Syndicate

 Xbox 360
User Score
7.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 189 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 117 out of 189
  2. Mixed: 46 out of 189
  3. Negative: 26 out of 189
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. jeremyc5000
    Feb 21, 2012
    10
    I was a little hesitant picking this one up after reading some mixed reviews, but I was pleasantly surprised when I put it in. I loved the style of Deus Ex, but longed for a little more action and not quite as much sneaking around, and this game totally scratches that itch. Being able to hack into enemy's brains and make them commit suicide or take out their buddys is a riot. Haven'tI was a little hesitant picking this one up after reading some mixed reviews, but I was pleasantly surprised when I put it in. I loved the style of Deus Ex, but longed for a little more action and not quite as much sneaking around, and this game totally scratches that itch. Being able to hack into enemy's brains and make them commit suicide or take out their buddys is a riot. Haven't played online yet except for when I had the demo, but a lot of reviews say that's the best part, so I'm looking forward to it.… Expand
  2. SlitheringSnak3
    Feb 21, 2012
    10
    The game is very fun to play because it isn't like the other FPS's out there. This one deliver a very cool "breaching" system so you can make the enemy work with you instead or make them commit suicide. It has the right blend of action and strategy like Xboxn74 wrote below and I think it's crucial for FPS today to have that. The Co-op works fine even though you play with random people.The game is very fun to play because it isn't like the other FPS's out there. This one deliver a very cool "breaching" system so you can make the enemy work with you instead or make them commit suicide. It has the right blend of action and strategy like Xboxn74 wrote below and I think it's crucial for FPS today to have that. The Co-op works fine even though you play with random people. Even though it's hard directly, other players get the point almost instantly.… Expand
  3. 2shoog
    Apr 23, 2013
    9
    There is NOTHING wrong or broken in this game. This is a solid good quality game that's fun to play through several times to use different "perks". The haters don't like it because it did not meet their PRE-CONCEIVED notions of what they think it "should" have been and give it a 1. Certainly the quality of the reviewER should be taken into consideration. As a fair and competent observer,There is NOTHING wrong or broken in this game. This is a solid good quality game that's fun to play through several times to use different "perks". The haters don't like it because it did not meet their PRE-CONCEIVED notions of what they think it "should" have been and give it a 1. Certainly the quality of the reviewER should be taken into consideration. As a fair and competent observer, this is a fantastic shooter and I liked the story. You will find this a very FUN futuristic syfy fps to play if you have no preconceived notions from the original game.… Expand
  4. TheBoldman
    Aug 19, 2013
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Now I loved the original Syndicate and played it to death on my Amiga back in the day. I'm not one of these moaners who got their knickers all twisted cos it was rebooted as an FPS. I like the idea of evil corporations doing battle in the future. Well, not in real life, just in games and movies! So I was willing to give it a try.

    The first thing that struck me about Syndicate was the world that Starbreeze have created graphics are good, the atmosphere and futuristic world seem to be well-rounded and thoughtful. Effectively, this is Deus Ex Lite. Not quite as rich as the Deus Ex world, but a different take on the dystopian Blade Runner future Earth where there are two widely segregated societies the "haves" and the "have-nots" the overworld and underworld. I like the sand pit tick awarded straight away.

    As an FPS, Syndicate also ticks all of the boxes. Basic FPS controls with a gimmick of being able to hack people (cos they've got chips in their heads!) and machines to aid you along the way. Soldiers using cover to their advantage? Hack the barriers to expose them. Flying bots got shields? Hack those shields away! Reinforced glass in the way? Hack the liquid nitrogen conduits, freeze that sucker to make it brittle, and then blast your way in! This is good. It's thoughtful and makes you feel powerful. But possibly not used as extensively as it should have been.

    The hacks actually distil down into three basic hacks, or "breaches", that you can always undertake in combat if you have enough juice. Backfire causes enemy weapons to, er, backfire. Suicide causes... you get the idea! And Persuade causes enemies to attack their mates before topping themselves afterwards just like in Bioshock. These are cool for a while, but ultimately become quite boring and formulaic. I often found myself waiting to use these hacks on more powerful opponents, but then you find that they have advanced firewalls so you can't use them! And then you don't use them.

    The idea of morality is also not really explored. There's another parallel here with Bioshock Infinite it doesn't matter whether you choose the bird or the cage. It's the same here. You can walk around like an absolute dick and snap the neck of anyone that you come into contact with hobos and all, but it doesn't seem to mean anything. There's no bad karma coming back at ya. No enforcers to bring you in. In fact, the other Agent who you share some missions with is actually more of a complete tw*t than you could ever be! And you know you're gonna have to shoot him in the face at some point. It's one of those gaming/movie inevitabilities!

    I found that the game also had some weird difficulty spikes. Some areas seemed ridiculously difficult and then I would cruise along for ages until the next overly difficult bit. And these weren't always boss battles. There's a bit with flying bots, people. A controller-throwing section. You just need to find the little hidy-hole that allows you to survive the waves. What also made the bit annoying is that you are given a rocket launcher, with ammo caches on the wall, but you always drop the f*cking thing when you're out of ammo. So you find yourself sprinting out of cover to pick up the bloody gun again so you can then sprint to the nearest wall to refill and... aaaarrrggghhh!

    The voice acting is really good. Any game with actors like Brian Cox (not the astronomer my other half fancies... the old guy who was in Sharpe), Rosario Dawson and Michael Wincott is on to a good thing. However, I was sure that Michael Wincott was actually Lance Henriksen.

    Some of the bosses are just plain annoying. This is another odd parallel with Deus Ex: HR is that the bosses there were as annoying as f*ck. The thing that gets me is... when you have FPSs like this where there is an element of strategy (hacks etc), then why is your character always immasculated when it comes to these boss battles in so far as you cannot use any special abilities effectively? OK, yeah, in some you can raise cover. But it becomes a straight shooter. This is what made the Deux Ex: HR and, to a lesser extent, the Alpha Protocol bosses infuriating as, if you had chosen to be a stealthy bugger, you were f*cked cos you were completely outgunned!

    Overall, Syndicate is one of those 7/10 or 8/10 games that is perfect for filler between other AAA titles. There is no way on Earth I would play full retail price for it. Apparently, the multiplayer is excellent, though I am not in an online gaming mood at the moment so probably won't ever play it. Actually, I did attempt a game but got kicked off the servers almost immediately. Odd. So if you like Deus Ex: HR and you want a game that is a bit similar in tone, if not gameplay, then give Syndicate a go. It was a brave move to reboot the franchise as an FPS a move that almost worked.    … Expand
  5. drunkenmuse
    Nov 1, 2012
    8
    Surprisingly fun FPS - enjoying Riddick but feeling that Darkness was a step back I was pleasantly surprised to find Syndicate being a step forward again. Although I didn't enjoy it as much as Riddick I did enjoy it, and for anyone looking for a solid single player run (and very enjoyable coop!) in an FPS with scifi setting - this could be your fix.
  6. Alespla
    Dec 18, 2012
    8
    Amazing graphics, great playability and an interesting story. A very good game! Many negative reviews are unffair. The "boss" concept is a bit too much jap style, though.
  7. iddqd4
    Mar 19, 2018
    8
    В игре есть возможность пострелять из винтовки с названием Кусанаги, подсвечивая рентгеновским зрением противников сквозь стены.
  8. Xborn74
    Feb 21, 2012
    8
    Has the theme, features and graphic elements of the old PC games, but in a First Person Shooter approach this time: it's a good Tactical Shooter, with a nice blend of action and strategy needed to pass the stages. Visually, all things remind me very much the Syndicate original games, but vastly improved, and in a 3D world: as you play, and gain more abilities, the game gets more fun.
  9. logan35
    Feb 21, 2012
    9
    Syndicate is a good start for franchise reboot and i thoroughly enjoyed the game. Syndicate is definitely a shooter and has some puzzles/enemy encounters along the way. The feature that makes syndicate stand out from other shooters is the "breaching" mechanic. You will have to use this a lot during the game in order to survive some of the firefights. The enemy a.i. in this game is goodSyndicate is a good start for franchise reboot and i thoroughly enjoyed the game. Syndicate is definitely a shooter and has some puzzles/enemy encounters along the way. The feature that makes syndicate stand out from other shooters is the "breaching" mechanic. You will have to use this a lot during the game in order to survive some of the firefights. The enemy a.i. in this game is good and will flank or rush you depending on the situation. The guns and game play feel great because your character has a sense of weight to him and he isn't just a floating head. The aspect that I like most about syndicate is the environments and feel of the game. I could tell that this game has borrowed a few artistic looks from great sci-fi movies such as blade runner. The art direction in this game is incredible and really makes the world of syndicate come alive. The game also has a great cast of characters that have well done voice acting. The music is also great and really lends to the sci-fi action of the game. The co-op game mode is fun and will please fans of co-op games like left 4 dead. Anyone who is tired of recent shooters should pick this game up, it's fun, has good co-op, and is a great start for a new series of syndicate games.… Expand
  10. donniedrama
    Feb 28, 2012
    10
    Great singleplayer and excellent co-op! Hands down the best FPS of the year so far.

    Starbreeze har done a solid job with this reboot, the campaign is on the short side but a lot of fun and on top of that they've created a unique and amazingly fun co-op experience.
  11. phishhippy
    Feb 21, 2012
    10
    Syndicate is a fast-paced, methodical, futuristic shooter with enough depth and brilliant co-op gameplay to break out of the norm and be something really special. More action than story focused, subtle tweaks to the way you approach combat make for some really amazing one-off set piece water cooler moments. There's alot of depth in the co-op that the casual player might not pick up on atSyndicate is a fast-paced, methodical, futuristic shooter with enough depth and brilliant co-op gameplay to break out of the norm and be something really special. More action than story focused, subtle tweaks to the way you approach combat make for some really amazing one-off set piece water cooler moments. There's alot of depth in the co-op that the casual player might not pick up on at first, but the challenges will keep focused players busy for quite a while. The graphics are nice and very similar to the team's previous riddick games but with more variety and bloom effects. The gunplay is familiar but different enough to get you excited to find the next weapon or upgrade your favorites in multiplayer. Great animations and pretty solid physics. Sound is what you'd expect from a futuristic corporation conspiracy kind of game. Story is , well, what it sounds like. I came into syndicate not expecting much and leaving with a desire for more. It's also great that games like this are coming out in months other than just before Christmas. I recommend this game to anyone looking for a comfortable fps and if you liked deus ex, there's a ton to love here.… Expand
  12. IzzyThaWizzy
    Feb 22, 2012
    10
    I don't know why the reviewers gave this game under an 80. I really find this game amazing, the story is pretty decent, not the best but still pretty good for today's shooters. The co-op is just like a drug, its super addictive! Been playing this since yesterday and still didn't find a flaw in this game! Yeah maybe the story is short but hey there's co-op and story on hardest difficulty isI don't know why the reviewers gave this game under an 80. I really find this game amazing, the story is pretty decent, not the best but still pretty good for today's shooters. The co-op is just like a drug, its super addictive! Been playing this since yesterday and still didn't find a flaw in this game! Yeah maybe the story is short but hey there's co-op and story on hardest difficulty is just freaking hard! Just saying don't listen to people saying ah this is like Deus Ex, that's **** Syndicate is a FPS with high shooter background and a minimum of role-playing... Deus Ex is the opposite, way more RPG and a bit of shooter. That's it! If your'e looking for a pretty good shooter, get this game!… Expand
  13. Auburok
    Feb 22, 2012
    9
    An amazing reboot. Having played the full campaign and all of the coop levels, I can confidently say this is a proper reboot of Syndicate in a different format from it's root (isometric squad based tactical strategy game). It's a half step between Syndicate and Syndicate Wars, lore-wise. All the syndicates from the original game and Syndicate Wars make an appearance, and even have vastlyAn amazing reboot. Having played the full campaign and all of the coop levels, I can confidently say this is a proper reboot of Syndicate in a different format from it's root (isometric squad based tactical strategy game). It's a half step between Syndicate and Syndicate Wars, lore-wise. All the syndicates from the original game and Syndicate Wars make an appearance, and even have vastly different looks for their cultures and agents.

    Single player is well done. My only complaint would be that I wanted more at the end, but that could also be a sign of a good game. Blasting through it on easy mode, it's probably going to be around 4-5 hours if you ignore all the material to read, ignore propaganda tags and skip business cards. This is definitely a lore-heavy FPS, considering it's background, and it doesn't disappoint. It's stylish presentation and quick load times are a triumph in a market filled with load-heavy, clunky games. The campaign is well paced, and there's never a drag nor a moment where I'm confused why I'm doing something. The characters are well voiced and animated, and even with the silent protagonist route it's extremely immersive. Breaching is intuitive and rewards a player that makes creative use of it. Hard mode can be very easy if you're flexible with your diversion tactics and breaching capability. There's a lot of weapons to pick from that all handle differently, rather than just firing speed and damage (a refreshing turn of pace for an FPS game that's not laden with alien technology). There are some truly frantic moments in the game. The ending is the only thing I think people might have complaints about.

    Coop for Syndicate raises the bar for other games. It's quick, drop in, drop out, with a very well done clan (Syndicate) system. Weapons and breaching abilities are numerous, and they can be upgraded to one's playstyle. Leveling up, competing with other teams, and competing with your friends has never been done in such a polished way. The only conceivable way to improve this mode is to just expand the limits, the maps, and implement an AI Director, like Left 4 Dead (for that random element). Even if you're more of a support person (medic, etc), the game doesn't punish you for not killing enemies. The game is funneled in such a way that playing cooperatively (healing, assisting) grants you way more points than a lone wolf would in the same situation. There aren't many games that I could really recommend on coop, since a lot tend to be the same these days. Syndicate is at the top of the recommendation pile, though. Grab some friends, and have some fun!    … Expand
  14. MrZack
    Feb 23, 2012
    10
    Got Syndicate last night and played quite a few hours and the game really "grows on you".
    Such a cool atmosphere and I'm stunned about the graphics and totally love the lens flares!
  15. deilldo
    Feb 22, 2012
    10
    I was surprised about how great this game really is! The single player is good, and I just love the coop. If you by some reason haven't decided to get the game, check out the demo that won me over.
  16. wewantsthering
    Feb 21, 2012
    10
    While some may complain that it's just ripping off Dues Ex, Half-Life, and other series, it's really just an evolutionary step in the FPS that is inspired by, not ripping off, many great FPS of the past. The First-Person combat is much better than Dues Ex, but it keeps the same sort of suit upgrades and in-world HUD elements that make it interesting and cyber-punky. The story isn'tWhile some may complain that it's just ripping off Dues Ex, Half-Life, and other series, it's really just an evolutionary step in the FPS that is inspired by, not ripping off, many great FPS of the past. The First-Person combat is much better than Dues Ex, but it keeps the same sort of suit upgrades and in-world HUD elements that make it interesting and cyber-punky. The story isn't mind-blowing, but it has great pace and sense of urgency that keeps you moving from mission to mission. There are plenty of quite place through the game similar to Half-Life 2 and very dissimilar to the latest COD games. This is a very good thing. If you're looking for a compelling story and universe set in a great shooter action game, this is the game for you.… Expand
  17. boomjinx
    Feb 27, 2012
    9
    I'm sorry, are we playing the same game here? Whilst i'm not putting money on this scooping an award, its definitely a quality shooter. The main campaign hasn't got much of a gripping story like gears of war, it hasn't got a warm central character like the master chief or the set pieces of uncharted 2 but it has got cool guns, quality tech and a fantastic multiplayer. Even using a simpleI'm sorry, are we playing the same game here? Whilst i'm not putting money on this scooping an award, its definitely a quality shooter. The main campaign hasn't got much of a gripping story like gears of war, it hasn't got a warm central character like the master chief or the set pieces of uncharted 2 but it has got cool guns, quality tech and a fantastic multiplayer. Even using a simple revolver makes you feel like a futuristic john wayne,so imagine what a rifle that bends bullets will do, or the ability to make enemies defect your time or even a suicide app (not available on the android market). I've been playing the co op and its a co op that builds, each mission is based on the original syndicate game. go through them on normal, build your agent, then take on the tougher variations. Certainly a worthwhile purchase… Expand
  18. guzzie
    Feb 22, 2012
    10
    Single player mode is stunning while co-op paralyzes. AI´s that really needs your complete attention at any time. Really a rec. Story and gameplay really kick a--.
  19. slitz
    Feb 21, 2012
    10
    Good tactical fps with a even better co-op experience! Love it

    The art is better than the graphics no doubt, but at no point did it feel like it was a bad looking game. Of course it can't compare to BF3, but still stunning. If you like a FPS challenge or just want to play FPS games with friends, this is a excellent buy
  20. fatalmaverick
    Feb 26, 2012
    8
    A fun, gun toting, cybernetic getting, head snapping adventure that is short but sweet. Has a less than compelling story made up for by immensely fun combat. Could have improved in the graphics and story categories. Has a fun co-op mode with a lengthy repeatability value. More in my video review: http://youtu.be/PTU6bcwvnPE
  21. catcat22
    Feb 21, 2012
    10
    An amazing game that delivers. It's like the perfect car that I just want to drive. The smoothness, the graphics, the feel to it. It's just hardcore and so compelling. Most kids will get KOS on the multiplayer, but for us hardcore gamers this is the bible to our religion. Love it! Bladerunner 4-life!
  22. Starbreeze
    Feb 25, 2012
    10
    The best FPS I have played ever, included BF !

    Its like no orher FPS.

    The Co-op is excellent.

    My friend went to our lokal shop yesterday, but the game was sold out. But they will have more om monday they told him.

    So my advice, get your copi before its sold out to, if you want this game.
  23. Folkbildarn
    Feb 23, 2012
    10
    This is a unique FPS with a rather new take on the genre. I love the story, where Starbreeze delivers, as usual, and the mekaniks and feel of the game is awesome. Best of all is the four-player co-op, where you can get improvements to your chip and to your weapons. The sound and feel of the weapons are so good! A must buy!
  24. MrPibb
    Feb 27, 2012
    8
    Excellent co-op, which melds the best parts from other shooters into a cohesive whole. The combat has quite a bit of depth, and the game forces players to work together in order to succeed, so playing with random people is usually pretty fun. There is a lot of customization with augmentations, weapon and research upgrades, and a whole bunch of achievements - there is also the ability toExcellent co-op, which melds the best parts from other shooters into a cohesive whole. The combat has quite a bit of depth, and the game forces players to work together in order to succeed, so playing with random people is usually pretty fun. There is a lot of customization with augmentations, weapon and research upgrades, and a whole bunch of achievements - there is also the ability to create your own clan or syndicate. The enemies are varied, and mini-bosses require the use of your mass effect style powers to defeat, plus a whole lot of coordination with your team. The game gets drastically more difficult as you raise the difficulty setting for missions, which adds to the replay value, and gives you more of a challenge when you max out your character. As for the amount of content: It would have been nice to have a bit more maps, or at least some variations of game types (I can't help but think that the time & resources put into the campaign would have been better spent on putting more into the online part) - I was able to reach level 20 (I believe the lvl cap is 40), complete all maps multiple times, and complete 50% of all research and augmentations in less than 6 hours. There are some pretty serious bugs I have encountered where I have clipped through level geometry and gotten stuck, forcing me to quit the game session. Some matches can be quite laggy, due to the p2p co-op, and people with crap connections hosting games.

    The campaign is fun but extremely short and has no real replay, so I would not recommend the game just for the single-player which pales in comparison to the online part. The longevity of the online community remains to be seen, as I imagine many will stop playing once ME3 comes out, so it may become hard to find matches in the near future - but as of release there are plenty of people playing.    … Expand
  25. yesbox
    Feb 23, 2012
    10
    A great sci-fi game with crisp graphics and AD, impressive sound and a weaponry to die for. The single player campaign is engaging, although somewhat short but the real treasure is the separate 4 player co-op. Unforgiving, thrilling and lots and lots of fun for hour upon hour. So if you haven't got it yet; get it and rip some chips!
  26. Kaelor
    Mar 1, 2012
    8
    smooth like a butter graphics with fun to shoot game mechanic. Even though the game is fairly short Syndicate has amazing visual worth seeing. the only weird thing is game on hard difficulty is not actually hard at all. I guess they have to tweak enemies on Hard difficulty because it doesn't make me satisfied.
  27. aqurban
    Mar 10, 2012
    9
    For one thing, Syndicate can greatly impress players for what its worth of unique art, other gameplay aspects such as gun play, graphics, narrative and character progression, feels just in place as it doesn't really deliver what we've hoped for since its announcement. Coop in the other hand, is a completely different and much more fun part of the whole package, with it being a return toFor one thing, Syndicate can greatly impress players for what its worth of unique art, other gameplay aspects such as gun play, graphics, narrative and character progression, feels just in place as it doesn't really deliver what we've hoped for since its announcement. Coop in the other hand, is a completely different and much more fun part of the whole package, with it being a return to the original Syndicate agents. Hopefully, EA would think like 2K, in "remaking" it instead of just this lacking reboot.… Expand
  28. 410MaXiMuS
    Mar 12, 2012
    9
    Syndicate is a very fresh take on online co-op. It does include a solid single player story campaign, but the 4-player cooperateive multiplayer is where this one shines.

    This game and Binary Domain are the early sleeper hits of 2012.
  29. Villesspelstuga
    Mar 1, 2012
    10
    This is a fantastic game. The coop really stands out. Lovely cyberpunk graphics. The "breaching" makes the game stand out and all I want to do is play more so I can level up and develop new breaching features and hard core weapons! It´s a 10!
  30. not2nerdydotcom
    Mar 6, 2012
    8
    I think that Syndicate is a good game if you like sci fiction stories similar to games like Deus Ex or movies like the Matrix, Equilibrium , or Blade Runner. I found myself really immersed in this world and the characters. The co-op mode is unique experience unmatched in the market. Unfortunately thanks to balance issues in the single player campaign and the technical difficulties in theI think that Syndicate is a good game if you like sci fiction stories similar to games like Deus Ex or movies like the Matrix, Equilibrium , or Blade Runner. I found myself really immersed in this world and the characters. The co-op mode is unique experience unmatched in the market. Unfortunately thanks to balance issues in the single player campaign and the technical difficulties in the co -op mode, these shortcomings keep Syndicate from being a great game to only a good one.… Expand
  31. NeoMorph
    Mar 7, 2012
    9
    I hated this game at first, what with the over-bright environments and strangely awkward cover system. The storyline seemed a bit thin too.

    So what changed? I started playing Co-Op with friends I made in the game... and enjoyed it immensely. I even re-did the campaign on hard mode where I nearly failed on easy after playing Co-Op on Expert. The game is actually LOADS of fun if you play    I hated this game at first, what with the over-bright environments and strangely awkward cover system. The storyline seemed a bit thin too.

    So what changed?

    I started playing Co-Op with friends I made in the game... and enjoyed it immensely. I even re-did the campaign on hard mode where I nearly failed on easy after playing Co-Op on Expert. The game is actually LOADS of fun if you play on expert and have a good team... the heart starts pounding when you are the last man standing because you NEED your team and trying to resurrect them while being chased by hordes of enemy agents is hard but loads of fun.

    So why no 10/10 - Well those bright lights still are painful but the biggest point loss is the random crashes in multiplayer. Hopefully a patch will sort that out.    … Expand
  32. SteamConvert
    Apr 4, 2012
    9
    What a great surprise this game it. After Fallout, Skyrim, DX:HR and Arkham City I almost forgot what a shooter was. This reminded me of Half Life a bit and why set piece shooters can be fun. PROS: The best shooting controls in a 360 game, almost fooled me into thinking I was using a mouse (but not quite). Great graphics and presentation. Ok story with some good writing. Very funWhat a great surprise this game it. After Fallout, Skyrim, DX:HR and Arkham City I almost forgot what a shooter was. This reminded me of Half Life a bit and why set piece shooters can be fun. PROS: The best shooting controls in a 360 game, almost fooled me into thinking I was using a mouse (but not quite). Great graphics and presentation. Ok story with some good writing. Very fun and deep multi. CONS: The controller is not remappable and the location of the sprint button (left stick click) is hideous, borderline unuseable and it makes action movie moments tough to pull off...which is a shame given the accurate shooting and excellent cover mechanics. On screen prompts for events are so small they're impossible to make out. Menus are also tough to navigate without pressing your face against the TV.… Expand
  33. battleTerror
    Mar 5, 2014
    9
    There's something you need to know straight away: Syndicate has the best flame thrower ever in a videogame. In fact all the weapons are superb and it's perhaps the games greatest strength. I bought this a few years ago and unfortunately there were so many other good games released around the same time that it's taken me this long to finally finish the campaign. It's a shame because there'sThere's something you need to know straight away: Syndicate has the best flame thrower ever in a videogame. In fact all the weapons are superb and it's perhaps the games greatest strength. I bought this a few years ago and unfortunately there were so many other good games released around the same time that it's taken me this long to finally finish the campaign. It's a shame because there's alot of quality in Syndicate even if it's sci-fi stylings are not quite in the top tier. However, considering that Starbreeze is a relatively small developer the game punches far above it's weight in the genre. It certainly doesn't deserve to be dismissed as 'derivative' by the press and critics. The story is anaemic but who the hell cares. Brian Cox voices the bad guy so what more do you want? If action is what you came for it's here in spades and refreshingly different from a COD title, with some nice twists via a slick interface that facilitates its 'breaching' gameplay. Breaching allows you to lock on to an enemy and hack its assets in real time for strategic advantages, and it's nuanced enough that you often feel compelled to replay certain areas with different strategies. To top it off the sound is truly phenomenal. High recommended for action fans and if there's ever a sequel sign me up.… Expand
  34. Mogwai76
    Feb 28, 2012
    10
    So a reboot of a classic. And a good one. I have put in well over 30 hours now and i am enjoy myself greatly, Starbreeze has delivered once again. I could go into the whole "Why did EA make an FPS" and rate the game down, but what's the point of that? In the end i can only judge the game based on what it is. And what it is, is another solid FPS game from Starbreeze, not a run of the millSo a reboot of a classic. And a good one. I have put in well over 30 hours now and i am enjoy myself greatly, Starbreeze has delivered once again. I could go into the whole "Why did EA make an FPS" and rate the game down, but what's the point of that? In the end i can only judge the game based on what it is. And what it is, is another solid FPS game from Starbreeze, not a run of the mill 50th iteration of an EA franchise. Graphically the game is crisp (if i bit heavy on the bloom) but you can see that the old Starbreeze engine is nearing it's end, or should in any case. Still, the game is presented at a lovely framerate and at the speed at which you play it, what presents itself visually is brilliant. A great depiction of the have and have nots in the future, with clear and distinct visual differences. Characters in particular stand out, with the main plot cast having superb modelling. Audio wise the game is also very strong. Moody ambient audio, stunning soundtrack and probably what amouns to the best sounding guns on the current gen. In terms of gameplay the single player is not the most innovative product out there, but it's a solid and fun shooter with a few tists and turns. Breaching certainly sets it apart. This fun mechanic really adds another layer of depth to the game and certainly increases replay value of the single player alone, as you try to come up with different solutions to any given scenario. But where the game really shines is the co-op campaign. Action at breakneck speed at partially VERY hard difficulty that really requires team work to succeed. Starbreeze has not been known to treat any kind of multiplayer with a lot of love in previous games, but they certainly have done that here. Initially i was worried that i could only play this with friends, but even with randoms the game is fun and deep. Unlocks, progression and upgrading your agent make sense and i often get that "oh just one more upgrade" feeling which keeps me playing. If you like shooters get it, it's worth it. If like co-op shooters (particularly with some friends) then you MUST get it.… Expand
  35. FatherDoom
    Jul 14, 2012
    9
    As far as ratings go Syndicate was surely under rated. The real star is the graphics. A setting for glowiness, I guess, would have been nice, but might have taken away from immersion. While I am not a fan of Boss fights the different arena style levels more then makes up for it. Great game.
  36. DarkDjango
    Aug 20, 2012
    8
    This game fulfilled my 90's cyberpunk teenage itch. Being a teenager in the 90's I was a big fan of the original Syndicate game and it's expansion, American Revolution. This was the early days of the cyberpunk genre and although many games have filled the genre well since then I've always had a soft spot for Syndicate. Although this game is a big departure from the original it stillThis game fulfilled my 90's cyberpunk teenage itch. Being a teenager in the 90's I was a big fan of the original Syndicate game and it's expansion, American Revolution. This was the early days of the cyberpunk genre and although many games have filled the genre well since then I've always had a soft spot for Syndicate. Although this game is a big departure from the original it still maintains a feel of the Syndicate world and is a fun, great-looking game though much too short. I feel that this game had much more potential to expand it's mechanics (Deus Ex!) and the potential for a new rebooted franchise but unfortunately due to poor advertising and constraints by EA I think this is the end for the Syndicate franchise. It's a very fun game with great graphics/environments and much attention to weapon detail. It's worth playing now that it is available at a discounted price. There isn't much replayability (no new game plus option) but the ride is very fun while it lasts!… Expand
  37. He_Never_Helps
    Sep 27, 2014
    8
    First off, there are so many potential drinking games in Syndicate that i'm shocked it's not the all time favorite 1player FPS on college campuses. Especially since a college education makes the real-world parallels and references in this, and most modern games, so much more entertaining.

    Also, because i dearly love you grammar-challenged freaks of mine, i also feel obliged to mention    First off, there are so many potential drinking games in Syndicate that i'm shocked it's not the all time favorite 1player FPS on college campuses. Especially since a college education makes the real-world parallels and references in this, and most modern games, so much more entertaining.

    Also, because i dearly love you grammar-challenged freaks of mine, i also feel obliged to mention that this is not the same Starbreeze that made the Riddick games or the first Darkness. Same brand name, different people.

    if i've got the story straight, the majority of the original swedish Riddick/Darkness team left to form MachineGames (which now belongs to Bethesda, which is promising, A riddick/fallout meld could be very special indeed), who most recently made the most recent Wolfenstein. The New Order. I also heard that some of the team took a cashhat from 505 and are since responsible for the remarkable (and very swedish) Brothers.

    (Now, a very quick Darkness tip for Halo-Fan and everyone else who's ever complained about the controls in the darkness:

    Having trouble eating hearts on the fly? Here's the trick. Don't aim at the victim. just rock on over him while giving w/a few quick taps of the *NOM Nom nom* button and your toothiest phallic appendages will auto-nom those hearts. Darkness is one of my favorite games (and i'm really not into FPS unless the story absolutely owns me), and the only complaints i've ever heard are either about quirky control things, all of which prove easily adapted to once u suss out the trick to it (which is usually super-instinctive, suggesting that the problem run & Gunners are having is an hyper-familiarity w/the controls of other shooter which mostly require that you point your gun at everything to interact w/anything) and some furrow-yer-brow & roll-yer-eyes complaints like "there's too much reading/talking/walking and not enough aimless murdering of anonymous bipeds"...)

    The impotant thing to note is that starbreeze has always done something rather akin to what Ninja Theory does. They take action games and give them the story of a well-paced RPG,

    In that sense, Syndicate is true to the Riddick vision. And if you enjoy a well executed codex, the story is deep and broad. If you don't like reading (wether u ignore the codex or not) you'll likely find the story confusing or, at best, thin. But it's not. Not really.

    it rather reminds me of the initial media response to the ending of Assassin's Creed one. If you hack(ed) all the computers and stole all the keycards and enjoy an old fashioned pen and paper word/math puzzle (or have the presence of mind to look up the answers and translations on YouGooglPedia), and have a basic working knowledge of human history, AC1 has one of the most satisfying cliffhanger endings...ever, really. Even better than Back to the Future 2.

    -_-'

    But if you're reviewing on a deadline, or just not terribly curious or clever, it can appear to have no ending at all, beyond some gibberish written in meta-magical subject 16 blood. That's IF u think to hit Y after the credits.

    It's not gibberish.

    It's fkn COOL. Several games worth of foreshadowing, and a mention of Yona Guni. Look that up if u wanna get excited about the future of AC. Eventually they gotta go far east, right? Ninja v. Samurai anyone?

    OK. I digress, and wildly.

    I like Synidicate. I really do.

    Normally, an FPS won't keep my attention past the first 90min unless it goes the way of Deus Ex or FarCry3 or The Darkness; Lots of story, lots of atmosphere, and at least some exploration and interaction.

    Syndicate circumvents my prerequisites by giving me as much backstory as i want to read, being really satisfying, and being perfectly visceral. It's just...nice to play. There's a tale being told in a very Starbreeze sorta way (for which i commend them, not actually being Starbreeze). People compare it to Deus Ex, and that similarity is there. It also shares some visual cues w/watchdogs.

    In a way, it reminds me of FEAR. Not for any specific tangible reason, it's mostly a feeling, based on good AI and how the pacing of the story gives me that possessed, "One more checkpoint" and then "okay, one more and then i'll..." and then "my eyes hurt. This is the last checkpoint." and then "Ohh, pretty new scenery...i'll just have a peek"...

    ...and then u look up and the game is cleared and it's 3pm two days later.

    Plus, Cyber-Punk is just...groovy, man. Like, "I totally smoked a doob w/William Gibson & Neal Stephenson" groovy.

    But If you think Crysis3 and Halo3 are the be all and end all of gaming perfection, you're probaly better off w/something else. The draft, for example,

    Highly recommended for the FPS averse who want some striking, playable, clever FPS action in between replays Resonance of Fate (along w/Nier, the most underrated JRPG of the generation) and Assassin's Creed...19, this game should entertain, Especially @ $10 on XBL.

    Gotta love them one-day XBL sales.

    I hope this is useful.    … Expand
  38. Samanosuke0
    Jan 17, 2016
    8
    Syndicate is a innovate game with a excellent gameplay. The ambiance of the game is one of the best already done in the videogame history. You can fell inside the world in 2069. How immersive this game is! The history is "good", with a narrative different. Many people didnt like the way that the history is tell, but i think a great point (and a lack of reading books to this people). If youSyndicate is a innovate game with a excellent gameplay. The ambiance of the game is one of the best already done in the videogame history. You can fell inside the world in 2069. How immersive this game is! The history is "good", with a narrative different. Many people didnt like the way that the history is tell, but i think a great point (and a lack of reading books to this people). If you think that the main character (Kilo) is mute (he is really mute, he was muted to say the truth) it's surprising how was interesting to see the chars batlling intellectualizedaround you. The coolest point of the game is the co-op multiplayer. There are many types of innovative weapons, tons of skills, and skill tree. Very, very, very, very fun! Worthy to play twice!… Expand
  39. eva3si0n
    Jun 18, 2023
    8
    Syndicate is not a bad first-person shooter from Starbreeze. Syndicate is an example of how you can have an excellent development team and idea, but not realize the potential. Syndicate is an excellent corridor shooter that has the rudiments of gameplay of more modern games. But all this lasts 3.5 hours, the characters are almost unscribed and the setting is almost undisclosed. Either EASyndicate is not a bad first-person shooter from Starbreeze. Syndicate is an example of how you can have an excellent development team and idea, but not realize the potential. Syndicate is an excellent corridor shooter that has the rudiments of gameplay of more modern games. But all this lasts 3.5 hours, the characters are almost unscribed and the setting is almost undisclosed. Either EA allocated such a small budget, or Syndicate was originally designed as a B-project. Syndicate has already forgotten everything. Speaking about cyberpunk in the early 2010s, no one will remember her after Deus Ex Human Revoluton and it's a pity. Starbreeze has been unlucky throughout the history of the studio, but it was possible to make an excellent franchise from Syndicate.… Expand
  40. Roberty
    Jul 8, 2019
    10
    I love this syndicate casino. I've been playing here for over a year now. This is a proven online syndicate casino that has many interesting games and the ability to make real money. Meni never had problems. I always get money without problems. It's enough for me to play a few hours a day to double my budget. I am satisfied, I will continue to play here and recommend it to everyone. ThereI love this syndicate casino. I've been playing here for over a year now. This is a proven online syndicate casino that has many interesting games and the ability to make real money. Meni never had problems. I always get money without problems. It's enough for me to play a few hours a day to double my budget. I am satisfied, I will continue to play here and recommend it to everyone. There is nothing difficult, just register on the site and choose the right game for yourself and then how lucky.… Expand
  41. Lerder5
    Jul 4, 2019
    10
    My family moved to Germany. Finally Hurray, Hurray, Hurray. For those who follow my post who already know. That I'm a big lover of casinos, especially the online version. My husband carried out an investigation and found on line casino Germany syndicate casino This game was recommended to him by an old German gingerbread player, who plays himself in this casino again and again. OurMy family moved to Germany. Finally Hurray, Hurray, Hurray. For those who follow my post who already know. That I'm a big lover of casinos, especially the online version. My husband carried out an investigation and found on line casino Germany syndicate casino This game was recommended to him by an old German gingerbread player, who plays himself in this casino again and again. Our evening is not without gatherings in a tight circle for this game. And one of you has discovered German culture and novelties?… Expand

Awards & Rankings

98
#98 Best Xbox 360 Game of 2012
39
#39 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2012
25
#25 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2012

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
74

Mixed or average reviews - based on 65 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 40 out of 65
  2. Mixed: 24 out of 65
  3. Negative: 1 out of 65
  1. Armchair Empire
    May 13, 2012
    80
    The game doesn't create a massive fissure in the first-person shooter genre, but the DART and breach systems do add some cool wrinkles to an otherwise straightforward experience with some of the best gun play I've had in recent memory.
    Read full review
  2. Xbox World Australia
    May 6, 2012
    85
    Syndicate is an excellent shooter that does a lot of things right in the gameplay department. A fun combination of excellent gunplay combined with an okay range of abilities and powers and some well put together melee moves makes the game a mixed bag that never gets too old.
    Read full review
  3. Gamer.nl
    May 5, 2012
    70
    Syndicate shows a lot of potential, but never seems to come out of its shell. For that, it just feels all too familiar. It delivers on a delightful atmosphere though, and the coöp mode will keep players busy for a couple of intense hours. A fine snack, but definitely not the cult classic the old Syndicate was.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »