Jan-29-96 REVIEW: Bullfrog has finally unhatched Syndicate Wars, the sequel to Syndicate and it's definitely better than the last one. It's a breath-taking combination of gaming simplicity set in a complex, dark environment. It's brooding, eerie, and smacks of Blade Runner. Nearly a winner for that reason alone...

Syndicate Wars

The bad news first. The characters, although they move smoothly, move a bit too fast, especially when attacking! And the game map is so tiny that after you attack one enemy, the others appear from nowhere like the rain. I'd prefer a tad bit more strategy but admittedly that's not the game's angle. This is about doing damage. Doing it to buildings, civilians and the other side. And speaking of damage I'd like to see a readout above each target. A health bar would be nice.

On the other hand, however, the game has mood in truck-loads. The soundtrack is so good that you can leave the game running and kick back to the tunes. If you have a fast Pentium you can see the billboards play movies and show videos right in the game! But what I like most are the flying cars. They're the best... because when they blow-up, they break into little pieces that fall on innocent civilians! Didn't they see that flaming crank-shaft coming down?

But another downside to Syndicate Wars is that some weapons don't work as well as they should. Take the clone shield for example. This weapon makes you look like a civilian but if you shoot an enemy they'll attack you ignoring your clone status. That's okay as long as you're in view but if you run around a corner and put your guns away they should loose you in the crowd... but no... they don't.

What this game needs is more money, more hints, and more realism (ok not more realism cos what fun would that be?). But guess what...

There is a game editor called the Syndicate Wars Trainer click here which gives you money... and there's money in the banks too - just blow 'em up and steal the suitcases from the rubble. If that's too hard, then as you start a new game enter your login-name as POOSLICE to get money and weapons by simply pressing a button click here! So I've changed my mind about Syndicate Wars from hesitant to happy. And I'm giving it the thumbs up for the mood factor alone. Being out-of-control rarely comes with such a cool background music.

The point is that playing this game means you need a little time on your hands. You don't want to play with things like obligation on your mind - it only ruins the mood. And cheats are always handy. The cheats tell how to rob banks, get money, or skip missions - that last one is invaluable. Cheats make gaming more enjoyable by letting you set the pace to fit you whims or your schedule.

All in all Syndicate Wars is an activity of learning. Learning to play, learning to cheat, and learning to get control over the utter chaos that runs rampant in modern day Bulgaria, Rome, and Romania. Combined with the Internet, multiplay, and (if things really get bad) the manual... Syndicate Wars packs a hundred hours of gameplay.

But as always don't take my word for it... download the demo and be the judge. Then email your opinion to me. I'll post your review below.

What do you think? Send us your review!

---- ------: awaiting your review

Syndicate Wars

Not Available

88% PC Gamer USA January 19967

Highs: Demanding real-time action; wonderfully dark and moody feel.

Lows: Dark graphics occasionally make details hard to spot; missions could use more variety.

Bottom Line: If you liked the destruction and carnage of the original Syndicate, prepare to create a new world order all over again.

"It may not be pretty and it may not be nice but it's a bloody good time."

Blueprinted in PC Zone September 1996

"One of the things that made the original such a joy to play was the fact that there was often as much fun to be derived from indulging in lashings of purposeless violence as from genuinely trying to meet your mission objectives. And guess what? There's no change there. In fact, while playing the preview version I spent what can only be an unhealthy amount of time pounding the sh@t out of everything that came within view. You name it, I shot it. Even the lampposts explode if you shoot them enough - bloody great big detonations with fireballs and plumes of smoke. I lost count of the number of pedestrians I took out with my miniguns, and as for running over police officers with a speeding stolen vehicle - hey, I'm the king. My next ambition is to demolish one of the really large buildings... (the realistic manner in which such structures collapse really does have to be seen to be believed)."