From Destiny 2 to Monster Hunter Rise PvE games tend to be a dime a dozen in today’s gaming market. Sometimes this can lead to repetitive gameplay loops and time sinks that have you spending hundreds of hours to barely make a dent in level progression. While this may be the dream for some, the grindy nature can put others off the genre entirely.
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However, after getting a hands-on with Next Studios SYNCED, I think it could be the next big free-to-play PvE game to capture the attention of the gaming landscape. While at its core, it is a PvE Co-op-based shooter, SYNCED has several gameplay elements that make me want to jump back into the world of the Meridian as soon as possible.
Rage Against the Machine(s)- What makes SYNCED Different From Other PvE Games?
SYNCED takes place in a world overrun by Nanos—rogue technology that has brought civilization to the brink of destruction. Players take on the role of a Runner one of the few who can control the Nanos roaming the wilds of the game’s setting, the Meridian. Sounds like a pretty standard apocalyptic sci-fi affair so far, right? While SYNCED may not revolutionise the genre with its plot it does have some interesting roguelike elements and gameplay mechanics that make it a blast to play.
The biggest standout of SYNCED is the, you guessed it, “Sync” mechanic which allows you to take control of a Nano companion that can help you mow down waves of enemies. While all four classes of Nano (the Crusher, Guardian, Seer, and Suppressor) were available in the preview, I had the most fun playing with the Crusher and Guardian classes. Each Nano has a distinct set of tools that allow you to choose the best one to pair with your Runner and playstyle.
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The Nanos while being able to help you fight on the field also “dock” to your Runners arm giving you access to additional perks and abilities. For example, while the Guardian can be used to thrash enemies about and deploy a giant shield, if “docked” to a player you get your own personal shield while aiming down the sights of your weapon.
One of my favourite abilities supplied by all Nano’s is the “Nano Leap” which allows you to do a double jump, that changes appearance depending on the Nano you are synced to. While having the Guardian equipped the Nano Leap took the form of a shield surf whereas with the Seer it looked like a pair of wings. There is also a plan from the developers to update the Nanos to have more abilities and perks in the future.
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For the preview, we also had all of the Runner’s to choose from with switching between them being as easy as a button click. Each Runner has a unique skill associated with them, however, after playing for just a few hours I felt like they could’ve made them a bit more diverse.
Three of the Runners had throwable bomb-related abilities that made them all feel very samey to play. However characters like Glory, who could turn invisible to deal extra damage and Ragma, whose ability could reveal and then stun enemies, felt fresh enough to stave off any gameplay fatigue. On top of the multiple Runner abilities available SYNCED also has some Roguelike elements, with obtainable mods that feed well into overall game progression.
Temporary mods can be purchased during a run from buy stations using currency earned during that mission. Although mods purchased only last for a single run they draw from the same pool as the permanent mods you unlock at the end of missions. This means you can try out mods in-game that you will unlock later down the line, giving you a better idea of what will fit your individual playstyle.
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“Gun-Tech” is also a big aspect of the game, where specific guns are given special abilities. One that was available in the preview that was really fun to use was “Vicious Cycle”. The weapon is an assault rifle that fires a hail of blades that when reloaded come back, hitting enemies that are in-between you and the recently fired projectiles. “Gun-Tech” can be looted in-game and upgraded to become more powerful for harder runs.
Co-op is at the heart of SYNCED’s gameplay experience and although you can do the missions solo, I’d highly recommend playing with and against your friends in the PvE and PvP modes. With three player Co-op, you have the chance to craft your own team build. Each runner has unique skills that combined with the abilities of the Nanos can work together to create the perfect team. I feel that this is where the game shines as playing with others at the preview was really fun and seeing how other Runner and Nano abilities synergised with my own was interesting.
There are big plans for SYNCED as at the preview event Narrative Director Kevin Shortt elaborated on the idea that there will be a season-based system implemented in the game. Hopefully, the future is bright for the team at Next Studios, who will continue to develop SYNCED into a free-to-play juggernaut that will be built to last.
Big thanks to Renaissance PR for inviting us down to the SYNCED preview event!
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