Syndicate (1993 video game)

Syndicate
Developer(s)	Bullfrog Productions
Publisher(s)	Electronic Arts
Designer(s)	Sean Cooper
Platform(s)	Amiga, Amiga CD32, PC, Mac, Sega Mega Drive, SNES, 3DO, Atari Jaguar, Acorn Archimedes, NEC PC-9801
Release	1993
Genre(s)	Tactical shooting Real-time tactics
Mode(s)	Single player

Syndicate is an isometric real-time tactical game from Bullfrog Productions created in 1993 by Sean Cooper. It is the first title in the Syndicate series. An expansion pack, Syndicate: American Revolt, and a sequel, Syndicate Wars, have also been released. The original game and expansion pack were re-released together in 1996 as Syndicate Plus.

Gameplay

Syndicate (Acorn Archimedes version)

The game puts the player in charge of a player-named corporation in a gritty near-future cyberpunk-style world. Gameplay involves ordering a 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 simply killing all enemy agents.

As the player progresses through the game, he must manage the research and development of new weaponry and cyborg upgrades. The player has only limited funds, requiring him to tax the conquered territories while ensuring that they are not so over-taxed that they revolt against the player. The player begins the game with simple pistols, progressing through increasingly destructive weaponry that includes Uzis, miniguns, flamethrowers, sniper rifles, time bombs, lasers and the enormously destructive Gauss gun (a rocket launcher). In addition, the player can use items such as medikits to heal his agents, scanners to locate pedestrians and vehicles, and the "Persuadatron" to brainwash the player's targets into blind obedience.

Reception

Syndicate was critically acclaimed on its launch, though its graphic violence provoked some controversy; as COMPUTE! noted, "This isn't a game to use as a morality lesson for the kids — it's bloody, it requires you to be ruthless, and some people may take issue with the use of drugs to control your agents. But it's a ball to play."

Versions

The game first appeared in 1993 on the Commodore Amiga and PC (MS-DOS) and was subsequently ported across to a wide variety of other (mostly console-based) formats. It was released on the PlayStation Portable as part of EA Replay, a compilation of retro games released in the United States on November 7, 2006; this version is a port of the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis version.[1]

Future sequels

In a 2006 interview at the Leipzig Games Convention for Gamespot, Peter Molyneux said that he would like to revisit some of his old efforts, but adds that it is very unlikely that will happen. But Molyneux makes one possible exception: "Aside from the licensing complications, some sort of next-gen online version of Syndicate would certainly be popular with gamers."

External links

• Syndicate at MobyGames
• Syndicate at GameSpot
• deSyndicate - A collaborative effort to decode Syndicate data files
• FreeSynd is a reimplementation of the classic Bullfrog game, Syndicate
• Syndicate series unofficial fan site