"Like Brutal Sci

The new free-to-play shooter SYNCED provides a shocking amount of gameplay variation that's made even more exciting with powerful robot allies.

Level Infinite's next free-to-play cooperative shooter SYNCED features accessible gameplay and a compelling narrative that helps it stand out in a crowded market of multiplayer shooters. Developer NExT Studios has been working on its ambitious design, which puts one to three players into a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by nano-machines and the dangerous creatures they control. However, SYNCED allows players to take control of their powerful foes and use them like brutal sci-fi Pokémon with super effective results.

NExT Studios' next game was initially introduced as SYNCED: Off-Planet, an alpha featuring battle royale-like gameplay that has evolved drastically since being revealed at 2021's Gamescom. The game now features both PvE and PvP modes where players can unleash unique builds of six playable classes, alongside devastating attacks from their killer robotic pets called Nanos. Level Infinite invited Screen Rant to preview the latest version of SYNCED, and cooperative shooter fans are in for a refreshing treat.

After a short tutorial level educates players on the basics of SYNCED's third-person shooter mechanics, players must battle their first boss, The Crusher. The first boss towers over players with its wide frame that bounds its metallic body over large distances to smash into enemies. However, after being weakened, The Crusher remains stunned and gives players a chance to rush the boss and take control of the creature. If successful, the devastating power that once threatened the players is in the palm of their hands.

The Crusher was only the first of four Nanos that players encountered in the preview. Nanos can be fought, captured, and used in the game's story missions and PvP multiplayer modes. The world of SYNCED is ravaged by zombie-like foes and robotic creatures that will test players' wits and skills. Watching the player's Crusher smash enemies to bits was extremely satisfying, with pieces of the weaker enemies flying in several directions. However, it's when the special abilities of multiple classes are used in tandem that SYNCED's gameplay possibilities begin to truly open up.

The preview build of SYNCED contained six playable characters, each of which could be heavily customized both cosmetically and mechanically. One playable character named Dr.Stone has a helpful healing aura that makes him a valuable teammate. Abilities from other classes, like Ragna's Radiant Eye and Layla's Cloaking, allow players to see enemies through walls or become invisible. Those abilities add an extra layer of strategic warfare, especially when combined with weapon perks and unlockable power-ups that players can stack onto their Nanos during missions.

While the preview was entertaining when playing solo, SYNCED's missions felt most compelling when completed with a team of three players. However, a fully stacked team feels more like six players if each Nano is used effectively. Nanos operate on their own when players summon them by tagging enemies and locations they want their Nano to take care of. The Suppressor excels in moving quickly and delivering heavy damage to enemies, while the Seer can fly around the battlefield to unveil enemy positions while zapping foes with its powerful laser. Defeating enemies and finding rare weapons unlock even more combat variations.

Missions that were playable in the SYNCED preview featured a range of objectives, like shutting down high concentrations of enemy spawners to killing bosses known as Tyrants that control areas. Defeating enemies provided both loot and in-game currency that could be spent in each level's numerous drop pods, which each provide a choice of three random power-ups that stack onto the player's Nano until the end of each mission. These power-ups add another layer to SYNCED's gameplay, with abilities that can improve a player's mobility and help deliver opportunities for more damage. One such power infects enemies with a blue circle that does more damage extensively when shot at than regular attacks.

NExT Studios seems to have looked at what has and hasn't worked for previous cooperative shooters, ensuring SYNCED's gameplay feels like it's constantly evolving into more extensive and exciting battles. Each mission seemed to range between 5 and 20 minutes in length. With all the different types of gameplay variations available to players, each run can feel different and as exciting as the last time a mission was played. If SYNCED's levels manage to add as much variation as its gameplay, players should be prepared to spend hundreds of hours of shooting and looting when the free-to-play game releases on consoles and PC later this year.

SYNCED will release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on a TBD date in 2023. Screen Rant was invited to preview SYNCED on PC for the purposes of this preview.

Jason Hon is a Game Reviewer, Anime/Manga News Writer, and content creator behind the Mega Manga Mondays Podcast and the Comedic Gaming YouTube Channel Honzy and Friends! Within him lies a colossal passion for Gaming, Shonen, and making people laugh. He graduated from The Los Angeles Film School and is working hard towards becoming a Professional Nerd. He lives with his wife and two cats in Iowa, USA.