Syndicate

Game review

Syndicate is a classic tactical strategy from an isometric perspective.  The game takes place in the (not so) distant future, where the world is ruled by a handful of global corporations (syndicates). You are the marketing director (assassin) for one of these companies. Your job is to take control of the competition. You perform various missions - from silent infiltration to the mission of searching and destroying. You will lead a team of four agents as they move around the world and shoot at everything in their path. You can upgrade and modify your agents, as well as equip them with tools you have researched or liberated from opposing syndicates. As you complete missions, you gain more funds to use for purchasing agents or researching upgrades and equipment. The game takes place mostly in cities and inside buildings. Cities are full of people, robot guards, and vehicles that you can use yourself. The music and sounds complement the cyberpunk atmosphere of the game world.

Gameplay of Syndicate involves ordering a one to four-person team of cyborg agents around cities displayed in a fixed-view isometric style, in pursuit of mission goals such as assassinating executives of a rival syndicate, rescuing captured allies, "persuading" civilians and scientists to join the player's company or killing all enemy agents.

As the player progresses through the game, they must manage the research and development of new weaponry and cyborg upgrades. The player has limited funds, requiring taxation of the conquered territories. Over-taxed territories may revolt, resulting in the loss of that territory and requiring the replay of that mission. The player begins the game with pistols, progressing through increasingly destructive weaponry that includes Uzis, miniguns, flamethrowers, sniper rifles, time bombs, lasers and the destructive Gauss gun. In addition, the player can use items such as medikits to heal their agents, scanners to locate pedestrians/vehicles and the "Persuadertron" to brainwash the player's targets into blind obedience.