Frozen Synapse 2 game Review
Frozen SynapseWe will not teach you anything by reminding you that it is today on the side of independent productions that we find the most original video games. These are titles that do not benefit from titanic marketing campaigns but which can count on word of mouth from conquered players. Frozen Synapse is one of the lucky few who have managed to bring together a small community of fans around gameplay that is as sophisticated as it is demanding.
Pure tactical games are not legion and fans of the genre do not have much to eat if they are satisfied with titles from the most installed publishers. Fortunately, the independent scene is there to bring a little freshness and newness to the little world of millimeter clashes. If the release for download on PC of Frozen Synapse was done in a very relative discretion, the baby of Mode 7 Games could count on an effective word-of-mouth to attract to him many lovers of tactics. The title quite simply proposes to lead squads in very short missions and through very minimalist environments. The graphic aspect can surprise by its counting: we are halfway between Tron and the Missions VR mode of Metal Gear Solid ... Suffice to say that the decor is set, we are not there for tourism! But if Frozen Synapse offers so little distraction, it is above all to allow us to calmly assess the situation and think about the different tactical options.
The basics of the gameplay are simple but original enough to destabilize the newcomer. The action is segmented into successive game turns: it freezes every five seconds and you then have the possibility of giving precise orders to each member of your squad. They will apply your directions to the letter for the next five seconds as soon as you restart the game. The same goes for enemies who freeze during the reflection phases and then come back to life for the next five furious seconds. The player must therefore be content to be a spectator during the action phases. Indeed, once the orders are placed, it only remains to cross your fingers hoping to have anticipated the actions of the enemies. Fortunately, these estimates are not completely blind. During your reflection phase you can carry out as many simulations as you wish to control the behavior of your troops. It is then possible and advisable to animate the opposing soldiers to test the different hypotheses. The careful player will take all his time to minimize the risks by reviewing all possible situations.
An outstanding tactician must take into account a host of parameters: not only must one find one's way in semi-randomly generated environments teeming with improbable elements of coverage, windows and shooting angles, but one must also consider the capabilities of each soldier. They each have their own specialty: those equipped with an assault rifle are rather versatile, the shotgun is formidable at close range, snipers can align an enemy at the other end of the map, launch them -roquettes explode the walls and the grenades bounce to surprise those who thought they were covered ... In order to take advantage of these specificities, you will obviously have to manage the placements of the members of your squad down close. It is not only a question of indicating their trajectory, but also of defining their angle of sight, of choosing to ignore such or such enemy, of squatting, of taking targeted breaks ... From a point of view purely practical, you draw a trajectory by placing a succession of points and you can link specific actions to these famous landmarks.
Again, you have to be incredibly meticulous to properly understand all the facets of a situation. The enemy AI will not give you a gift and the single player campaign has a big challenge while offering relatively varied situations. You will be asked for example to eliminate all the opposing squad, to carry out a targeted assassination or to escort an NPC. The only common point is that you will generally have more people in front of you than within your own team ... The scenario which justifies the different objectives is quite obscure and will not keep you going, on the other hand the difficulty and the constant renewal of missions make the game incredibly addictive. Worried you might end up going around AI tactics? No worries, Frozen Synapse includes a large multiplayer component that is worth the detour alone. We find the same gameplay mechanisms with the difference that the other squad is led by a player. The turn-based even allows you to play delayed with your opponent and to launch several simultaneous games. You will simply receive an email when your opponent has woken up from his nap and your turn to play has arrived. You can of course personalize the games you want as you wish and, the icing on the cake, the app even allows you to take advantage of other players' replays to improve you ... In short, no need to add more, Frozen Synapse is a the most advanced tactical game and it should satisfy the most demanding fans of the genre without any problem.
The notes
Graphics 15/20
The graphics are particularly minimalist but this bold design is a visual success. Above all, it allows the action to remain always readable.
Gameplay 17/20
The basics of the gameplay are simple but the tactical possibilities are incredibly extensive ... In the end, that's all you would expect from a game like this!
Lifespan 17/20
Not only is the single player campaign long, difficult and diverse, but you can also count on a well thought out multiplayer that builds on a good community.
Soundtrack 15/20
The music and sound effects are rather discreet, but they are perfectly suited to the atmosphere and allow you to calmly reflect on the situation.
Scenario 11/20
There is indeed a scenario which carries the solo campaign but this one remains rather obscure and will not really keep you going.
Frozen Synapse is a title to reserve for meticulous players who like to take a minimum of the head to develop millimeter tactics. The latter will find a rich, intense and difficult game that will allow them both to dig their neurons alone, as to confront other tacticians through a particularly polished multiplayer.
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