 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Syndicate
- Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Windows
- Price: $59.99
- Genre: First Person Shooter
Common Sense Media says
Violent, profanity-filled sci-fi shooter best in co-op mode.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know Syndicate is a "Mature"-rated sci-fi shooter that is centered heavily on violence. You play as a futuristic agent who must kill enemies with weapons (guns, grenades, etc.), bare hands (neck snaps), and by using your special abilities, thanks to a bio-chip implant. It is not for young players because of strong violence, blood, gore, and use of strong profanity. The game also contains light sexual imagery. It is playable online with open chat that isn't moderated, which could lead to hearing profanity and inappropriate dialogue.
What's it about?
A spiritual remake of a 1993 game, SYNDICATE, Electronic Arts' first-person shooter, takes place in 2069 in a society run by cutthroat corporations. With no government intervention to challenge their actions, three major corporations are vying for the American market: EuroCorp, Cayman Global, and Aspari. You play as Miles Kilo, a prototype agent for EuroCorp, with exceptional weapon skills, superhuman strength for melee combat, and perhaps most importantly, extraordinary abilities thanks to a bio-chip, DART 6, in your head. The bio-chip allows you to slow down time, see through walls, and hack others. In the single-player campaign, Syndicate features the voice talent of Rosario Dawson (Men in Black II, Sin City) and Brian Cox (The Bourne Identity), while the storyline was written by sci-fi novelist Richard Morgan.
Is it any good?
Syndicate is a good game but it distinguishes itself with its superior online cooperative (co-op) play for up to four gamers. Requiring a free Origin account (Electronic Arts' Internet gaming network), you play as an up-and-coming syndicate named Wulf Western, vowing to take over the rival syndicates. This mode has nine different missions in the campaign -- with a few nods to the original 1993 game Syndicate -- as players team up to bump off each other syndicates' bosses and steal their technology from the bio-chips in their heads.
The single-player game -- which is also loaded with gunplay, special abilities, and a hacking mechanic -- is also fun but on the short side; plus the tough artificial intelligence (A.I.) will keep you on your toes. Syndicate is a challenging and intriguing sci-fi shooter for mature players.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about why this video game publisher decided to resurrect an old franchise like 1993's SYNDICATE for a new generation of players in 2012. Why do you think they switched the genre from strategy to first-person shooter? Is it OK to use the same name but deliver a very different gameplay experience?
What is the impact of extreme violence in a video game?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
Violent, rude but very entertaining as well
This game is VERY violent, you can shoot enemies heads off, chop your enemies bodies in half with a minigun and snap enemies necks with a quick but cruel execution move. Although there is a ton of violence, there is little detail and not huge amounts of blood, which makes this suitable for no child under 13. The language is strong and plentiful, but nothing a 13 year-old wouldn't have heard before.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Language,violence,you name it.
I've just finished this game and can conclude this is a very violent,language filled,sex laced action shooter.There is nothing in it that you want your kids to see.Violence and language may be enticing to kids,but talk to them.Do they really want to see this kind of stuff in real life?Games are just as real as everyday life.Explain to your kids that.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
A well placed killing spree
Fun in co-op, but nothing else...the violence is pretty senseless.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Syndicate Review
Syndicate is a violent and profanity filled game that is basically the same as Deus Ex except more violent, the game wsa so violent that Australia couldn't except it, even though im only 13, Syndicate is very violent and probably should be played by people who are over 15 (but you cant if your in australia cause its banned)
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
No No Fun at all
Looked fun, but I was wrong- Lots of Cursing every level I heard F*** or S***. sexual themes are not to bad. just like 1 or 2 women dancing suggestively and they weren't even real people, they were holograms. The game is not Fun
Was this review useful?
|
|
| Topics: | magic and fantasy, adventures, science and nature |
| Platforms: | Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Windows |
| Available online? | Available online |
| Genre: | First Person Shooter |
| Developer: | Electronic Arts |
| Release date: | February 21, 2012 |
| Price: | $59.99 |
| ESRB rating: | M for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes |
Review It
Screenshots
1 of 3
2 of 3
3 of 3
Register now to save reviews and advice articles to your personal lists!
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
Already played it? What do you think?
More from Common Sense Media
Top advice and articles
