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Synced is a free-to-play PvPvE and the world’s next must-play shooter

1K View2023-09-08

SYNCED

8.8

Lore-RichRobotsTeam-BasedBattle RoyaleZombiesActionOnline Co-OpAdventure

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SHOULD I PLAY SYNCED?

Play it. After enjoying Exoprimal earlier this year—check out my review of that one here—I’ve turned into a total sucker for PvPvE games. Synced is the latest shooter I’ve tried that blends competitive firefights against real players with encounters against computer-controlled monsters, and I can’t get enough of it. While the game suffers from a few character design issues and an overload of information, its dynamic combat, smooth movement, and generally enjoyable gameplay left me craving more after every match.

TIME PLAYED

I played Synced for four hours, completing a handful of PvE missions and a bunch of PvP matches. Each match lasted between twelve and twenty-five minutes, depending on the game mode. PvE missions were generally over a bit faster, but I personally enjoyed them more.

WHAT’S AWESOME ABOUT SYNCED?

• The combination of PvP and PvE. Synced brings together the best of both worlds: shooting at big, weird monsters (called “Nanos” in the game) and shooting at other players. It may not bring a ton of unique mechanics aside from recruiting companions (see more about that below), but it handles everything it does near-perfectly.

Synced is also bolstered by movement that feels smooth, great weapon variety, and action-packed combat where the situation transforms dynamically. Both the PvP and PvE game modes benefited from the rock-solid foundation the game is built on.

• No need to battle alone, even when you’re playing solo. Nanos aren’t just enemies! I was able to tame some Nanos and essentially treat them as Pokémon-style battle pets, bringing them with me into battle whenever I wanted. There are four kinds of companion types which make use of different abilities to suit different play styles. I personally liked using the Seer; its powerful tracking capabilities combined well with my preferred ranged weaponry of sniper and automatic rifles, allowing me to locate enemy players and get the first shot in.

• Really, really tiny robots have taken over the world. The story of Synced dives into the aftermath of a catastrophic event caused by rogue nanotechnology which has made the human race nearly extinct. In some ways, it’s the standard dystopian survival scenario, but the nanotechnology twist adds just a touch of unique identity to help set it apart from other post-apocalyptic shooters. Though it may not be revolutionary, the story is told beautifully as well. with excellent visuals and voice acting.

• Weapon customization. I acquired new weaponry over time by completing matches and could customize them before entering battles. Everything from grips to magazines to stocks could be adjusted to suit my needs. I usually fought enemies from afar, so utilizing range-amplifying or scoped augments on sniper rifles and customizing them to fit my play style helped me in matches and gave me an advantage against other players.

WHAT SUCKS ABOUT SYNCED?

• Character design. The characters in Synced look outdated and unpolished. Especially when compared to the gorgeous environments, imaginative enemy Nanos, and detailed weaponry, the actual human characters stand out as subpar. And it’s such a shame too, since the voice acting for these characters is extremely well done.

• Lip syncing during cutscenes. Speaking of the great voice acting, that also wasn’t helped by extremely awkward, unnatural animation during dialogue sequences. It’s possible the lip syncing issues have to do with localization—developer Next Studios is based in China—but plenty of games have figured out more elegant solutions to this problem by now. It’s hard to ignore in a game that feels as high-quality and well-produced in so many other ways.

• Information overload. If you don’t pay attention, you might get lost in the game. Around an hour into Synced, I was bombarded with a bunch of different details and words that were important to understanding the game’s mechanics. It was just too much information to digest in such a short amount of time and left me overwhelmed. Further tutorials and tips alleviated some of that early burst of stress, but be prepared for a rocky start before things start to gel.

💬 Are you going to play Synced or will you pass on it? Tell me down in the comments!