History Videogame / Syndicate

* PercussiveMaintainance: The Agent in the reboot, or atleast the DART 6 system is activated by a {{Mook}} punching him repeatedly, it makes some sense as the DART is fueled by adrenaline.

In a dystopian future the world is controlled by powerful [[TheSyndicate syndicates]] ruling it through the [[BadCopIncompetentCop police]] and [[CannonFodder military]]. The vast majority of the population just takes it because they spend much of their time on the cybernetic equivalent of [[MayContainEvil happy pills]]. You take the role of [[strike:the hero]] the evil overlord of one of these syndicates and control a team of cyborg killing machines, or as you call them agents, that follow your every command in a quest to achieve complete world dominance.

* PercussiveMaintainence: The Agent in the reboot, or atleast the DART 6 system is activated by a {{Mook}} punching him repeatedly, it makes some sense as the DART is fueled by adrenaline.

*** In the Reboot, Mind Control Devices are as common as cellular phones - anyone with the right software can "breach" another person's chip and jam its connection to their weapons, make them attack their allies, or even ''shoot themselves in the head.''

*** Most levels in ''Syndicate Wars'' have animated billboards showing trailers for GhostInTheShell. Complete with the Manga Video logo.
* ShouldersOfDoom: Part of the outfit for Church acolytes, along with a BadassCape.

* KungFuProofMook: Higher-ranking enemies in the reboot are immune to Breaches.

Well received and fondly remembered, ''VideoGame/{{Syndicate}}'' was hailed for its (at the time) impressive graphics, environments, AI, and [[WideOpenSandbox game play freedom]]. It is notable as an early example of a video game {{villain protagonist}}, and its portrayal of evil acts while totally lacking karmic or moral punishments.

A reboot of the series will be released in February 2012 but unlike it's predecessors, the new Syndicate game will be an action {{RPG}}/{{FPS}} hybrid... written by RichardKMorgan. You will play Miles Kilo, a new Agent under Eurocorp. A four-player co-op mode is also included.

* InternetBacklash: Hoo boy. As soon as the anouncement video for the reboot came out, many people complained that the game was: A) going to be a bad remake of a good game, B) just going to be another generic FPS because the devs wouldn't use the isometric style from the previous games, and C) a copy of DeusExHumanRevolution. Whether or not A is true is a matter of opinion. B is as well, though footage indicates that the gameplay is very similar to the previous games, only adjusted to one character and a first-person view. C is downright wrong, considering that the game has actually been in development for a while.

* LightningGun: The Electron Mace from ''Wars''. The reboot will also have one.

* SomebodyElsesProblem: If your agent is equipped with an ID card, police will react like this no matter what atrocities you are orchestrating

A reboot of the series will be released in February 2012 but unlike it's predecessors, the new Syndicate game will be an action {{RPG}}/{{FPS}} hybrid... written by RichardKMorgan.

The most commonly referenced game element is "breaching" - real-time hacking of not only your environment, but your ''[[ElectronicTelepathy enemies]].'' EverythingIsOnline, and the adrenaline surge of killing mooks translates into processing cycles, and thus more "breaches".

* MusicalSpoiler: Indicates an enemy cyborg in the vicinity.

A reboot of the series will be released in February 2012 but unlike it's predecessors, the new Syndicate game will be an action {{RPG}}, {{FPS}}.

* AWinnerIsYou: Maybe they've improved, but Bullfrog weren't much cop at game endings. The end game animation is the exact same animated victory screen you see after beating every other level: a celebration in a city with your airship displaying the increasingly out-of-place message "Welcome To The Dawning Of A New Empire." It is then proceeded by a credit roll.

* GoryDiscretionShot: Any battle that takes place inside a building. Alternatively, depending on [[YouBastard player sentiment]], it may be a OffscreenMomentOfAwesome instead.

* HighOctaneNightmareFuel: The Leonardo Device (used by the Syndicate to "enhance" their agents), a giant wheel that holds the subject in a "Vitruvian Man" position (hence the name, presumably) and then [[BodyHorror rips bits off them to replace with cybernetics]].
** There's also the agent 'recruitment' process, which involves finding a random innocent civilian with the appropriate physique, kidnapping them, implanting a mind-control chip in their brain to suppress their free will, then strapping them into the aforementioned device to receive modifications.

* TheAllSeeingAI: In ''American Revolt'', clone shields make you look like regular civilians. Enemy agents see right through them.

* ZeppelinsFromAnotherWorld: You operate from an airship with huge advertising screens on the sides.
* ZeroPercentApprovalRating: What you can end up with if you over-tax your territories. It is possible to abuse this mechanic horribly by deliberately making territories rebel, allowing you to garner extra cash or replacement agents by repeating the easier missions.


<<|RealTimeStrategy|>>

* ProductPlacement: The sequel had animated advertisements for ''GhostInTheShell'' on several advertising boards in-game, as well as at the drive-in movie theatre.

** Also the new agent in the intro movie - "Subject code: B.O.B"