Gallery: We've got news on the Syndicate reboot, and screens of the game in action. But is it a good thing?
Syndicate was a classic of its time. An isometric strategy game set in a dystopian, cyberpunk future, it's considered by many gamers to be an outright classic of the genre. So, it should be great news that the game is getting a makeover, right?
Except, well, the new Syndicate, a 'reinvention' in the words of EA, is going to be a shooter, not a strategy game.
The new Syndicate will be developed by Starbreeze Studios, who worked on the great stealth-action game Chronicles of Riddick. “We are excited to finally reveal what we’ve been working on the past couple years,” says Mikael Nermark, CEO of Starbreeze Studios in EA's announcement. "It's been a great experience working with EA, and an amazing opportunity for us to use our expertise in the first person shooter and action genres to bring back, and reignite, the signature action/espionage gameplay of Syndicate.”
But the shooter angle is a weird one. “Our goal with Syndicate is to provide a challenging action shooter for today’s gamers as well as fans of the original. I’m sure they will enjoy and recognize the legacy that made it such a classic,” says Jeff Gamon, EA Partners Executive Producer. “Fans of the franchise will recognize many weapons and environments in the game, but in a whole new way. The game also provides a separate and deep 4-player co-op mode featuring missions from the original cult classic, which adds another layer of depth to the overall experience.”
Huh. We loved Syndicate back in the day, so it'll be great to see a modern take on the setting, but we just hope it's not lost behind a frenetic shooter facade. The game will be out next year on all platforms. Tell us what you think, and check these screens of the game.
Issue: 137 | June, 2012