Game review: Syndicate, EA Games

Old-school gamers tend to get misty-eyed when the original Syndicate is brought up. So it was a pretty big risk taking this piece of tactical-shooting video game royalty and reimagining it as a first-person shooter.

Luckily, the good people at EA have delivered a top-notch offering that should appease even the biggest retro-gaming fan.

Set in a future where corporate secrets, technology and liberal gunplay go hand in cybernetic hand, gamers take control of an experimental agent out to unravel all manner of espionage and double-crosses.

As most shooter games go, getting your answers generally involves blasting out levels full of bad guys with the occasional ultra-boss appearing.

It has all the standard options you get in most first-person shooters, but a really cool twist is the apps that are built into your character.

These apps allow you to do all manner of cool stuff such as hack gun turrets, disarm enemies or simply make them explode - fun tweaks that shake up the game play and offer novel tactical twists.

Graphically, it has a smooth and stylish presentation, with well-rendered characters and environments that deliver plenty of hold-your-breath-where's-the-bad-guy atmosphere.

While single-player mode offers a cool story with plenty of twists, co-op play is a highlight and rewards strategic planning - although this reviewer's tendency to go rogue probably didn't endear me to my online teammates.

Set to be a modern classic that delivers a foot-to-the-floor gaming experience, Syndicate is a worthy addition to any gamer's arsenal.

Game: Syndicate

Publisher: EA Games

Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

Rating: 4.5 / 5 stars