Frozen Synapse

Mode7 creates the most eye-pleasing, strategically diverse game you’ll play all year. The story is thin, but you are on the good side of a good vs evil battle that requires a lot of tactics and staying one step ahead of your enemy to succeed.

From the moment you start Frozen Synapse, you are treated to a neon blue that is visually appealing. The graphics are beautifully simplistic. There’s nothing wrong with that, the game gives only what you need to see without any clutter and it’s gorgeous for it. There are many options to begin your game: Tutorial, Campaign, Skirmish, or Multiplayer. Tutorial is exactly what it claims to be, teaching you the basics of the game before you go in blindly. Campaign is as I mentioned, a bit thin but interesting to follow. You are give a specific task to perform each mission whether it’s eliminating the enemies or escorting a VIP without receiving harm and your team as well. Each mission is rated and places you on a leaderboard, to which you can repeat for increasing the rating. Skirmish mode is randomized maps and with varying difficulty to practice offline without the story getting in the way. Multiplayer pits you against someone else in the world. Games are not required to be played live, as both of you can play at different times and/or half way around the world at your leisure (much like a game of chess).

Gameplay is simultaneous turn-based. Meaning, you are put into a Planning Stage where you will tell your pre-set team where to go via waypoints and what behaviors they inherit at each waypoint (such as Engage on Sight). The other team will also be in a Planning Stage setting their plans in motion. Once you have all your players set, you then see how the events play out from the glowy, stylized top-down view. It is here you have no control of the outcome. Once all members of either side of the team have been eliminated, game over – for them or for you. The unique blend of Counter-Strike + Rainbow Six provides an exhilerating challenge no matter which mode you play. The music that is composed by nervous_testpilot giving a fitting soundtrack for this futuristic world.

This game gives you a lot of options and customization for the ways you can play this game. The developers also provide options in the way you attain Frozen Synapse, giving a very enticing incentive when purchasing the game. CURRENTLY (though, subject to change) you can purchase Frozen Synapse – and when you do, you get an extra CD-key for a friend to play with. Another bonus is that the CD-keys can be tied to your Steam account for updates, and Steam achievements. There is also a soundtrack version of the game you can buy for only $5 more.

There’s an extreme amount of value for this game. More developers/publishers should take note of the amazing content you can get from Indie teams like Mode7.

Of the $24.99 retail price, I would buy this game at $24.99.

I originally wrote this for Saving Content: http://www.savingcontent.com/2011/06/frozen-synapse-review/