Reboots always seem to scare fans of the original. They leave you thinking, “Will one of my favorite games be turned into a pile of trash? Or will the developer actually get it right for once?”
The original “Syndicate” from 1993, much beloved by hard-core gamers, has been hauled into the modern era as a first-person shooter. All of the cyber-punk goodness is still there; and the near-future, corporate espionage plot feels like it was pulled from a Hollywood script. The Hollywood reference stands true on another front: Brian Cox and Rosario Dawson lend their vocal talents, giving their characters some much-needed heft.
As a shooter, “Syndicate” seems to waffle a bit. There are amazing weapons and gameplay, but they come in uneven bursts that are separated by longish sections of plodding along hallways and alleys.
Thankfully the standard machine guns and sniper rifles are joined by a gun that can bend bullets and other fantastic weapons that feel like DARPA had a hand in their crafting. All of these weapons are fun to use, but make you wish you had them for longer periods.
| ‘Syndicate’ |
| » Systems: Xbox 360, PS3 |
| » Price: $59.99 |
| » Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars |
But guns aren’t your only weapon. As an Agent, your character has a microchip stuffed in his skull — making him a supersoldier and an elite hacker. This is employed with the game’s “breach” system. You can
instantly hack into things around you, be they a pesky elevator or even enemy soldiers — forcing them to commit suicide or join your side in the fight.
Sadly, the campaign isn’t very long, and the visuals are hit and miss. Also, “Syndicate” doesn’t do a great job of giving hints on where to go next, and the boss fights come across as awkward.
But all those missteps can be forgiven thanks to an amazing, four-player co-op mode that pits you and your friends against a horde of baddies. Because four supersoldiers is way better than just one.
So come for the nostalgia, and stay for the multiplayer.
