Zadzooks: Syndicate review (Xbox 360)

A squad-based strategy game from 1993 has been rebooted to a first-person shooter with its cyberpunk roots intact and ready to give players control of a one-man killing machine in Syndicate (Electronic Arts and Starbreeze Studios, rated M for mature, reviewed for Xbox 360, $59.99).

It’s 2069 and corporations, not governments, control the planet (Or is it 2012?). Humans are divided between embracing or fighting against the now common practice of using neural brain implants that can access digital landscapes and eliminate the use of electronic devices.

As Miles Kilo, an agent for EuroCorp protecting his boss’s interests around the world, a player embarks on 20 missions mixing up some outrageous firefights and extreme levels of brutality.

With “Matrix”-style black leather garb and the authority of a Blade Runner, Kilo is cool as a cucumber as he challenges rival agents, fights off villains wearing liquid armor, monitors citizens by tapping into their surveillance systems, and infiltrates a massive floating city to rescue a scientist.

It’s a slick, sci-fi-twinged experience loaded with violent possibilities and, specifically, three game mechanics that provide a solid basis for appreciating the high-tech killing sprees.

First, Kilo’s state-of-the-art DART 6 implant, when activated, turns players’ screens monochromatic and highlights (even through walls) enemies and items or areas of interest in color. It also slows the action and speeds up the agent’s reflexes to create a ballet of bloody assaults. The effect only lasts a certain amount of time and then must recharge.

Second, our hero can access a trio of breach applications (fueled and recharged with adrenaline aka killing enemies) to take control of the brain chips of other characters, usually the bad guys.

This is the coolest part of the action. With a simple click on the controller, a targeted enemy will commit suicide and take another mate with him (as a smart bomb), become an ally to Kilo and fight alongside him, or have a weapon malfunction and blow up in his face.

Lastly, the player will find a potent selection of firepower, including close combat, melee attacks and the ability to hack into roving laser turrets.

Although Kilo carries only two weapons and grenades, he can pick up any firearms lying around. That assortment includes a Mjolnir H.O.G. automatic shotgun, EMWS-56 Gauss Gun (it can even fire around corners to hit targets) and a Kusanagi HSR-6 Sniper Rifle.

Over his journeys, our hero dishes out an incredible amount of pain and suffering, and not just to bad guys  many innocent citizens get caught in the cross fire.

His attacks include, but are not limited to lighting an enemy on fire and watching him wriggle on the ground and scream, head shots, breaking necks, stomping an opponent to death, cutting a foe in half at the torso with a bullet stream from a minigun, and, grisliest of all, extracting a brain chip through the eye of an unlucky human.

By the way, plucking those executive chips from key characters’ heads (a “chip rip”) can unlock upgrade powers such as regeneration, emergency resuscitation and protective electromagnetic shields.

A player will also appreciate that this story of revenge stars the likeness and voice of actor Brian Cox (Stryker from “X2: X-Men United”) along with the frantic vocal stylings of Rosario Dawson as Dr. Lilian Drawl. A cyber orchestral score that reminded me of the first “Terminator” movie rounds out the ambiance.

Those needing a break from the solo campaign will find an even more enjoyable four-player cooperative mode.

This frenetic homage to the original squad-based game has online players band together as a group of agents from the Wulf Western syndicate to enter a constant barrage of firefights against computer-controlled enemy forces.

The action is split among nine missions spread out over locations ranging from Mozambique to Colorado while tackling objectives such as stealing technology, assassinating a traitor and securing areas. Better yet, a dozen breach apps eventually are offered to agents along with weapons research and powers upgrades.

When all the chip ripping is done, Syndicate is a bloody, reimagined celebration of a classic game and a stress-relieving adventure for mature gamers.