2013
    2
    This game deserves it's flop status.

    There's a serious problem with difficultly levels. I'm playing on normal difficultly. The boss fights are really frustrating and way too difficult for the set difficulty. Sure, boss fights are supposed to be difficult you say. And you're right. But I've been stuck on the same 5-10 minutes of boss fight (2nd boss missiles) for 5 hours. That's over    This game deserves it's flop status.

    There's a serious problem with difficultly levels. I'm playing on normal difficultly. The boss fights are really frustrating and way too difficult for the set difficulty. Sure, boss fights are supposed to be difficult you say. And you're right. But I've been stuck on the same 5-10 minutes of boss fight (2nd boss missiles) for 5 hours. That's over well 50 attempts. I give up. No more game for me. I've read walkthroughs, guides and watched videos. None of which can get me passed this prick. If fact he seems to be bugged as half the returned rockets don't explode but just blink a blue light at his feet.

    If I was to rate the difficulty from 1 to 10. I'd game the normal gameplay is a 2, ie almost boring it is so easy. The boss fights however are a 10. There's no way I can get passed it. No way to say drop the difficulty to easy just for the fight. If you want to drop the difficulty, you have to restart the game right from the beginning! No cheats I can find. So the game's over. I can't be bothered playing the whole game over, that and the normal difficulty is too easy for standard non-boss play, that easy difficulty would be too easy and lack fun.

    This is an issue of play testing during the design phase of the game. I can't believe that this was play tested and found to be satisfactory.

    As for the rest of the game. The FOV is really narrow and causes me motion sickness. Graphics are average, just average, for their time. The graphics option screen is severally lacking setting options. There are sliders, but they don't tell you what they are changing.

    Sound is mediocre. In one level there is loud music and the music setting in the menu has no effect.

    There's no way to change key bindings. You're stuck with what the developer sets.

    Overall, a very disappointing console port and game.    … Expand
  24. drakenseng
    Mar 25, 2013
    7
    This is a solid first person shooter. There are some nice variety in weapons but overall you have your handy pistol most of the time. What makes this game a bit more fun is the ability to combine your gun combat with the 'dart overlay'. you can make enemies commit suicide, persuade them to join you and fight their comrades, backfire used to knock enemies down, and it also slows down time aThis is a solid first person shooter. There are some nice variety in weapons but overall you have your handy pistol most of the time. What makes this game a bit more fun is the ability to combine your gun combat with the 'dart overlay'. you can make enemies commit suicide, persuade them to join you and fight their comrades, backfire used to knock enemies down, and it also slows down time a bit when you are in overlay. Overall, though the game is a bit average. Stages are pretty linear, and you dont get to use the dart too much. there are stages of gun fighting where you must defeat enemies in an area to proceed. If done similar to the way, Bulletstorm game was then i think it would've been much better. Its like a mash of crysis and deus ex. crysis with the use of power ups and deus ex leveling character system. a good solid shooter but can get repetitive and boring after awhile.… Expand
  25. D-vid
    Mar 3, 2013
    10
    The game is really fun. Its a FPS with some interesting gameplay. But i love the graphics The game somehow reminded me on Deus Ex Human revolution.. i really cant understand the low score from some players the game really is great in terms of gameplay. I loved it right away. I love the disco scene with the great soundtrack and i love the pretty graphics
  26. oliver1h
    Feb 7, 2013
    4
    Another wasted potential...The story is really weak. The game world feels dated, empty and not futuristic as it supposed to look. The game is basically a generic shooter with bad AI. and boring fights. I wish they would not use the "Syndicate" name because the original isometric game was great and revolutionary, not like this one.
  27. soundofvictory
    Jan 29, 2013
    7
    I'm judging this based only on the singleplayer game itself and from the perspective of someone who generally enjoys first person shooters (and played through the game on hard the first time) . This is a good first person shooter. The shooty bits feel really nice. There are a few audio options similar to the battlefield games which allow you to customize to your liking (hi-fi, homeI'm judging this based only on the singleplayer game itself and from the perspective of someone who generally enjoys first person shooters (and played through the game on hard the first time) . This is a good first person shooter. The shooty bits feel really nice. There are a few audio options similar to the battlefield games which allow you to customize to your liking (hi-fi, home cinema, etc.) On the right settings and with good speakers/headphones, this game sounds nice! The guns have a ton of bass and sound satisfying to fire. Additionally there is tons of visual feedback all over the screen for all the shot interactions.

    The story is ok and cliche, but if you take the time to read through the various logs and other backstory, there is more depth than is intiially let on.

    I haven't played a significant amount of the 1993 Syndicate, but I think this reboot hits all the right checkboxes: dystopian future run by corporations where individuals are cannon fodder combined with crazy sci fi technology. It's not an isometric tactical thingum, but I think that was really more a limitation of the technology of the time rather than a necessity to the franchise.

    If you like FPS, you will probably like this. On a side note, it reminds me of The Darkness 2 in the gameplay department. Both have mostly shooting happening, but with one new element which adds additional variety to the design.    … Expand
  28. Arkveveen
    Jan 26, 2013
    7
    A juicy and solid shooter with a lovely, dystopian science fiction setting. A gun lover's paradise packed with ludicrously sexy, fun weapons and great firefights. The interaction with cover adds to the immersion during these firefights! You have to use your brain a bit more in this game because enemies WILL try to flank you at every turn, but you have upgrades you can get in a fun systemA juicy and solid shooter with a lovely, dystopian science fiction setting. A gun lover's paradise packed with ludicrously sexy, fun weapons and great firefights. The interaction with cover adds to the immersion during these firefights! You have to use your brain a bit more in this game because enemies WILL try to flank you at every turn, but you have upgrades you can get in a fun system that is similiar to the classic talent tree to level the playing field along with the DART Overlay (which is like bullet time and allows you to see through cover). Now, for the flaws: Hacking ("Breaching") seems more of a gimmick and is not used nearly enough it seems. Also, the much maligned health regeneration is back in spades, but it makes sense considering the sci-fi setting. The areas tend to be corridors and shooting galleries which confounds matters further, but at least there seems to be a variety of them. I reccomend this game, for fans of shooters and guns. Because really, if you enjoy that rush you get when you aim down the sight and hear bullet casings hitting the floor, then you'll love this game. Otherwise, its just another first person shooter that I only reccomend to those who enjoy first person shooters of all kinds.… Expand
  29. RealMuthaF
    Jan 23, 2013
    6
    I haven't played the original Syndicate so I don't have any hard feelings on the franchise turning into an FPS, but this game is mediocre in all ways. The graphics are pretty but not outstanding, and the blinding lens flares are actually annoying. The core gameplay is regular shooting + some original weapons and the cool breaching mechanic + entertaining boss fights. The singleplayerI haven't played the original Syndicate so I don't have any hard feelings on the franchise turning into an FPS, but this game is mediocre in all ways. The graphics are pretty but not outstanding, and the blinding lens flares are actually annoying. The core gameplay is regular shooting + some original weapons and the cool breaching mechanic + entertaining boss fights. The singleplayer story is forgettable and we've got another silent protagonist which is so lame, though the world of Syndicate's got potential, and the background info you can see in the intel pieces is quite interesting.Gameplay gets more fun in the quite well done co-op mode. So, my verdict is that it's a passable mediocre shooter, earning a solid 6/10.… Expand
  30. CJR
    Jan 5, 2013
    9
    It's been so long since the demise of Bullfrog (R.I.P.) You can almost forgive EA for what they have allowed to happen to the IP that was Syndicate.

    Starbreeze does good FPS games, and their take on syndicate is a surprigingly good game if a tiny bit short. This game is fresh and a polar opposite to another futuristic fps that came out around the same time which is also a good game,    It's been so long since the demise of Bullfrog (R.I.P.) You can almost forgive EA for what they have allowed to happen to the IP that was Syndicate.

    Starbreeze does good FPS games, and their take on syndicate is a surprigingly good game if a tiny bit short. This game is fresh and a polar opposite to another futuristic fps that came out around the same time which is also a good game, Deus Ex Human Revolution.

    Deus Ex Human Revolution uses mostly high clarity warm colored visuals and has a slower methodical form of gameplay, where Syndicate has a cold and visceral and stylistically surreal visual representation of a futuristic world and gameplay that is manic and satisfying.

    For anyone who does not know the world of syndicate, it comes with a profound sense of evil, when you take control of the agent knowing what he/she has been through to become what they are, the world starts to make more sense, and it's where this game gets really interesting.

    Syndicate is a visually impressive, it runs great on a moderate spec PC, and loading times are quick too. The Violence in this title is standout, soundtrack is decent and sound FX are outstanding, The story is good, but if you played the old titles you may be disappointed. - I was, but some say it's the journey that matters, and with this title, I think that rings true. While a very interesting and visually loyal representation of the syndicate world as an FPS title there are gameplay elements that were let go to make this happen. that's the trouble with switching genre.

    The game ends quickly, but is worth a replay using different upgrades to promote a different approach to the missions. This game is for anyone who likes fast action shooting, period. the Syndicate world has been well applied but not fully realised from it's former glory.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

54
#54 Most Discussed PC Game of 2012
49
#49 Most Shared PC Game of 2012

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
69

Mixed or average reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. Hyper Magazine
    May 14, 2012
    60
    An ok campaign with potentially great co-op marred by uninspired design, poor storytelling and glitches. [June 2012, p.76]
  2. PC PowerPlay
    Apr 27, 2012
    50
    When it's not going out of its way to be terrible, Syndicate is simply mediocre. [May 2012, p.54]
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  3. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Mar 22, 2012
    70
    Neither a disappointment nor euphoria – it's Syndicate, excellent multiplayer action game. Unfortunately, the whole single-player campaign feels like a five-hour tutorial. [March 2012]
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