Synapse

Exhilarating and creative combat means we feel truly let loose in PSVR2. The only down side is… with only nine levels to get through, we want more. [Issue#30, p.86]

nDreams has once again proven itself to be a master VR studio by pulling another banger from the top shelf. With plenty of playable hours, a rewarding earn-die-try-again loop, and a visual flair that takes some getting used to, Synapse is a must-play on PSVR 2.

Synapse delivers a rocking gameplay and rogue lite aspect, with an intelligent use of all PS VR 2 functionality and power. Impossible to miss this explosive production.

Synapse is the new standard for VR FPS. thanks to the clever use of force feedback and eye tracking, you feel like you're inside the action. The combination of eye tracking and telekinesis is simply delightful and this is the closest we've felt to being a true force wielder. the clever use of your offhand for navigation, telekinesis and climbing/hiding is brilliant and works like a charm. If we have to complain a bit, we would love some more variety to the weapons used.

Synapse is the new industry standard when it comes to virtual reality telekinesis and it's also a very enjoyable first person shooter roguelike.

Combining smooth gunplay and god-like telekinetic abilities, Synapse is a stylish roguelite shooter that more than deserves to be labelled as a PSVR 2 must-buy.

Somewhat short, but oh-so-sweet, Synapse is an unflinching thrill ride of a shooter with an intoxicating one-more-go structure and unmatched badassery in its dual-wielding telekinetic shooter action. It's more than just a great showpiece for the PS VR2's capabilities – this is easily the coolest I've ever felt playing a video game.

Synapse is an intense shooter that imbues you with heroic powers. Each run in this addictive rogue-lite is exhilarating. The gunplay and telekinesis perfectly combine and allows you to experiment with the mechanics. Due to the upgrade system, you progressively get stronger which gives further incentive for another round. Even with the small number of enemy types and slightly repetitive gameplay, Synapse is an essential PSVR 2 title and a promising glimpse at what the future of the medium holds.

John Wick, Super Hot and Star Wars come together in a VR game.

Synapse is a VR action game that offers an intriguing concept and a story that combines Heart of Darkness with Inception. The result is not bad, but it doesn't achieve the promised revolution in the genre. The game lags primarily in the area of variability, which is crucial for roguelite games.

Synapse is a superb shooter that uses the PSVR2s capabilities to the fullest extent possible.

With its vibrant pops of color and excellent use of eye tracking in managing telekinesis, Synapse stands out as one of the productions that make the most of the potential and unique features of PlayStation VR 2. Despite the general lack of variety, the nDreams game remains a roguelite shooter with explosive gameplay and an excellently calibrated progression system, able to keep the user's interest alive thanks to a good level of challenge and the possibility of experimenting with different fighting styles. The presence of famous voice actors such as David Hayter and Jennifer Hale adds a special touch, not so much for the quality of the plot, but for the care and attention with which the entire experience has been packaged, comparable to what one might to expect from a first party title.

Synapse’s roguelite elements are too light, but it’s a well-designed shooter that empowers players in ways only a VR game can. Developer nDreams has taken PSVR2’s eye-tracking and adaptive triggers and built them into the game’s mechanics without turning them into gimmicks. Snatching a barrel and detonating it over a group of hostiles is as gratifying as instinctively throwing back an incoming grenade while dumping submachine gun rounds with the other hand. It all combines to make for a thrilling VR shooter that excels for how it takes advantage of the hardware.

Synapse is one of my favourite games for PSVR2 so far thanks to its frantic shooting gameplay and spot-on telekinesis mechanic.

While its unique visual style – and even the action – can eventually become a little repetitive, it’s hard not to be impressed with what Synapse offers. It’s particularly fun in short bursts, and so it’s handy that you can leave the game during a run and resume where you left off at a later date. if you’re after a fun, action-packed PSVR 2 experience that truly puts supernatural power in your hands, then, it’s definitely worthy of your time and money.

Synapse is a compelling addition to the world of VR shooters, loaded with plenty of appetizing gameplay and intriguing monochromatic world-building, even if some frustrating bugs and a challenging difficulty curve could get in its way.

Synapse is a confident outing that offers some of the most compelling moment-to-moment gameplay available on PSVR2. And while it may feel a little samey over its three-run duration, there’s little doubting that what’s here is worth the price of entry alone.

Owing to its highly polished mechanics and stunning implementation of unique PSVR2 features, you’ll be eager to scratch the itch and get through “one more run” time and time again.

Synapse is a phenomenal VR game, bringing striking visuals, meaningful progression and true power fantasy together to craft a game that’s begging for one more go. It stands as an immediate must-buy for PSVR2 owners.

Synapse is a successful roguelike that makes you feel stronger with each run, and while it won't blow you away, it's a fun time and makes great use of the PSVR2 features.

Limited enemies and environments don't hamper some of the best VR blasting out there.

Synapse is a fun FPS roguelite with great gunplay and satisfying progression with each run. While it may lean too heavily on its replay value and squanders its fascinating premise with little storytelling. It’s one of the most worthwhile PSVR2 shooters yet.

Synapse is a frantic first-person shooter based on roguelite loops, with a use of telekinesis that takes advantage of PS VR 2's benefits very well, especially with the eye tracking technology. However, the content it offers feels somewhat lacking.

Still, we reflect, while launching all our problems into the sea one by one, it makes a nice change from pointing and shooting. [Issue#387, p.120]

Synapse is a substantial, somewhat interesting FPS adventure and a compelling PSVR 2 exclusive that lets you become a mind-trawling mayhem merchant with psychic powers.

A beautiful and exquisitely violent ballet of gunfire and telekinesis, that feels incredible to play but lacks the challenge or variety for long term play.

Synapse is a roguelite shooter with an interesting idea, but without much depth. With the aim of repeating the areas to become stronger and more agile, in addition to a simple plot, Synapse is worth checking out for its fun gameplay and nothing more.

We recognize that Synapse tried hard but may have accomplished little but style. However, we must also acknowledge that Synapse may not be a game for everyone. It is brilliantly inspired and tries to combine successful mechanics that, in theory, would have resulted in a compelling game. If you are up for a tough challenge and are into Soulslike games, Synapse may be worth playing. For an FPS player, the game should last around 12 hours, and that is 12 hours of a solid VR game; it is immersive, has interesting abilities, intriguing gameplay choices and a great atmosphere. But that is the right amount of time before everything becomes mundane and repetitive. So suppose you are like me and must spend several hours grinding, doing and seeing more of the same to go past the first few areas of Synapse. In that case, I suggest you skip it altogether and find a more approachable and less repetitive game to play.

I wouldn't call Synapse a must-have for PlayStation VR2, but it's certainly a unique experience. Basic gameplay and character development are brilliantly executed, so if you decide to pick up this game, you'll be throwing enemies to the ground and bludgeoning them with virtual bullets with a smile on your face. It's just a shame that the small amount of content makes it feel a bit like a proof of concept rather than a full-fledged game.

Synapse is at its best when you are flinging enemies around and shooting them from the sky. Unfortunately, poorly paced-difficulty changes and an unsatisfying endgame left me wanting a little more.

Mechanically, Synapse is incredible, but the breadth of content is another story. This feels like a proof of concept for a full experience, once the amount of content can match the level of gameplay.

Synapse gives players an incredible feeling of telekinetic power that's undeniably cool and fun, and also adapts some of the best mechanics from nDreams' last game, Fracked. But Synapse follows a now familiar pattern for the developer: unique and well-built VR mechanics that are unfortunately paired with middling game design that lacks enemy, weapon, level, and scenario variety. While the game asks players to beat a 'full run' three times to reveal its full narrative, you'll have seen most of what the game has to offer not long after your first completion. As a roguelite, Synapse is missing that compelling feeling that makes you want to try new strategies as you play over and over.

Synapse has very nice game mechanics that are the basis for everything, but since everything only breathes "glorified tech demo", it is difficult for me to really spew out any real praise.

A great power fantasy that invites the creation of strong cinematic moments, but is also never quite pushed to its limits in terms of content and playfulness.