Parents' Guide to

Syndicate

By Marc Saltzman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

Violent, profanity-filled sci-fi shooter best in co-op mode.

Game PlayStation 3, Windows, Xbox 360 2012
Syndicate Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this game.

  • Syndicate Game: Screenshot #1
  • Syndicate Game: Screenshot #2
  • Syndicate Game: Screenshot #3

Community Reviews

See all
age 15+

Based on 5 parent reviews

lamperg
lamperg Adult
July 1, 2019
age 14+

Good

You're right, everyone basically plays in the casino. Each course has different goals. Personally, it helps me to relax and earn money. Yaya was also a novice and did not know how to play and earn bonuses. I play in a casino for more than 4 years. I managed to get the jackpot in one place only syndicate casino He is now at the top and you should not refuse him
callofduty5
callofduty5 Adult
July 9, 2012
age 16+

Gorefest

Syndicate is a remake of the old PS1 game Syndicate Wars. But this title is more of an FPS gorefest than the previous game. The violence is fast-paced, gory slaughterfest, with lots of blood splushing out from bodies and sometimes opponents are blown to gory bits and shred. Blood and gore is present throughout the game. The game was banned in Australia due to High Impact Violence. Parents: i'd say that this game is okay for people aged 16+ but any kids below, you should talk with them do you want them to play this sci-fi shooter. Above all else Syndicate is fun, profanitive and gory stylized shooter that will entertain.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much swearing
Too much consumerism
See all 5 parent reviews

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?

Our review:
Parents say (5):
Kids say (8):

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.

Talk to Your Kids 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?

Game Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended game lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate