Frozen Synapse Review

[IKWerewolf]

Warning, this game takes over your online life, actually rewind, Frozen Synapse and the Escapist magazine takes over your life...

I play Echo Bazaar (2009 Escapist Award winner and mentioned on Extra Credits), this game, watch Zero and Extra Punctuation, Extra Credits and occasionally Unskippable.

SIDETRACKING OVER

Me and my friend went into advanced setup and had fun with 8 on 8 with machine guns, 8 on 8 with shotguns, 15 on 15 with a wide range of units and finally 20 on 20 (8 shotguns, 8 machine guns, 2 snipers and 2 grenades on each side) and although it takes a long time to set up, they are extremely intense battles (and that's just the 4 on 4).

 

[Jaegerwolf]

...Now I want to try this more than EVER.

But I just got laid off today, so I have less than no money. WHY CAN'T THERE BE A FREE DEMO SO THAT I CAN DECIDE IF THIS GAME IS WORTH NOT EATING FOR TWO DAYS? *cries in the corner*

IMO give it a miss, its alright but its really thin, pretty much what you see in the screenshots, in any one screenshot for that matter is all you get. A simple square level, with generic troops of which there are like 4 types, engaging in simplistic turn based combat for x number of turns. There is no management, no leveling up, no continuation.... Basically there is no demo because there is no way to demo it without practically giving the player the whole game (minus story).

Its like chess except you have tron look-alike soldiers instead of pieces and the turns are simultaneous.

I dont like it much and i'm a big tactical fan, x-com is one of my favourite games of all time.

Eh, each his own. I love turn based tactical and I'm really digging this. I'll warn you now the campaign can be really hard, but once you start learning the system and all its different combos it can pull some nice moves off. I think the simplicity of it, graphically and all, works well as if you had too many units or upgrades it would just start to turn into turn-based Starcraft. Here you can have quick battles where tactics are the only thing that matter

 

[linwolf]

This game is awesome and anyone that have any interest in a turn based tactical game should go and buy it right now.

 

[Metalrocks]

i also had interest in this game and looked up about it for infos. it looks good and a game you will sit tones of hours on it, just the thing is, i am more in to real time gameplay and not turned based gameplay. i think 30USD (soundtrack edition) is a lot. maybe when it gets cheaper i might get it.
but yes, the soundtrack is awesome. some one told me on the steam forum that a separate soundtrack will be available.

 

[Continuity]

I really can't understand why everyone likes it so much?? I mean I know there hasn't been a lot of this type of game for a while but are we really so starved of tactical gameplay that we'll lap up something as basic as this as if its milk and honey?

 

[Chickenfeed]

I really can't understand why everyone likes it so much?? I mean I know there hasn't been a lot of this type of game for a while but are we really so starved of tactical gameplay that we'll lap up something as basic as this as if its milk and honey?

Games don't need to be stupidly complicated - In fact those that are get boring very fast.

This provides a simple, easy to get into and fun game that you can play whenever and whereever you like.

 

[Slycne]

I really can't understand why everyone likes it so much?? I mean I know there hasn't been a lot of this type of game for a while but are we really so starved of tactical gameplay that we'll lap up something as basic as this as if its milk and honey?

I'm guessing that the point of contention is that we all appreciated the differences while they became an issue for you. For me personally, I really enjoyed that it was a new experience and wasn't simply X-Com with a fresh coat of paint. So while it might loose a little on the front end, I think moving away from items and stats actually forces you to focus on the tactical nature even more.

Ultimately they are two very different enjoyable games in the same genre, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

 

[Zer_]

I'm not a huge tactical game fan, but this one is just awesome.

 

[Keava]

I really can't understand why everyone likes it so much?? I mean I know there hasn't been a lot of this type of game for a while but are we really so starved of tactical gameplay that we'll lap up something as basic as this as if its milk and honey?

It's hardly "basic". It's complex in a away most of "fancy" games won't reach any time soon because they devote resources to looking fancy. The biggest strength of Frozen Synapse however is highly competitive multiplayer with no balance issues, no RNG factor, based on anticipating your opponent movement much more than just "fast clicking" and with an interesting "play by email"-like gameplay which doesn't glue you to your PC for long periods of time.

 

[RanceJustice]

Please consider buying this title direct from the developer. You'll get a FREE copy for a friend, and keys to register on Steam for both of you! They also have packages with additional soundtracks, available in FLAC and WAV, and one of their other games included. For only $35 you get soundtracks, both games, clients for Windows and Mac (Shall we ask about Linux native?), multiple keys that all work and can be registered on Steam.

 

[danhere]

Bought it two days ago. Love it. Thanks Justin.

 

[Metalrocks]

Please consider buying this title direct from the developer. You'll get a FREE copy for a friend, and keys to register on Steam for both of you! They also have packages with additional soundtracks, available in FLAC and WAV, and one of their other games included. For only $35 you get soundtracks, both games, clients for Windows and Mac (Shall we ask about Linux native?), multiple keys that all work and can be registered on Steam.

you get the same soundtrack pack plus a copy for a friend for 30$ on steam.

i decided to get it anyway and i like it so far. took me some time to get used to it but it works. just played the first 4 levels. so yes, it is good. cant say i lost money, not like with duke nukem.

 

[CrawlingPastaHellion]

It's been a while since a game had given me such a satisfaction and a sense of achievement. Every victory makes me proud, every defeat makes me review my method. "Frozen Synapse" is as close as a computer game comes to chess.

I have some minor complaints though: interface could be improved. Why not make a 360° aiming for the enemies to account for all the possible situations in aiming in one simulation? An isometric perspective is also a bit confusing, in my opinion a strict top-down view would benefit one's tactics more. Maybe add a possible change in perspective in the future updates?

 

[Croaker42]

I picked it up and am enjoying it more then any game in a long while. The single player offers a bit of a challenge and multiplayer is great with friends and if you don?t have any friends the matchmaking system is quick and intuitive.

It?s currently 33% off during the steam sale. And I don't think anyone with a strategic bent could go wrong picking this one up. Also you get a free copy whenever you buy the game so it makes the perfect gift for yourself and that one person you think deserves a game. (Hey don?t tell them and you look like a hero.)

 

[Jim Grim]

I got this game a while ago, and it's awesome, but I'm put off playing simply because of how much I suck at it. My progress through the campaign has been torturous. I wish I could enjoy it more, but it just makes me miserable due to my abject failure.

 

[gussy1z]

Its a really good game. It was all going well until i got seriously stuck on one mission. So i gave multiplayer a go, it turns out thats pretty fun too.