EA and Starbreeze relatively recently revived the good name of Syndicate – and then sullied it by releasing a decent, but flawed first-person shooter that capitalised on the brand’s name, without any of the good bits. Of course, shooters are popular and squad-based isometric strategy games aren’t. Firaxis’ XCOM: Enemy Unknown reboot came along and changed that – and now we might be getting a sequel (or rather, spiritual successor) to Syndicate Wars.
That’s what’s suggested by a teaser video for a (sigh) crowd-funded game that’s going by the name of “Satellite Reign.” The video says it continues the legacy of a Bullfrog game from 1996, and features some pretty obvious cyberpunk imagery – and the only thing that comes to mind is Syndicate Wars.
It’s hit Kickstarter in 35 days. I’m pretty fed up with the crowdfunding model, but I might just hop onboard a hype train that stops at Syndicate station. If it’s just half as good as XCOM, it’ll be amazing.
Last Updated: May 21, 2013
Ultimo_Cleric_N7
May 21, 2013 at 13:36
WHY….Why oh why Did EA make Syndicate a FPS?
Trevor Davies
May 21, 2013 at 13:45
People liked Syndicate. People like FPS because CoD. Syndicate FPS = no-brainer… if you have no brain.
Admiral Chief Commander
May 21, 2013 at 13:50
Man, I have that one sitting on my as-of-yet-unplayed-games-list pile.
But it can wait, I have the Earth to save, alien invaders to blow up, doing research and building schtuffs!
Johan du Preez
May 21, 2013 at 15:51
They wanted to cash in on the Deus X bandwagon and that’s the only IP they had that was similar.
Johan du Preez
May 21, 2013 at 15:51
They wanted to cash in on the Deus X bandwagon and that’s the only IP they had that was similar.
Johan du Preez
May 21, 2013 at 15:51
They wanted to cash in on the Deus X bandwagon and that’s the only IP they had that was similar.
Admiral Chief Commander
May 21, 2013 at 13:42
Currently jamming XCOM, and OHSWEETMERCIFULEVERYTHING its a good game.
I played SynWars VROT, loved that game to bits! Please oh please please please let this happen. And let it be as good as the fond memory I have of SynWars!
Anon A Mouse
May 21, 2013 at 14:37
As long as you don’t think that Syndicate will help in the fondness. It’s worth the R50 you paid, but only just. It’s a game for a “feeling shitty, don’t want to think” kind of day.
That being said I did enjoy it for the average experience that it is.
Admiral Chief Commander
May 21, 2013 at 14:40
So how would you rate it, out of 10?
Anon A Mouse
May 21, 2013 at 14:52
For a FPS I’ll go with a solid 6. But just don’t expect SynWars, you’re all alone in this one.
Lardus
May 21, 2013 at 13:43
Would this not be the greatest thing ever since the XCom reboot?
Trevor Davies
May 21, 2013 at 13:53
As long as there’s still gratuitous violence & copious civilian casualties I’m sold. Not that I played that way of course.
Admiral Chief Commander
May 21, 2013 at 13:53
I’m with you on the kickstarter subject, when I read “kickstarter” I immediately lose attention.
BUT, I’ve been waiting so, so many of years for another Syndicate Wars!!!
I actually used to mail the guys (back in the day) for a bloody sequel! Think they blocked me as spam later on…
Trevor Davies
May 21, 2013 at 14:18
Funnily enough I’m the complete opposite, I’ve seen quite a few projects I’d like to play – Project Eternity, Torment, Star Citizen, JAGGED ALLIANCE. Maybe it’s because they’re often appealing to my nostalgia for modernised types of games I still love. So I’m prepared to risk a few randelas for those as opposed to pre-ordering AAA titles, which not only cost more, but come with all the extra features like DRM, DLC, etc.
Admiral Chief Commander
May 21, 2013 at 14:35
I don’t gamble :-
Johan du Preez
May 21, 2013 at 16:05
I agree I love the kick started projects
I would love to see a kickstarter for Arcanum I still think its better than fallout. No one has ever tried to explore the mechanic they had with industry vs magic. Where your magic gets weaker in industrial areas and stronger in the wild etc.
Damn im gonna install it again.
Trevor Davies
May 21, 2013 at 16:15
Well Obsidian made Chris Avellone play through Arcanum as part of it’s Project Eternity pitch, so maybe they’re thinking in that direction. We can only hope. It’s a really cool concept.
Johan du Preez
May 21, 2013 at 15:56
I use to do this with blizzard when Iw as in school, I wouild think up cool shit to add and what if’s then send blizzard an essay. They always replied witht the same line that they cant use community members ideas due to legal issues etc.
I gave up after a while.
Admiral Chief Commander
May 21, 2013 at 16:03
Hahaha, yeah man
Admiral Chief Commander
May 21, 2013 at 13:57
As a side note: How do you feel about “spiritual successors” vs sequels vs reboots?
Do we just say “thank you sir” for a reboot or a spiritual successors, or do we want, or need sequels?
Take System Shock 2. Wow, what a game! I waited for years for SS3, but broken dreams and hopes later, lo and behold, here be Bioshock!
While SERIOUSLY sceptical at first at this “spiritual successor”, what a marvellous franchise it turned out to be!!!
So, yay/nay?
Trevor Davies
May 21, 2013 at 14:07
I just want a good game.
Brady miaau
May 21, 2013 at 16:48
sounds like a bit too much to ask
Trevor Davies
May 21, 2013 at 14:07
I just want a good game.
Umar 'Van Hohenhaim' Bastra
May 21, 2013 at 14:14
Yay, demon souls — dark souls…spiritual successors are cool in that you can have new mythos while still retaining core gameplay elements
Johan du Preez
May 21, 2013 at 16:08
I agree me and my friend use to love the co-op system shock and would sit days on end in school holidays. I wasnt following Bioshock at the time but as soon as I got Bioshock and installed it I instantly thought yeh baby system shock.
Umar 'Van Hohenhaim' Bastra
May 21, 2013 at 14:12
As long as this game has dubstep I’m fine with it 😛
Trevor Davies
May 21, 2013 at 14:38
There is only one Dubstep in game
Matewis Jubilai
May 21, 2013 at 14:19
I’m not going to get my hopes up. If it successfully materializes then greeaatt!!! if not then there is at least some consolation : The industry hopefully learned a valuable lesson with the new xcom and there is that other game coming – the reboot/reimagininging of that snes isometric rpg title.