History Videogame / Syndicate

*** [[MurderInc The Independent Intelligence Agency]] - The {{CIA}} gone private. Being [[{{Eagleland}} American]], they [[PeaceThroughSuperiorFirepower like big guns]] and their agents are chosen for being MightyGlacier[=s=].

In a {{dystopia}}n 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 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.

* CorruptCorporateExecutive: That's you, instructing your agents to gun down people [=EuroCorp=] finds inconvenient. Maybe your department is [[AmericanPsycho Murders And Executions]].

* HollywoodCyborg

A reboot of the series was released in February 2012 but unlike its predecessors, the new Syndicate game is an action {{RPG}} / {{FPS}} hybrid written by Creator/RichardKMorgan. You play as Miles Kilo, a new Agent under [=EuroCorp=] implanted with a prototype DART chip which grants him cutting-edge hacking abilities. The game is linear with Kilo a [[HeroicMime silent protagonist]] and most of the story coming through cut-scenes or the environment.

The most commonly referenced game element is "breaching" -- real-time hacking of not only your environment, but also your ''[[ElectronicTelepathy enemies]].'' The Persuadertron has been subsumed under this function, along with the ability to make enemies "Suicide" by holding a grenade or making their weapons explode through "Backfires". EverythingIsOnline, and the adrenaline surge of killing mooks translates into processing cycles, and thus more "breaches."

''Syndicate'' is an [[ActionGame Action]] / [[RealTimeStrategy Stra]][[TurnBasedStrategy tegy]] hybrid developed by Creator/BullfrogProductions and released in 1993 for the UsefulNotes/{{Amiga}} and UsefulNotes/IBMPersonalComputer. An {{RPG}} / {{FPS}} reboot was made in 2012 by Creator/StarbreezeStudios and Creator/ElectronicArts.

* TheGuardsMustBeCrazy: Using a Clone Shield in ''Syndicate Wars'' makes your agents look like ordinary civilians, meaning enemies will not attack them. This is fine for walking in public areas, but it also allows them to enter high-security military compounds and even the Colombo space elevator without anyone bothering to ask them for some sort of ID.

* MenAreTheExpendableGender: Averted in Syndicate Wars. [=EuroCorp=] agents and guards, as well as the Police, are universally male, barring one or two renegade female Eurocorp agents, but the Unguided and the Church of the New Epoch include plenty of female troops (Church Zealots all look the same, but when playing as them some have female names).

* MadeOfIron: Shotgun? 'Tis but a scratch. Your agents ''are'' {{badass}} cyborg SuperSoldier[=s=].

* MeaningfulName: Cayman Global dropships are known as "[[GratuitousSpanish Rapiñas]]", as in RapePillagePlunder[[note]]Lit. Spanish for rapine.[[/note]]. Considering Cayman's idea of "covert extraction" involves sending an Agent and a small army of troops to shoot up a skyscraper in the middle of Manhattan, all to kidnap a ''single'' Eurocorp "soft asset", it's an appropriate name.

* RequiredSecondaryPowers: The infobank entry for liquid shields says that they can withstand even 105mm rounds, but the concussive force transferred pastes the shieldbearer.

*** [[AussiesWithArtillery The TLC]] - Expanding from their initial goal of liberation for Tasmania, they [[LaResistance kicked the Tao out of Australia]] despite being known for their poor aim, because the execs controlling their agents are always [[TheAlcoholic drunk]].

* CorporateWarfare: The basic plotline of the original game has several powerful crime syndicates fighting of global domination. Also features in Syndicate Wars, where the Harbinger virus loosens Eurocorp's hold over the world, allowing splinter syndicates to emerge and challenge its rule.

* CorporateWarfare: The basic plotline of the original game has several powerful crime syndicates fighting of global domination. Also features in Syndicate Wars, where the Harbinger virus loosen's Eurocorp's hold over the world, allowing splinter syndicates to emerge and challenge its rule.

** Also, the agents you see in the game are either this, [[BlondesAreEvil blonde]] or ''[[YouGottaHaveBlueHair blue]]''. Given that [[ColourCodedForYourConvenience all agents have their hair color fixed to their parent]] MegaCorp, this can be assumed to be a uniform dye job.

A four-player co-op mode is also included, where you play as one of four Agents under upstart rival syndicate Wulf Western going against other syndicates, including [=EuroCorp=]. A demo for co-op was released 1 February 2012 for Xbox 360 and PS3, showcasing the Western Europe level.

** In ''Syndicate Wars'', upgrading an agent with a complete set of cybernetics (particularly level 1) will have them resemble ''Franchise/TheTerminator''.

* HandCannon: All the handguns, but especially the Bullhammer Mk II, a [[RevolversAreJustBetter revolver]] firing .600. One upgrade option for that is the [[MagneticWeapons Magnetic Acceleration Rail]], which gives it an impact profile, to directly quote the fluff: "such that it's often mistaken for cannon or explosive blasts in police investigations."

* HyperspaceArsenal: Averted where the game makes you conform to the now-standard two gun setup.

* TheWikiRule: [[http://www.syndicatewiki.com/ Overall wiki]].

* HeyItsThatVoice: This game has [[VideoGame/{{Killzone}} Scolar Visari]], [[Franchise/{{Halo}} The Prophet of Truth]], and Creator/RosarioDawson as the 3 main characters. Also, Creator/KathSoucie voices your CHIP. Not her first time playing a [[WesternAnimation/SonicSatAM computer]] either.

* ZeppelinsFromAnotherWorld: You operate from an airship with huge advertising screens on the sides.

A SpiritualSuccessor from some of the original crew called ''VideoGame/SatelliteReign'' has been [[http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/5livesstudios/satellite-reign funded]] via Website/{{Kickstarter}} and is currently in development. It went to UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} Early Access on December 11, 2014 and is slated for 2015 release.