View Full Version : Syndicate Returns!
Mr Majestik
20-10-2008, 12:03
From C&VG...
EA is set to reveal a brand new entry in Bullfrog's cult classic Syndicate series, CVG has been told.
Cast your mind back to when Starbreeze struck that deal with EA to resurrect one of the publisher's "classic franchises" and Syndicate was hotly tipped. Starbreeze definitely sounds like a good fit for the gritty cyberpunk universe as well.
No more details were offered by our secret agent, but to see a current-gen remake of the PC and PSOne RTS - which still has a cherished place in many a veteran gamer's heart - would no doubt please many.
In case you're wondering what we're on about, the original Syndicate was released in 1993 and later followed up in 1996 by Syndicate Wars.
The game put players in charge of a militant global corporation, and tasked them with leading cyborg agents around a gritty cyberpunk world rescuing captured allies and assassinating rival syndicate executives. It was awesome.
We'll let you know if our deepthroats are on the money. In the meantime, which genre would you like to see a modern day Syndicate sliced into?
Please be good, Please be good, Please be good, Please be good, Please be good...
Was it Syndicate Wars where you kept hearing "Move Along"?
Sure was - classic games they were
So is the money on a overhead Real Time Strategy type game or are we talking about 3rd person run in with te authorities and it being a GTA-clone. Now that EA have given up trying to gain control of Take 2 my money is on the latter.
internetuser
20-10-2008, 12:31
Hope its good, but I am sure the PSOne version was pants...
The amiga version were amazing.
Mr Majestik
20-10-2008, 12:37
So is the money on a overhead Real Time Strategy type game or are we talking about 3rd person run in with te authorities and it being a GTA-clone. Now that EA have given up trying to gain control of Take 2 my money is on the latter.
A sci-fi GTA just might work. I can guarantee it won't be isometric like the old PC/Amiga game sadly.
Yep fond memories of playing the Amiga version :notworthy
Just hope they keep it as near to the original as possible.
GAmbrose
20-10-2008, 12:42
The Original was good, I hated the sequel.
Gary A
Mr Majestik
20-10-2008, 12:51
Just hope they keep it as near to the original as possible.
If we don't get people running around on fire they will be trouble.
SpaceCoyote
20-10-2008, 13:26
I remember playing this on the Amiga - got into some great battles, firing a rail gun (from memory) at everything that moved.
I remember playing this on the Amiga - got into some great battles, firing a rail gun (from memory) at everything that moved.
There was a gauss gun, maybe there was a rail-gun as well?
And was it the persuadatron? Used to have an army of civilians as cannon fodder :D
Loved it!
ShakeyJake
20-10-2008, 13:41
I hope this means they might revive Dungeon Keeper too
I really liked Syndicate Wars, loved how you could level all the buildings (if you had enough fire power) :D
SpaceCoyote
20-10-2008, 14:28
There was a gauss gun
Yep that was it.
The Persuadatron - fantastic - brings back so many memories.
Bloody hell, that was 15 years ago.
Praise the lord, I've written several times to Digitiser/Gamecentral on ch4 begging for someone to do a new version :D
internetuser
20-10-2008, 14:48
The rail gun, flame thrower and rocket launcher hand them all running in fear.
I spent ages doing all 50 levels on the original one.
Then life got in the way....
AKPiggott
20-10-2008, 15:45
Whatever happened to Bullfrog? Did EA just buy them up? Was Peter Molyneaux part of them or did I dream that up?
I hope this means they might revive Dungeon Keeper too
Hmmm... that'll be good. Only ever played Dungeon Keeper once, but it was a single 72-hour sitting. :D
degeneration
20-10-2008, 15:46
Old Petey went on to form Lionhead, but yes, he was with Bullfrog, in fact he produced Syndicate.
Old Petey went on to form Lionhead, but yes, he was with Bullfrog, in fact he produced Syndicate.
He's also stated on more than one occasion how he'd love to go back and make another Syndicate game as well as he loved making the original. Though of course he wouldn't get to use the name etc
They could ideally use the Dead Space engine to make it too, would look fantastic.
alphatyrant
20-10-2008, 16:52
Never played Syndicate, but Wars was great...the Persuadertron was an awesome gadget and the Cataclysm grenade could level buildings.
AKPiggott
20-10-2008, 18:13
Old Petey went on to form Lionhead, but yes, he was with Bullfrog, in fact he produced Syndicate.
Thought as much, I already knew he formed Lionhead though. :)
Bloody EA though, they bought Maxis too. Though unlike Petey, Willy turned to the dark side.
He's also stated on more than one occasion how he'd love to go back and make another Syndicate game as well as he loved making the original. Though of course he wouldn't get to use the name etc
Didn't something like that also happen with Sid Meier and Civilization?
Best news I've heard all year!
I still play the original on the Amiga via an emulator about once a week or so - it's BLOODY tough (The Atlantic Accelerator mission being a particular git IIRC)
I didn't enjoy Wars as much, but I might see if I can dig the CD out of the loft and give it another go
Also, more Dungeon Keeper please!
KeyserSoze
20-10-2008, 21:40
Aawww one of the first PC games I had bought.
Loved the intro in Wars. The game had a cool engine but gameplay just wasn't as good as the original.
kiran_mk2
20-10-2008, 21:42
Syndicate wars was ahead of its time - the engine couldn't live up to the ideas and it was rushed - you should have been able to control the unguided as well as Eurocorp and the Church. In VGA you couldn't see much and SVGA was too demanding for most PCs in the day.
WeaselFierce
21-10-2008, 08:49
Just hope they manage to retain the scale of destruction within the cities! Great news. :thumbs:
Syndicate wars was ahead of its time - the engine couldn't live up to the ideas and it was rushed - you should have been able to control the unguided as well as Eurocorp and the Church. In VGA you couldn't see much and SVGA was too demanding for most PCs in the day.
Agreed, It was one hell of an engine in it's time. Destroy pretty much any building, free roaming pedestrians, traffic, weather all made for great stuff..
A follow up could be good.. I just hope they don't 're-work' the idea into some other *******ised form.
Best news I've heard all year!
Best.News.Evah!!!!1111 :clap::clap:
I'd settle for a remake of the original with slightly better graphics and an xbox-live mode. If my copy wasn't on floppies, I'd be playing it to this day.
Maybe they could do that and release it as a bonus or as a downloadable game. It's the sort of thing that's made for the Wii, very similar to Pikmin now I think about it! Kind of how pikmin would be if Rockstar had made it.
They could do some kind of clan war thing online where you'd go around recruiting people to your "clan" and you'd take on other clans for control of a world map.
If we don't get people running around on fire they will be trouble.
Haven't played this in a looooong time, but I seem to recall there was a level where the streets were lined with civilians due to some parade or something - letting leash on them with the flamethrower was awesome!
Also didn't the burned bodies turn into ash when they died? Or am I thinking of something else?
cmgarrod
22-10-2008, 21:50
If you're nostalgic FreeSynd might be of interest: http://sourceforge.net/projects/freesynd/
Works in XP.
llololloy
23-10-2008, 09:42
I really hope they keep the same style and just upgrade the engine/physics/AI...
If they make it 1st/3rd person it'll be a different game, but a fully zoomable rotational isometric style view should keep controls simple but still provide current gen visuals.
And yeah, flame throwering civilians was ace, though I think on the a1200 it used to run too fast and the people burn't out in about a second. Worked better on the a500.
Didn't even think the psx was out when sydicate was released, can't imagine it controlled well on a pad.
Never saw it on the PC either.
I loved the PS1 version of syndicate wars, even though it took a degree to work out how to play it with the pad. If they can keep the mood and style of the game, they've got a winner. The music was amazing, really atmospheric.
I think we'll end up with a sci fi GTA-lite, mind.
I might try and get it for the PS3, actually....I suppose it would work..
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/6iODa7x669Y&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/6iODa7x669Y&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
I thought the intro to the PC version was one of the greatest things I'd seen at the time.
I still get the shivers when the music all kicks off:
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/kGvIrf86g4Y&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/kGvIrf86g4Y&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
If they can capture just half the mood/style of this, then they're on to a winner.
VintageWhino
23-10-2008, 13:59
ooh this is great news was an excellent franchise back in the day!
Bad news everybody, there's a 50% chance the new syndicate has been cancelled. On the bright side there's a 50% chance a Bourne Identity game has been cancelled to concentrate on Syndicate!
http://kotaku.com/5500103/electronic-arts-may-have-just-killed-the-new-syndicate-or-its-bourne-game
WeaselFierce
24-03-2010, 05:50
Maybe they're working on The Bourne Syndicate now...? :shrug:
WildWayz
24-03-2010, 05:59
Hmmm i seem to remember an interview with Peter Molyneux saying that Syndicate / Populous would never get made as there are too many complicated legal issues between old Bullfrog and EA...
Moldiver
11-09-2011, 07:57
Still happening:
http://kotaku.com/5839046/the-syndicate-reboot-is-real-first-details-leak-out-of-ea
Looks like they've done away with the whole squad command thing though :|
While the original Syndicate was a real-time tactical game played from an isometric view, the new Syndicate is—unsurprisingly—a "visceral first-person shooter experience,"
:oh-hum:
From the rest of the article, sounds like Deus Ex with bullet time, so not Syndicate at all then.
WeaselFierce
11-09-2011, 09:10
The 4-player coop bit sounds good. Hope they have the same level of destruction and carnage on city streets from the originals at least. :)
While the original Syndicate was a real-time tactical game played from an isometric view, the new Syndicate is—unsurprisingly—a "visceral first-person shooter experience,"
So it's not Syndicate, then. How disappointing. :(
Hang about, isn't this almost exactly the same bloody thing that happened to UFO: Enemy Unknown?
Thaedius
11-09-2011, 09:34
Yup :(
What's next, a FPS version of Speedball 2? :suspect:
BlueDwarf
11-09-2011, 09:52
Lost all interest now it's a fps.
Oo a fps! Not seen one of those for ages. ffs.
internetuser
11-09-2011, 10:44
Think I will leave. My thoughts of syndicate back with Rose tinted glasses.
richie-t
11-09-2011, 11:24
what a crock of ****. Syndicate wars was awesome on the ps1, had many many great hours on that. Co-op too!
internetuser
11-09-2011, 11:43
Amiga was were it was at ! Console versions were not a patch on it.
EA have so many classic titles that are way overdue for a re-make.
internetuser
11-09-2011, 21:19
I think it's more ea have bought so many classic titles due a remake.
Syndicate was always EA. They used to publish some fantastic games back then. Little Big Adventure, Magic Carpet, Syndicate, Road Rash, Desert Strike etc
So it's not Syndicate, then. How disappointing.
Apparently not :( I wish companies wouldn't do this. If you're going to make a game that has nothing to do with an existing game, don't name it after the existing game. Why call this syndicate at all? The syndicate fans aren't going to want this just becuase it's called syndicate and non-fans aren't going to care if you call it Trevor in trouble III. Unless it has something in common with the original you're only going to disappoint some people
dco_chris
11-09-2011, 22:58
From the rest of the article, sounds like Deus Ex with bullet time, so not Syndicate at all then.
I hope I'm wrong but I fear it may be like Deus Ex in look only. There are no mentions of RPG elements and it just sounds like a sci fi shooter with bullet time and x-ray vision. It might turn out good, but it's not Syndicate.
EA have so many classic titles that are way overdue for a re-make.
Yep, we could have:
Desert Strike - Featuring gritty and intense FPS action set in the Gulf!
Wing Commander - A third person shooter with a lone marine fighting off an invasion of Earth by the evil Kilrathi!
Road Rash - An FPS where you fight rival biker gangs, with occasional free roaming moterbike sequences!
I'm sorry, I'd love to see remakes of a lot of old games but the big publishers seem so averse to developing anything outside of one or two currently popular genres that I wouldn't trust them to remake anything at the moment. FPSs can be great games, but does everything really have to be an FPS?
nutter45
12-09-2011, 05:54
Saw this thread and got excited for an all to brief moment :(
I'm sorry, I'd love to see remakes of a lot of old games but the big publishers seem so averse to developing anything outside of one or two currently popular genres that I wouldn't trust them to remake anything at the moment. FPSs can be great games, but does everything really have to be an FPS?
It's all dummed down for consoles :(
fivebyfive
12-09-2011, 19:23
I understand why they are aiming at the mass market but its a shame as a modern FPS is not really syndicate. Its not like there is any games like the old style game. The trouble is there is gamers who want every game to be a plain, by the numbers shooter
Oh god. First X-Com, now Syndicate. There are dozens of very good FPS games.
Someone please make a modern, big budget tactical game! Even just one. That's not too much ask is it? You'd have no competition.
BigDavie2000
13-09-2011, 15:13
Monkey Island FPS :lol: (http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/09/13/monkey-island-fps-revealed/)
LeftHandedGuitarist
13-09-2011, 16:30
I was bored of FPS games by the time Quake appeared.
To be fair, I am not their target audience at all. But I'm truly baffled as to how all these FPS games get churned out with nothing really different or special about most of them. Actually, I don't even understand why FPS games are even popular. Over the past few years I think I can count on one hand the FPS games which have truly made me sit up and take notice: Dark Forces II: Jedi Knight, Thief (not really an FPS though), Bioshock, Half-Life 2. Maybe Mirror's Edge (though technically it's not a true FPS).
In regards to Syndicate, I did own this game back in the 90s on PC, and as I recall my friends did too. I don't remember ever getting past the first couple of missions though! I don't think I understood it properly, but I loved the atmosphere around it and the way it looked.
Looks alright:
<iframe width="853" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ewwtznVkSxA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Out for Justice
29-09-2011, 14:48
Yeah, looks aiiight
GAmbrose
29-09-2011, 14:56
Deus Ex:HR meets Mirrors Edge meets F.E.A.R?
hookbeak
29-09-2011, 15:13
meh. Not syndicate.
WildWayz
29-09-2011, 15:28
That's exactly what I thought.
It needs to be an isometric pointy-clicky game - not an FPS!
Out for Justice
29-09-2011, 15:35
Evolution, who needs it?
WildWayz
29-09-2011, 15:36
Not when it breaks a great mechanism.
Like Worms... there was NO NEED for Worms 3D.
Same with this :)
And Sonic..
And Mario..
WeaselFierce
29-09-2011, 15:55
At the end of the day though it's whether it's a good game or not that counts. :shrug:
Mr Majestik
29-09-2011, 16:11
Not when it breaks a great mechanism.
Like Worms... there was NO NEED for Worms 3D.
Same with this :)
And Sonic..
And Mario..
Yeah 3D ruined Mario. :nuts:
You could make a really nice version of proper syndicate as an ipad/android game.
daboy3000
29-09-2011, 16:18
Not when it breaks a great mechanism.
Like Worms... there was NO NEED for Worms 3D.
Same with this :)
And Sonic..
And Mario..
Both Worms 3D and Mario 64 were the nuts!
The Bear
29-09-2011, 16:30
Good god I adored Syndicate on the Amiga. Great game!!
I might check out the FPS version. Looks ok. But if you can't upgrade your android that you play as with R&D then it's gonna suck!!
If you're nostalgic FreeSynd might be of interest: http://sourceforge.net/projects/freesynd/
Works in XP.
Boooo. This doesn't work on Win7 in compatibility mode. Anyone got it running?
dco_chris
29-09-2011, 18:33
Evolution, who needs it?
There's nothing wrong with evolution but this is nothing like evolution.
Not when it breaks a great mechanism.
Like Worms... there was NO NEED for Worms 3D.
Same with this :)
And Sonic..
And Mario..
Here's the thing, those games were all evolutions. They built upon their roots and evolved their gameplay while remaining part of their progenitors genres. This does not do that. It throws the original gameplay mechanics in to the trash and follows the popularist root by jumping into the only genre that publishers feel comfortable about funding. Admittedly it looks quite good but it's going to take more than one slick trailer with a remix of the original music to quell my sense of disappointment.
Saw the trailer the other day, I'm still cranky about the fps reboot but it doesn't look terrible. It's all about how they handle the unique weapons to make this thing different from "Generix Shooter #27"
<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/rlPEGsExw0o" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
richie-t
08-10-2011, 10:46
if there isnt a cerberus IFF, 'I'm out'
Paradox are making a syndicate clone more in line with the original games too.
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/09/21/paradox-announce-cartel-interview/
PC only of course :)
fivebyfive
09-10-2011, 09:37
One of the giant bomb staff went to see the game and the section he saw, he said it was good. (its on last tuesday's podcast) You can hack people's brain chips to make them kill themselves :nuts:
I still think they could of made more tactical than its sounding rather than straight up FPS with cyberpunk elements
4 player co-op demo soon:. Cant wait.
<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/hNtxuAz3g_0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
WeaselFierce
17-01-2012, 16:09
4 player co-op demo soon:. Cant wait.
Cool! :thumbs:
WeaselFierce
18-01-2012, 22:22
Some hands on MP footage from the guys over at Gamespot. :)
<iframe width="480" height="310" src="http://uk.gamespot.com/videoembed/6348752&vidSize=480" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe>
Thaedius
20-01-2012, 11:16
Posted in the GoG.com thread, but the original is available (win 7 compatable)
http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/syndicate/
:thumbs:
The Bear
20-01-2012, 23:48
Cheers for that. Loved the original.
Thaedius
21-01-2012, 07:02
Oh yes.
Mini-guns + panic mode + bionics = win!
fivebyfive
24-01-2012, 15:15
31st Jan for the demo (posted on eurogamer)
WeaselFierce
31-01-2012, 18:52
Hmmm. Me quite likey. :thumbs: Not the loveliest graphics and animation but the coop definitely has quite a kinetic feel to it. Reminds me somewhat of BC2's Onslaught mode, pushing your way through enemy lines to your objective. I heartily recommend recoil dampers as your first weapon upgrade. :thumbs:
I went for the red dot sight
I love me some scopes
daboy3000
01-02-2012, 09:23
Seems very solid. Any idea if it is a co-op campaign or just a separate thing like spec ops etc?
The demo is one of 9 coop missions, this is seperate to the single player campaign
The coop has it's own ranking and upgrade system as seen in the demo
I think I may have played this too much, got to the last checkpoint on my own :)
Have unlocked everything for the Tar 39 except the grenade launcher so have started on the sniper rifle and combat shotgun
Chip set wise I'm rank 9 so have 10 upgraded chips, mostly the ones that help keep you alive
(you can play alone by choosing private match then just starting the match without inviting anyone in)
So... is it even vaguely like Syndicate then?
Gameplay wise? Not at all
The setting and mood is the same
Although I don't recall Cyberpunk chicks shouting
"Did you see that ******* headshot!?" in the original
:)
Although I don't recall Cyberpunk chicks shouting
"Did you see that ******* headshot!?" in the original
:)
lol! That probably makes it worth a go in any case then. :D
I have now completed the demo alone
Definetly played it too much now then!
WeaselFierce
01-02-2012, 15:41
I have now completed the demo alone
Definetly played it too much now then!
Do you get the option of 3-star difficulty after completing Hard or is that to be looked forward to?
It's not bad actually, worth a rental.
Really? Given it's EA I find that very odd
saying that Crysis 2 managed it
Edit: Right you are
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/co-op-mode-means-no-online-pass-for-syndicate/090617
"Under normal circumstances it would have had an online pass, but because it didn't have competitive multiplayer and because we wanted as many people as possible to be playing co-op, we got away with it," Gamon said
What a crock of ****!
They must have seen the preorder numbers to make this decision as a last resort :lol:
There's a new trailer available at: http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/syndicates-launch-trailer-reminds-us-how-messed-up-the-violence/
It actually looks really good. I'm surprised that there's so little hype for this game. I really enjoyed the demo so I've got this game on pre-order.
WeaselFierce
18-02-2012, 11:14
Quite looking forward to this myself. The hacking mechanic played very intuitively in the coop demo and lends itself to plenty of variety in the single player game.
Just hope it's not another skimpy 4 hour campaign which seems to becoming the norm these days.
richie-t
18-02-2012, 12:42
Looking forward to this, i wonder if they'll have any of the old syndicate sounds in the mix!
WeaselFierce
18-02-2012, 14:18
Like flame-throwered citizens? Ouch!
richie-t
18-02-2012, 16:41
Like flame-throwered citizens? Ouch!
Exactly!
Fairly good reviews coming in for this now - Mainly 70-80%
fivebyfive
21-02-2012, 19:56
reviews popping up now
IGN 7.5
http://uk.xbox360.ign.com/articles/121/1219077p1.html
Syndicate hints at a fantastic puzzle meta-game, but relies on bullets flying to get through every level. Where the story walks a familiar road, the cooperative campaign’s tough-but-fun arcade action makes up for the missteps. Though uneven, Syndicate remains a good shooter full of incomplete great ideas. Grabbing three friends and battling for corporate supremacy online is well worth your time, but don’t expect to be wowed by playing alone.
destructoid 6.5
http://www.destructoid.com/review-syndicate-222216.phtml
It is almost fitting that Syndicate's world revolves around cold steel cities and heartless corporations, because cold and heartless is certainly the feeling one gets after playing. Its sterile environments are clean and spartan by deliberate design, but serve the unintended purpose of personifying Starbreeze's modern reboot to its core. It's a gorgeous game, very easy on the eyes despite the overzealous use of lighting and bloom, but beyond the pretty visuals lies an empty void where its soul should be.
By all means, go out and enjoy Syndicate. You more than likely shall, because it will provide a solid dose of transient entertainment. It is a game you will never need to play, but you won't feel like you wasted your life if you do. It's a videogame about guns that pretends to be something deeper while striving for nothing more. If you keep that in mind, and you're happy to play along, you'll get what you paid for.
But you won't get anything else.
still want to rent it myself
GiantBomb 5/5
http://www.giantbomb.com/syndicate/61-30734/reviews/
Jeff loved it.
fivebyfive
21-02-2012, 20:05
hopefully they will do a quick look
rustybin
21-02-2012, 20:19
Given the lean year we're having, I've ordered this. Looks like it might be fun - at least until ME3 comes out.
As expected the coop upgrading and replayability makes the game, while the single player is pretty short
hopefully they will do a quick look
The quick look (http://www.giantbomb.com/quick-look-syndicate/17-5716/) makes it look quite interesting.
Think I'll start paying attention to this now.
daboy3000
22-02-2012, 12:38
I have lost faith in Giant Bomb after they said how good saints row 3 was, and that sucked.
The Bear
22-02-2012, 12:53
Does this use the same engine as Battlefield 3? It looks very similar.
I have lost faith in Giant Bomb after they said how good saints row 3 was, and that sucked.
Except that it doesn't. ;)
I like Saints Row Third. Except the outdoor parts don't work well on ATI gfx cards - despite it being sponsored by ATI. :'(
fivebyfive
22-02-2012, 16:55
Also liked Saints row the third although too short
on the giantbomb cast they mentioned the troubled production of the game and how a lot of the staff that made past games now work for zeni max (the people own bethedsda)
the QL on giantbomb is well worth watching
Is the co-op demo still available? I can't find it on the dashboard or xbox.com
richie-t
22-02-2012, 20:27
I will await eurogamers 8/10 review before making a decision!
fivebyfive
22-02-2012, 20:36
I will await eurogamers 8/10 review before making a decision!
its 7/10 (they worn out the 8 key) ;)
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-02-21-syndicate-review_4
richie-t
22-02-2012, 21:29
its 7/10 (they worn out the 8 key) ;)
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-02-21-syndicate-review_4
Lol, damn I hadn't even checked out EG, thought it was too early.
I shall have a read...
Out for Justice
23-02-2012, 08:08
Is the co-op demo still available? I can't find it on the dashboard or xbox.com
Use the bing search on the far left of dash.
Don't think it's up anymore, was connecting to EA servers (so it crashes a bloody lot!) so now the game's out they probably removed it
WeaselFierce
23-02-2012, 16:06
Don't think it's up anymore, was connecting to EA servers (so it crashes a bloody lot!) so now the game's out they probably removed it
Yeah, coz since the game is now available to buy why would anyone want to actually try it first? :thinking:
Thing is, despite the crashes, it did make my mind up to purchase.
Out for Justice
23-02-2012, 16:11
Had a dispatch email from SimplyGames yesterday so this might be waiting for me when I get home.
Is it 4 player co-op?
It is, and at first you'll need all 4 :)
WeaselFierce
23-02-2012, 18:18
Tried the first mission (from the demo) on Expert and it really escalates the difficulty! Gonna be fun getting through the lot with friends, I think. :thumbs:
BTW, most importantly, what we gonna call our syndicate...?
rustybin
23-02-2012, 18:44
BTW, most importantly, what we gonna call our syndicate...?
It makes sense (to me) to call it the Rustybin Inc Syndicate. Rolls off the tongue.
Amazon assure me of delivery tomorrow, but I won't be holding my breath.
fivebyfive
23-02-2012, 18:47
good news: got it on rental
Bad news: been sent it on ps3 (as guessing most will be playing on 360 and PC?)
Jimmyboy
23-02-2012, 19:18
I've got the PS3 version coming my way mate, should have it tomorrow.
WeaselFierce
23-02-2012, 19:41
Rolls off the tongue.
Like vomit. :p
fivebyfive
24-02-2012, 08:23
I've got the PS3 version coming my way mate, should have it tomorrow.
ok, see if we can get 2 more forum players as the co-op mode pretty much requires 4 players.
Out for Justice
24-02-2012, 09:05
In need to two players on the xbox version if anyone is interested – I didn’t play the demo so am a complete noobcake.
Edit: Will probably need 3 players tonight.
daboy3000
24-02-2012, 10:12
I read a review that said you can play co-op on your own and it doesn't get harder with the more people that join.
Nope it doesn't
it's just balls to the walls hard from the off :)
How about the Butt hurt Syndicate?
Has a ring to it (oh I kill myself sometimes)
^ Rich you are a comic genius
Nope it doesn't
it's just balls to the walls hard from the off :)
How about the Butt hurt Syndicate?
Has a ring to it (oh I kill myself sometimes)
BHS?
rustybin
24-02-2012, 12:58
Amazon haven't let me down for once. Installing now. I'll be up for co-op later.
fivebyfive
24-02-2012, 13:30
played about half of single player story, its a decent enough shooter although the first boss battle was very dull. The have mostly nailed the look and art style although some levels look dull and generic (warehouse and the lift area)
rustybin
24-02-2012, 15:22
Up to level 3 and it's good. Not amazing, but different enough from your standard shooter to be interesting.
I'm playing on hard and so far it's not too bad - I've died 4-5 times and they were more to do with me getting to grips with the buttons.
It reminds me a little of Singularity and the training parts have got a retro MGS feel to them which is cool.
LouBarlow
24-02-2012, 15:24
It doesn't sound like it has any of the soul of syndicate though. It just makes me want to fire up the original
Jimmyboy
24-02-2012, 15:27
It doesn't sound like it has any of the soul of syndicate though. It just makes me want to fire up the original
Its nothing like the original, its trading off the name when it may as well be a new IP tbh. There's still a pretty decent co-op campaign though.
I'd have prefered a HD remake released on PSN/XBLA really but maybe if this sells well it will generate enough interest to make it happen.
rustybin
24-02-2012, 15:28
It doesn't sound like it has any of the soul of syndicate though. It just makes me want to fire up the original
It hasn't at. It's just another shooter.
I was hoping for some nods to the original in the loading screens or mini-games or something, but nothing so far.
LouBarlow
24-02-2012, 15:33
Lovefilm rental then methinks :(
rustybin
24-02-2012, 15:42
Lovefilm rental then methinks :(
It is good, just nothing special in SP. Co-op is where it's at :)
WeaselFierce
24-02-2012, 15:59
I'd have prefered a HD remake released on PSN/XBLA really but maybe if this sells well it will generate enough interest to make it happen.
I'm surprised they haven't cashed in on this myself.
I dunno, I feel like I should like it but something just keeps making me think "console port" or "budget game".
The controls are a tad icky, eg if you're sprinting and and then strafe, it stops sprinting and the only way to start sprinting again is to stop moving and then start again. Just clunky. The mouse movement seems off; it seems to not move at first and then catches up, again like it's to help joypad users.
There appear to only be three takedown animations. When using a minigun, enemies get ripped in half exactly the same way and I wasn't even sure I was hitting them in the midriff. Most of the other guns so far don't feel very powerful, so I've been meleeing most (and then dying due to the sprint control issue).
Why do we need to tap 'E' (or whatever you bind USE to) to open some doors? Just open it ffs and save me buying a new keyboard. You can still show the animation so it's clear the door wont reopen once through.
Voice acting is good though, and the graphics at 19x12 are pretty enough.
fivebyfive
24-02-2012, 16:06
Its very a much a rental, single player seems like just want to play it once and its very short. Then play a bit of co-op and probably by next week you will never want to play it again. Would love to see a HD re-make of the 1st game, Syndicate wars on the ps1 had some issues iirc
GAmbrose
24-02-2012, 16:31
To be fair, how many people can "Sprint" sideways?
WeaselFierce
24-02-2012, 17:28
To be fair, how many people can "Sprint" sideways?
Steve Crabb. ;)
fivebyfive
26-02-2012, 19:07
Completed it yesterday, single player was ok but waste of the license. It felt like the story was trying to be this epic story but feels tired, cliché and bit pointless.
Surprised it was not frostbite engine, according to DF site its starbreezes' own engine re-worked. The lighting is amazing a lot of the time but sometimes it goes overboard and glares the player.
Its only worth buying if you are going to get stuck into the multi-player
The final coop level on expert is absolutely brutal!!!
I was playing with 3 other guys who were pretty much fully levelled up with all upgrades and it took 106 mins, with all of us going down more times than Paris Hilton in 'let loose' mode
Incredibly hard work but rewarding in the end!
Pro tip: For the missions where you have to pick up and carry things and can only use your pistol, replace your pistol early on with a smg and you can use that instead, loads more ammo and you can use the red dot sight!
Jimmyboy
27-02-2012, 10:06
Its crap though. Generic single player and a half-decent co-op mode that is identical in level design. It would be nice if reviews would take developers to task for releasing FPS clones with no originality. The amount of times I've seen JRPG's shot down for lacking innovation, yet another indistinguishable sci-fi shooter gets a free pass.
A total waste of the licence.
Half decent? I think the coop is fantastic fun
Deep levels of weapon and ability customisation, It plays well, moves at a fast pace and makes teamwork essential
Can't speak for the single player as I didn't buy the game for that
Isn't everything crap for you except Uncharted anyways? :)
Jimmyboy
27-02-2012, 10:25
Uncharted? Didn't you see the trolling accusations I received a while back for daring to suggest that UC2 was over rated?
The prey tell what games do you actually like?
it seems to me you play games just to **** on them!
Out for Justice
27-02-2012, 10:30
Have to agree with JB. Not sure I can be bothered to finish the singleplayer even after paying full price for it. I've played this game a million times before. Hardly anyone on my friends list playing this over the weekend either.
Jimmyboy
27-02-2012, 10:39
The prey tell what games do you actually like?
it seems to me you play games just to **** on them!
Mirror's Edge, Brutal Legend, Skyrim, LA Noire, Demon's Souls, Ico, Vanquish, Lost Odyssey, Valkyria Chronicles, Splinter Cell, The Longest Journey, Shenmue, TrialsHD, Knights of the old Republic, Rival Schools - to name a few that come to mind. I'm sure there are more.
WeaselFierce
27-02-2012, 16:15
I'm with Rich on the MP. It's fantastic. It has a L4D kind of randomizer in there to throw at you mid level spikes at higher difficulties and rankings.
Not too far into SP but I'm finding it enjoyable enough if not outstanding. The breaching mechanic gives it more of a tactical feel than most shooters but I kind of wish they'd developed the whole game as a 4 player team shooter instead.
Out for Justice
27-02-2012, 16:23
HATE HATE HATE having to repeatedly tap ‘X’ to open a door/vent.
I blame Batman personally.
rustybin
27-02-2012, 16:26
I'm with Rich on the MP. It's fantastic. It has a L4D kind of randomizer in there to throw at you mid level spikes at higher difficulties and rankings.
Anyone slagging off the MP hasn't played it properly - It's great.
SP is generic but not at all bad.
I must say, without having played the single player at all yet, the coop is quite wonderful indeed. The thing I love and which makes the game for me, is just how fantastic the guns are. The feel of them, the sound of them, the way they rip people apart. It just makes the act of firing the gun a joy. They are loud, they cause a lot of damage and you really feel like a badass mother ****** tearing people down. I don't really care about the mission objectives but just leading me through a level and letting me shoot them guns is great. Love the small submachine gun (UMK I think it's called), reminds me an awful lot of Killzones Helghast SMG.
Anyway if you're a bit of a lover of FPS guns and don't really mind lack of story in coop the games great fun. I'll try the single player in the next few days.
rustybin
04-03-2012, 09:30
After being completely addicted to SSX for the last 48 hours I tried going back to the SP of this yesterday and lasted 10mins before putting it on ebay.
It really is 'Generic Shooter #1425'. The MP was excellent though - Like a smaller version of Brink except it worked out of the box; but there's not enough there to keep me playing it once ME3 is out.
The thing I love and which makes the game for me, is just how fantastic the guns are. The feel of them, the sound of them, the way they rip people apart. It just makes the act of firing the gun a joy. They are loud, they cause a lot of damage and you really feel like a badass mother ****** tearing people down.
This + Bose Quiet Comfort 3 Headphones = Eargasm :luv:
WeaselFierce
04-03-2012, 11:14
Co-op on this is really where the game hits that Syndicate vibe. It's full on intense ultra-violence. Once you start levelling up and upgrading weaponry it's great fun to ramp up the badassery to 11 and just rampage. Think I've clocked up around 24 hours on that alone. Also gratifying to find a great level of cooperation and teamwork online with randoms. Nice to be throwing out lots of positive feedback to folk for a change.
The SP campaign though is too brief, too slight and never really delivers in the same way. I'm dissapointed you never really get to upgrade very much in SP and since you can't carry over your chip upgrades to a second run or level replay you never get the same feeling of developing your super soldier. Also, the limitation of the set 3 breaches compared to the huge selection in co-op seems stupid. It wouldn't be too bad if there was a wider variety of environmental stuff to hack but there isn't.
All in all, the mechanics are incredibly solid. Controls feels good, visuals (particularly the lighting) are very nice and sound is awesome. I just wish they'd made 4 player co-op the focus of the design. A world map with, say, 30 missions would have been a much more satisfactory package than the rather redundant SP campaign.
Also agree with Shookus on the tapping X ********! FFS! Having to do that for every bloody thing in the game does not make for interactivity!
Been trying to play the co-op demo to see what the game is like, but for some reason wont connect to the servers!. Surely they havent disabled the demo servers now the full game is out???
fivebyfive
04-03-2012, 18:02
Been trying to play the co-op demo to see what the game is like, but for some reason wont connect to the servers!. Surely they havent disabled the demo servers now the full game is out???
Afraid they have
Afraid they have
That is really a rather stupid move, as i was thinking of getting it depending how i like the demo but seeing as i cant even play the demo i wont be bothering with the game!, surely i can be the only potential buyer on the world that hadnt got around to playing the demo before the game came out. They might aswell take if off the marketplace then...if they havent already
WeaselFierce
04-03-2012, 22:41
That is really a rather stupid move, as i was thinking of getting it depending how i like the demo but seeing as i cant even play the demo i wont be bothering with the game!, surely i can be the only potential buyer on the world that hadnt got around to playing the demo before the game came out. They might aswell take if off the marketplace then...if they havent already
Yep. Bloody stupid move. Given Shookus is ranked 29,000 in the world on the coop leaderboards for merely booting it up, I reckon that says it all on the number of people actually playing this.
Finished the single player tonight. Enjoyable stuff even if I didn't care about the story or characters at all. Brian Cox was especially great, he's usually pretty good in videogames, was fantastic in Manhunt.
They really need to use some WD40 on a lot of them doors, half of them are bloody stuck.
Stumbled across a review in The Guardian. This sums it up for me
"However, those with longer memories may argue that rebooting Syndicate as yet another FPS, complete with identikit hero, is a bit like remaking Citizen Kane as a rom-com starring Adam Sandler. For all its multiplayer merits, I'm afraid I'm with the Luddites on this one."
This pretty much says the same thing
<div style='width:650px;font-size: 12px;'><embed src="http://cdn2.themis-media.com/media/global/movies/player/flowplayer.commercial-3.2.7.swf" flashvars="config=http://www.themis-media.com/videos/config/5478-2cc39ae85bd0e8481df9cc3ca86dce04.js%3Fplayer_version%3D2.5%26embed%3D1" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" quality="high" bgcolor="#000000" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.adobe.com/go/getflashplayer" width="650" height="391" wmode="opaque"></embed><div><a href='http://www.escapistmagazine.com'>The Escapist</a> : <a href='http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation'>Zero Punctuation</a> : <a href='/videos/view/zero-punctuation/5478-Syndicate'>Syndicate</a></div></div>
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