Synced Open Beta Hands-On Preview: Can This Nano-Infused Looter Shooter Do Enough to Stand Out?

ign.com:

There are a lot of options out there for people who want to shoot their way through hordes of enemies with the company of their friends, but I'd wager none of them let you do so with a pet that doubles as a metal super arm that would even make Bucky Barnes jealous. Enter Synced, a roguelike looter shooter with an emphasis on a creative buddy system between man and man’s best bio-organic frenemy. That emphasis kept me engaged throughout my limited early access play session, but also highlighted some of its less imaginative elements, like some extremely basic gunplay, repetitive level design, and hit or miss skill progression.

What stands out immediately is the setting, which puts a lot more science into the sci-fi post-apocalypse. In Synced’s dark future, nanotechnology goes from miracle bioengineering breakthrough to society-collapsing super-oopsie pretty quickly. Nanoparticles in everyday people’s bodies got scrambled, turning most of them into mindless crystalline husks or some other more brutal form or rock-like monsters. There's still some manner of ability to control nanotech on a small scale, which is where our super-powered survivors come into play. It ultimately boils down to shooting a lot of mean monsters, and even if that doesn’t functionally change the “zombie” formula, it does at least grant Synced some style points.

The big unique feature that tries to separate this looter shooter from the pack is your ability to weaponize these nano-beasts as companions that join you in battle. They come in four varieties that crush, shield, and shoot enemies at your command, becoming either great additional offense for your fireteam or resilient tanks to draw enemy fire away from you. They’re more than just Techno Pokémon,