SYNDICATE (Zero Punctuation)

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This week, Zero Punctuation review Syndicate.
Fast-talking Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw reviews a new game each week in this animated series that combines informed critique with cutting humor. Watch the next episode of Zero Punctuation a week early, only on The Escapist.
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[@zestamaster]

"miles kilo" what the fuck. that's like being named "yard meter"

[@knox140]

Except it isn't, because Miles is an actual name

[@zestamaster]

mr. Literal. :P

[@victormolland873]

Kevin Carlson I prefer Mr. Lateral.

[@zstick]

Victor Molland I proffer Mrs. Latitude.

[@victormolland873]

oh you

[@AINGELPROJECT667]

"...or you'll wind up like the Beatles, either shot dead or narrating Thomas the Tank Engine" I think I woke up my roommate when I heard that line.

[@mikedawolf95]

AINGELPROJECT667 it was ringo starr

[@tvulture5590]

It's thanks Ringo Starr nominating Thomas the Tank Engine and my childhood hearing problem that I don't sound the Australian that I am.

[@BFedie518]

"If you're old enough to run for president" That line is funnier when you realize Yahtzee was only 29 when this video came out.

[@WillF1994]

This review makes me really wish there was an actual remake of the original

[@josemarques2304]

Will Foster But there is a Remake of the original:store.steampowered.com/app/268870/?

[@captain959]

+Jose Marques think you

[@WillF1994]

Jose Marques​ I never knew this and I love you for showing me

[@josemarques2304]

Glad to help :)

[@Kris-2]

+Jose Marques thanks... I'm getting it

[@GREATGAIWAIN]

I was in my Dad's RIGHT bollock thank you very much.

[@vladerag]

I'm about to blow your mind... YOU WERE IN THE LEFT

[@GREATGAIWAIN]

vladerag AAAHHH! I see see what you did there! You clever clog you!

[@maxhydekyle2425]

+GREATGAIWAIN I don't get what he did beyond the obvious

[@liamquane4701]

I miss games like this: No Battle Royale, no live-services, no microtransaction knee-capping bullshit.

[@davidlane1248]

We didn't know what we had at the time

[@ArcaneAzmadi]

You don't actually MISS it, because this game was bad at the time. It's just a monumental indictment of how much WORSE everything has gotten over the course of the last decade. Little did we know that what we believed to be the bottom of the barrel actually had a cunningly-concealed hidden hatch built into it leading to a shaft tunneling _right down into the Earth's core!_

[@esportsweapon6907]

step one: Get positive name recognition. step two: Use name and make a FPS. step three: Profit.

[@BucketCrust]

Step Four: Eat babies. Step Five: ????. Step Six: MORE PROFIT!!

[@dyldragon1]

Can't wait for the Dora the Explorer FPS from EA.

[@Fembyjay]

I tried to hunt this down after seeing a small gameplay snippet that grabbed my interest. Putting aside the fact that it technically cannot be sold in Australia because it was refused classification (thank god for G2A), I finished the game an hour or so ago and to it's credit, it isn't that bad for a run-of-the-mill FPS. The games bread and butter mechanics are easy enough to use, the guns work like guns should, hitboxes are fine, health damage is clearly indicated and chest high walls are adequately chest height and so and so on. The spin, for lack of a better word, applied to these mechanics is the button-prompt hacks that Yahtzee mentioned as "long distance use buttons", which is exactly what they are, but between the 3 enemy manipulation abilities and intractable objects (dont forget the x-ray bullet time) in the combat spaces, I'd say it provides enough variation to the combat to keep it interesting for the 20 or so stages. I also like the way harder enemies and bosses are built, having to use your player abilities to crack their armour and make them vulnerable so you can whittle down their health. Although, these enemies and bosses get easier as the game progresses thanks to new weaponry and upgrades you collect. I never played the original Syndicates, but the story made enough sense to a newcomer and I was invested in the characters and story enough to bother finishing the game for its conclusion, which was mildly disappointing, but potentially left open for a sequel. All in all, I'd recommend the game as something to blast through in a day when releases are slow, to me it's worth the $7 I payed for it.

[@Seth9809]

I paid 20-30, still worth it. The environment felt real and the guns behave very well. They are all different and likable.

[@VanguardFencer]

I just want to set EA... on... fire~

[@MTdaBlacking]

*plays a trombone as you sing this song*

[@smokinggnu6584]

You and about half the gaming world right about now.

[@kayEnt3rtainm3nt]

I flame therefore I am.

[@thod8820]

Sp this is basically exactly what would have happened to x-com if 2K had not been a kind god and blessed us with Enemy Unknown.

[@thornangel16]

0:33 For the record, I myself was by that point no longer in my father's bollocks in 1993. On the date of this game's original release, I was a fetus tucked safely in my mother's womb. So comfortable was I in that womb, I was two weeks past my due date and my mother wanted me OUT. I don't know where I was going with this. Just felt like pointing that out for no reason. I blame the Mr. Crowshaw for this. 😂

[@SClassic0]

He liked XCOM too. He said "damn good" a good amount of times in the end of that review..

[@weofparadigm]

I like seeing how the KZbin algorithm connects zp videos to each other. Like how this game is associated with the Turok reboot in the spirit of FPS reboots nobody asked for and sold like shit.

[@Michformer]

It was actually a pretty decent game in its own right. For some reason, this game reminds me of Shogo: Mobile Armor Division: the style and mechanics were superb and unique, but the experience was too short-lived for its own good.

[@aargh93]

I feel the need to remind you that one of the greatest games of the current generation, Spec:Ops The Line, which also made #1 on Yahtzee's best games of 2012 list, is a third person cover-based shooter. There is nothing wrong with cover-based shooting as a game element as long as it's not the only game element.

[@trustworthytim4762]

I heard they're making Plants vs Zombies a shooter. My faith in humanity is now negative 400.

[@TheIan273]

They're making A P v Z shooter.But it seems pretty fun.

[@trustworthytim4762]

I may try it, if only because it's not another friggin military shooter.

[@Bloodiasfire]

Francis Drake It's probably gonna be a pool of microtransaction, though, if Popcap's "pvz 2lolololgiveusmoney" is to be believed.. And you need to buy it.

[@shanezingaro5204]

Bloodiasfire And now it turned out to be TF2 but worse.

[@gtmsnba13]

Don't worry it's actually decent. But for some reason running on frostbite.

[@zawarudowryyyyyy]

4:52-5:09 This.

[@therelaxalex1250]

Fantomu bloom fuck

[@STRYKER007SQUAD]

I feel like i'm one of the few people who truly enjoyed this game. I found the co op quite fun and I like the cyberpunk genre personally, enjoyed the concept quite a bit.

[@lucasredmond9778]

Its one of my favorite games

[@valravnsshadow9422]

I also love syndicate very much. But I have noone to play it with. If you want to play it with me add me on xbox. Gamertag is SwiggityWhewbag.

[@adrianshephard6321]

I liked this game too, but the campaign was way too short... Much like he said, I like the whole aspects of it, and the obviously expansive lore behind this world, but why no love for this except multiplayer... Which nobody on the PSN is playing..

[@STRYKER007SQUAD]

Adrian Shephard I try to get on there on PSN every now and then still

[@robrick9361]

This game shouldn't have been called Syndicate but the game itself was solid. The hacking mechanics were interesting enough to warrant a sequel.

[@underlord2132]

Fair point at the end there.

[@LJW1912]

Syndicate (the original) was fantastic, but I have only played the Atari Jaguar port, which sadly is held back by poor controls

[@EDFslayer]

anyone else notice the youtube gaming game is actually wrong? proves how remembered syndicate was

[@Codcraft187]

Lol, I love that beatles joke/comparison!

[@How_Is_This_A_Name]

I have no shame in admitting whenever I see the word "Syndicate" I think of the gang of NPCs in World of Warcraft. Meh.

[@ddogthepimp]

imagine if yahtzee and totalbiscuit did that DBZ fuse thing...

[@adrianshephard6321]

They'd make an even more awesome/pessimistic super Brit named Yazbis...

[@Zoxide_]

bignickdigger on second thought...

[@Vaspra54]

It's funny, because I was just preparing to leave my dads right testicle in 1993.

[@lionkiller7]

It's always hard leaving your first apartment

[@Fourttrax]

This game was actually very fun in my opinion and I really wanted a sequel.

[@pressure6666]

"Thats like a Final Fantasy game being too short...actually nevermind that. Its like a Final Fantasy game being too good. Its the sky falling in our heads!"

[@GatorMilk]

I actually liked this game...

[@MrPiccoloku]

*hears soundtrack* I WANT TO BUY THIS!!!

[@NeonSwaglordChen]

What would be hilarious is if someone made a video game consisting of EVERYTHING Yahtzee hates...

[@TheDuckClock]

One of the co-creators of Syndicate and Syndicate Wars is currently running a Kickstarter for a faithful spiritual sequel to the traditional RTS Syndicate series called: "Satellite Reign" for PC Mac and Linux, hitting 23% of its goal in the first 24 hours. They've also hinted at the possibility of console release although the only console I could see working with its RTS controls is the Wii U and MAYBE the PS4 if you use the touchpad like a laptop trackpad.

[@danny1111105]

in the game red orchestra 2, you do that, and there is also a cover system for a reason since you die in like 2 or 3 shots, that is if they are placed since your weapons are a bit inaccurate.

[@Jaceblue04]

3:02 - 3:04 Oh, come on; Nickelback can't be THAT bad... Can they? The only Nickelback song I've ever heard is "Rockstar," and I thought that one was pretty catchy.

[@Dirtyblue929]

"Rockstar" is often considered one of their few okay-ish songs. I actually quite like it, but lots of their stuff is just samey bullshit.

[@MysteriumArcanum]

Dirty Blue "If everyone cared" is pretty good

[@didjano]

they can be

[@thu4167]

Thu Collist Kid but that might be a tiny bit out of proportion

[@DILFDylF]

Dirty Blue Lots of music in general is samey bullshit, that doesn't stop douchebags the world over from praising the newest "black man rhyming slightly quickly in a normal speaking voice.mp3"

[@FGreg111]

Disney ads are driving me insane. I skip them as soon as I can but it's not enough. Send help.

[@samduncan3143]

Surprised Driver SF hasn't been mentioned. His second favourite from 2011 and one of my personnel favourites too.

[@WhippperSnaperater]

Wow the seeds of the ghost train ride idea were planted ages ago

[@ultimateninjaboi]

as someone who was very much alive in 93, I've never understood this weird disdain for young people in the gaming community. like "you were born after a game I like. I hope you die in a fire." I mean, Yahtzee does it for laughs, i know. but it's an annoying trend I'm seeing

[@tbone2646]

I think it's just a natural response to the young folks attitude of "anything that happened before I was born is irrelevant"

[@DILFDylF]

What is the image he uses to represent grind? Does that device have a name, or is it just a "grinder?"

[@robbert-janmerk6783]

It's an old-fashioned coffee bean grinder: see f.e. www.shutterstock.com/pic-801491/stock-photo-vintage-coffee-grinder-with-coffee-beans-around-it.html. I played with one my grandmother owned when I was a wee little kid :)

[@nemanjamanic2007]

Robbert-Jan merk we have nut grinder in my hause,put nuts in it and grind them to little powder or crisps and them put them on cake or cookie,its pretty good.

[@arthas640]

Mr. Big Snake old fashioned equipment like that makes great decoration, especially in the kitchen. plus they're fun to use :3

[@dude7803]

it's a coffee grinder i actually have one of those in me house

[@vubitheman955]

The original is Free "On the House" on Origin at the moment, if any youngsters want to understand what he is talking about.

[@thefartco]

Thanks for the correction, I'll try to keep that in mind c:

[@Tobbsey]

luckily they ARE making a spiritual successor to Syndicate Wars.. :D by the same guy that made Syndicate wars :D

[@tomsnider9213]

Sorry for being a Johnny come lately but what game is that by chance?

[@Tobbsey]

***** satellitereign.com/

[@sheogorath2020]

@James O'Neil who's the fanboy?

[@halogensarefun8674]

Who are you talking to?

[@khimeraQ]

Actually I want a go at this too. Saints Row 2, Batman Arkham Asylum and City, Spec Ops the Line, Infamous 1 and 2, Prototype 1 and 2, Driver San Francisco, Hawx, Call of Juarez Bound in Blood, Thief the Dark Project, The Prince of Persia Trilogy, Fallout 3, Skyrim, Legend of Zelda Wind Waker and Twilight Princess, Super Mario Sunshine and Galaxy, Condemned, Deus Ex and Deus Ex Human Revolution, Minecraft, Assassin's Creed 1 and 2, Angry Birds, Resistance 3, Symphony of the Night and Yakuza 4

[@AwesomeSauce1000]

A lot of those I don't recall him speaking fondly of/saying he liked them. Twilight Princess, Super mario Galaxy, Ass Creed 1 and 2, Angry Birds, etc.

[@fbritannia]

I saw this video in my recommendations and thought to myself not to click it or I'd end up watching a lot of Zero punctuation episodes. Here I am now

[@bradgilb]

Nobody seems to have mentioned Earthbound (or Mother 2 for those of you outside 'Merica). It's one of my all time favorites as well.

[@julianik07]

Your avatar fits so perfectly to your comment.

[@Lightscribe225]

What I hated most is how different it was from the old Syndicate's story. In this one it's all about hurf durf rebels doing hurf durf for human rights. Whereas the old one was 'Human rights? Can you put a price on it? If you can't put a price on it, it doesn't exist' Kinda like EA is today. ...OH GOD IT NOW MAKES SENSE!

[@yourface07]

well Yahtzee i was in my mothers womb in '93 and escaped its clutches on the 11th of January, then i played Syndicate none stop.

[@romxxii]

here's the quick guide to "Games Yahtzee Likes": 1. Compelling Story 2. Decent Gameplay 3. Open Sandbox Freedom Usually, you'll need 2 out of 3 to impress him, although some games - like Silent Hill 2 and Spec Ops: The Line - get by with just the story because they're really, really, really great.

[@Captain_Indecisive]

The internet needs a sarcasm font. That would be fantastic.

[@wstrydom66]

Syndicate = Xcom... (from 2012) Syndicate: managing your soldiers weapons, while doing research and moving through territorial places. Xcom: Managing your troops weapons,armour and skill, while researching and moving through countries.

[@sashamreow7270]

I feel like Adam in human revolution would fit well in this

[@Sareth94]

He actually did, if not always in their own review. I am quite sure on all of those besides Twilight Princess, because I've been watching all over again some time ago...

[@GameNGain]

I forgot this game existed!

[@Big_Lame]

Syndicate was OKAY It was just rushed a little and the Campaign was short

[@khimeraQ]

A lot of them are games that he has at least recommended or has implied to have liked in his videos or in Extra Punctuation. For the ones you mentioned, he explained his enjoyment of Twilight Princess in the Skyward Sword ExP, reccomended Galaxy in his video of it, Ass Creed over all of his vids on the franchise and his nomination for 2010 game of the year in ExP and Angry Birds during the Iphone Games review. They're not usually without critiques but otherwise yes he does like them.

[@garlock007]

1:40 and don't call me Shirley.

[@killertomx]

this guy, total biscuit and AngryJoe are who i am going to send any games i develop after college and Uni.

[@emanuelv.5873]

240P, we meet again after meeting 360 and higher P Yes, I know it's overused

[@romxxii]

don't forget both Prototypes, Driver: San Francisco, and of course, Minecraft.

[@TheFluffyWendigo]

He described the US perfectly in the intro

[@TailsTheFox31]

YES!!! ITS BAAAACK!!! =D I CAN FINALLY WATCH IT!!!

[@Bleesotron]

Quick, tag out! I got this, bro. TF2, Skyrim (a bit), Just Cause 2, Dead Rising 2, Amnesia, Prince of Persia: Sands of Time, Bioshock, Minecraft... OK, someone else can tag in now.

[@josiahbayly7397]

"Sightseeing Tour Syn-drome-dicate"

[@Cash_Money42069]

you all forgot Thief which he always mentions when there is a stealth aspect in a game

[@Phlowerchyld]

Psychonauts, Minecraft, Silent Hill 2, Assassins Creed 1+2, Saints Row 2, Bioshock, Skyrim, Fallout 3, and pretty much anything made by Valve. There's others too I just can't remember them off of the top of my head, or somebody else has already mentioned them.

[@Leianization]

He probably refers to it as a copy for the reviewer to examine it and give his opinion and let them change. Review copies are actually, you know, finished copies.

[@KnucklesTheApple]

grinding yes, I'm still on the ropes about anime

[@TheRealFunkasaurus]

There was once a time he blurred out his top 5 games of all time and I'm pretty sure Spiderman 2 was there.

[@Lightscribe225]

1.The main thing that people loved the original shadowrun for was the combination of story, intrigue, solving conspiracies, and combat. Shadowrun 2007 only had combat, and even then the combat was very limited in comparison to what it could have been 2.Look at XCOM. Its best reboot was the strategy reboot, because the original game was built as a strategy. Making the transition to shooter is not only hard, but barely scrapes the surface of the game's potential.

[@RobCrowley85]

Agreed. I watch it for the humour, which I think is the main point of the videos.

[@Teh3DModeler]

Google: 'paradox cartel' its a game that is more like syndicate except from the name, rumors came out that paradox were making a 'not syndicate' game and it has been announced as 'Cartel'. look at the rockpapershotgun interview with Paradox for more information :)

[@TreatButcher]

Someone forgot Thief 1 and 2. You must remember his craving for a good stealth game, as should the publishers.

[@nis5e]

"Miles Kilo" _Seriously?_

[@charlieodyssey7437]

Final Fantasy 6, The first two Monkey Islands, Thief 2, Hitman: Blood Money, Just Cause 2, Doom 3, Super Mario Galaxy, Prototype 1 and 2, Skyrim, and Braid. More still?

[@xHasten]

Just in case you didn't notice, I'm not the same guy who asked if you were deaf. I'm just some asshole that stumbled across the beginning of an argument I actually don't care for. I liked one or two Nickleback songs at one point or another. No band is above excessive ridicule depending on the point of view.

[@pancakes1271]

The nickleback suicide joke was fucking hilarious

[@volkswagenginetta]

yes. i need to get a list of games to buy.

[@JobroskiSwaqqman]

I just looked up a gameplay video of this game. The top comments were about how good the game was.

[@deafweasel99]

everyone always forgets about Psychonauts

[@Indianko2]

Is the video size small because of the low fps?

[@Phlowerchyld]

Right! Knew I was missing something!

[@sparkie1j]

Were is the new episode on escapist its now thursday and he usually uploads on wed

[@samuelcherilus6004]

yeah right they need to send their games to him

[@tgsachris]

lol I was conceived and born in 1993

[@tgsachris]

Otkusi Sebe Chlen So you're a nazi then?

[@GREATGAIWAIN]

+tgsachris What magic is this?

[@stuartdunlop8834]

I think the all-important question is: were you a left-bollock squatter?

[@heatrayzvideo3007]

What we didn't need was another CoD clone, what we did need was a modern update of the original games which I loved as a youngster. Should have been on the pc too.

[@BaseCu327]

Syndicate is on PC....

[@DarrenandClaude]

I can't believe no one got that I was kidding.

[@ribstonpippin9576]

Speaking of cyberpunk adventures, do you think you'll do the shadowrun Tactical RPGs on PC?

They do. They're called "review copies".

[@ellentheeducator]

I love his ideas and words. However, I disagree with him about Dungeon Crawling. But it's fun to hear him tear shit up.Besides, he's often right

[@marinmarinhola]

Portal, Minecraft, Painkiller, Spec Ops the Line, No more heroes, maybe Day Z, etc. It's actually quite a long list, surprisingly. Ohh and BTW, he loves Silent Hill 2, not one.

[@One3673241]

Oh man you're so clever and original

[@TimmyCherry]

And so is the media tactic of our day. If it, movie, cartoon, video game, etc... was popular in the '80s or '90s, resurrect it and cash in on nostalgia, even if the new version is similar to the old one in name only. That, or make never-ending sequels of something that gets popular. New ideas, anyone?

[@lunaaspall9673]

@fletcher15453 I believe the return to wonderland review was copyrighted also. I think it was return to wonderland, anyway.

[@willlu3220]

Yes.

[@Pops333]

YES!

[@Pestbot]

whats the video he made with the gun that shoots shurikens

[@jacksonk9600]

Why is this not available in the uk?! D: