The classic dystopian franchise returns
Syndicate does not follow in the footsteps of the 1993 strategy game from which it takes its name. Instead it simply keeps cyberpunk window dressing and ties it into a first person shooter - filled with all the wub-wub base you could hope for.
Its business
Set in dystopian future, where the world encompassing mega-corporation's and Capitalism have taken over, war is now business. This has led to industrial espionage of a violent type, with a focus on the acquisition of corporate secrets and assets by any means necessary.
You take control of the wonderfully named Miles Kilo, who has been upgraded with cybernetic implants that turn him into the perfect human infiltration unit. The pace is fast and frantic throughout, with solid shooting and a good range of suitably sci-fi weapons for you to use while tearing your way through the high-tech world's clean glass and neon environments.
Stop shooting yourself
But it is really Miles's powers that set Syndicate apart. Most notably his upgrades that let you remotely breach different tech from a distance, allowing you to tactically take control of items in the environment – and other chipped combatants – mid-gunfight. This allows you to turn sentry guns on opponents, make enemies' weapons backfire, and even persuade enemies to turn on their own team before shooting themselves in the head.
The co-op play is also brilliant. It has nine multiplayer missions that you can face with up to three friends online. Missions are quite straightforward, but they do come in a range of difficulties which offer plenty of replayability.
Neuro-techno-runner
This overlooked action game is far more fun than people gave it credit for. Add to this a fantastic co-op mode – providing you can talk your friends into playing with you – and you have a gem of a game that I am guessing you probably missed the first time around.
