Game review: Syndicate, Remake

Remaking Bullfrog’s 1993 strategy hit Syndicate was always going to be a tall order, especially as developer Starbreeze has decided to turn it into a first-person shooter, straying from the series’ strategic roots.

That said, the studio has done a stellar job of recreating the sci-fi world of corporate espionage and replicant agents locked in a violent turf war.

As special agent Kilo, you are tasked with supporting the ruthless agenda of your parent corporation, and reeling in a defector who threatens to ruin your company’s reputation. Your agent is capable of hacking into the brain chips of enemies, forcing them to commit suicide, or join your side during gun battles.

As you run and gun through the lavishly created futuristic locales, you must repel attackers with a wide range of firearms, chaining kills together to earn adrenaline boosts that fuel your special abilities.

Once you get into the swing of things you can create fast strategies by hacking enemies, overriding security turrets and using your DART 6 brain chip to slow time and see through walls – all in one fast, intense combo chain. Amid the gunfire you must engage in moments of platforming and hacking your way into the headquarters of your rivals.

Dotted throughout the lengthy campaign you will encounter a few tough boss battles that test the skills you’ve learned along the way. With a solid storyline and a fun four-player co-op mode, Syndicate is a fitting tribute to the classic original.

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