| Syndicate | |
|---|---|
&sq=Envato&lang=en&file=File:Syndicate_Coverart.png) European box art | |
| Developer(s) | Bullfrog Productions |
| Publisher(s) |
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| Producer(s) | Peter Molyneux (Bullfrog) Kevin Buckner (EA) |
| Designer(s) | Sean Cooper |
| Programmer(s) | Sean Cooper Phillip Jones |
| Artist(s) | Chris Hill Paul McLaughlin |
| Composer(s) | Russell Shaw |
| Series | Syndicate |
| Platform(s) | MS-DOS, Amiga, Amiga CD32, Mac, Sega Genesis, SNES, FM Towns, NEC PC-9801, Atari Jaguar, 3DO, Sega-CD, Acorn Archimedes |
| Release | July 2, 1993 |
| Genre(s) | Real-time tactics |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Syndicate is an isometric real-time tactical and strategic game from Bullfrog Productions created in 1993, and released for a variety of platforms beginning with the PC and Commodore Amiga. It is the first title in the Syndicate series. Set in a dystopian future in which corporations have replaced governments, Syndicate puts the player in control of a corporation vying for global dominance.
The game consists of a series of missions in which the player controls a team of cybernetically modified agents attempting to take control of a particular country. The agents must frequently overcome local police forces and heavily armed agents from rival syndicates to achieve mission objectives, which range from assassinations to capture or rescue of personnel. Agent armaments, cybernetic modifications and behavioral attributes can be controlled by the player to make them more suited for particular tasks.
The player corporation makes money through taxes gathered from occupied territories, which can be used to research and purchase more potent weaponry and cybernetic modifications. The player controls the level of taxation, with excessive taxation bringing the risk of revolt, requiring a further mission to re-capture the territory.
The game was critically acclaimed upon release, with particular praise for the realistic presentation, writing and violence of the gameplay. It cemented Bullfrog's reputation following its early successes with the Populous series and Powermonger, and has appeared on several lists of the greatest video games of all time.
An expansion pack, Syndicate: American Revolt, a sequel, Syndicate Wars, and a reboot Syndicate have also been released. The original game and expansion pack were re-released together in 1996 as Syndicate Plus.