Retro PC Game Review – Syndicate
Released in 1993 on PC and Amiga, the original Syndicate.
Apr 2, 2009
Set in a cyberpunk future of homogenised cities, hover cars and laser weapons, Syndicate let the player take control of a team of four heavily-armed cyborg agents. These agents – recruited from the civilian populace – were augmented with cybernetic skeletons and organs, as well as carrying an incredibly array of weaponry.
It was a brilliant recipe for the imagination at a young age.
Has Syndicate Stood the Test of Time?
There is no doubt that the squad-based mechanics of Syndicate don’t hold up too well when compared to games of today – there are basic pathfinding issues which are sure to annoy (though they can be overcome with patience). The graphics are dated, the AI is predictable and the game has aged.
But then – it’s 16 years old – that is to be expected.
Even though it falters on some very basic levels, Syndicate manages to keep its head above water with an incredible atmosphere, deep, strategic play and a fantastic, fun challenge. While there isn’t the freedom of choice on display as in something like Grand Theft Auto IV, there was a level of sandbox gameplay the world hadn’t seen before, at least not in this way.
The Freedom of Choice in an Early Sandbox Game
For example, a target is to be assassinated – how does a player get their squad to complete the mission? The choice is up to the player: an all-out assault, amassing an army of civilians, a long-range attack or a bit of old fashioned Mutually Assured Destruction with some high explosives are all viable options.
Maybe the squad could hijack a car and perform a drive-by shooting? Or they could just run the target over.
So the level of freedom isn’t on a par with modern standards, but Syndicate certainly set a precedent for modern sandbox gaming through both letting the player choose and by being – as some would say – morally ambiguous.
Violence in Games – Violence in Syndicate
The game never encouraged players to commit any violence above or beyond that which they were contracted to do – in fact, some missions ordered protection and some ‘persuasion’ (achieved by using a persuadertron). This meant numerous missions in the game could be completely with absolutely no loss of life.
However, when it came to violence, Syndicate was yet again a trailblazer, allowing the player to attack anyone indiscriminately with no penalty bar police concern. The number of kills was always displayed, dispassionately, at the end of a level and civilians were nothing more than a number to this evil corporation the player was a part of.
Today there are countless games allowing choice, allowing shifts in morality and for the player to be good or evil, but Syndicate – while it may not have been the first – was a real benchmark for these ideas.
Peter Molyneux was involved in the creation of Syndicate, and his influence with regards to the morality of the title is apparent when looking at something like Fable 2, produced by his Lionhead Studios and involving a deep moral system throughout.
The Remake of Syndicate through EA and Starbreeze
While Molyneux doesn’t have anything to do with the property any more, the groundwork was set through the original Syndicate and its PC and PSOne sequel, Syndicate Wars. The recent news that EA have given the series, which they now own, to Starbreeze should bring hope to fans of the series.
The Swedish company are well-known for making games with a strong atmosphere (The Chronicles of Riddick, The Darkness), and they will hopefully pay due care and attention to this; their remake of Syndicate, one of the finest games ever made.
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