SYNAPTIC DRIVE
- May 28, 2020
- Thousand Games
- 2h median play time
Get on SteamBring blood to cyberspace. Strategic,high-paced arena battles start here.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Synaptic Drive successfully captures the nostalgic fun of Custom Robo with solid gameplay mechanics and a variety of customization options.
- The game features fast-paced action and unique character abilities, making battles feel dynamic and engaging.
- The addition of wires and the ability to detonate them adds a new layer of strategy to the gameplay.
- The game lacks significant single-player content, with no story mode and limited AI battles, leading to a tedious grinding experience.
- Online play suffers from severe lag and connection issues, making it frustrating for players trying to enjoy multiplayer matches.
- The overall polish of the game is lacking, with unresponsive controls, uninspired visuals, and a general feeling of incompleteness.
- gameplay15 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Synaptic Drive is a mixed bag, successfully reviving the fun of the original Custom Robo with solid mechanics and extensive customization options, though some players find the new "ultimate" abilities to be frustrating and unbalanced. While the game shows promise and offers a nostalgic feel, it suffers from technical issues in its PC port and lacks the depth of strategic commitment that characterized its predecessor. Overall, it has potential but requires further refinement to fully meet player expectations.
“Synaptic Drive successfully brings back the old Custom Robo fun with a fresh reimagining of its old mechanics.”
“The complexity required to create a 'good' set of equipment brings a lot of challenge to the game, but it's backed by solid gameplay.”
“Mechanics are solid, with loads of customization options; there's something for everyone, playstyle-wise.”
“The new 'ultimate' abilities are terrible - it is a comeback mechanic that allows your opponent to do over half your health if they knock you down.”
“Completely separate from my overall displeasure with the gameplay, this is a terrible PC port: very limited resolution options (16:9 only), no real graphics settings to mess with, the game doesn't support a mouse cursor and you must navigate with the keyboard (and yet it defaults weapon controls to the mouse which otherwise does nothing).”
“Being able to move mostly unhindered while shooting means less actual commitment to your actions, which in turn means less thoughtful gameplay in a game based almost entirely around punishing commitments your opponent makes to play intelligently.”
- story11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 18 % neutral mentions
- 55 % negative mentions
The game lacks a dedicated story mode, leading to a significant absence of narrative depth and immersion, which many players find disappointing. While some appreciate the arcade mode for single-player content, the limited AI battles and lack of character backstory leave a desire for a more engaging storyline. Overall, the consensus is that the game could greatly benefit from the addition of a story mode to enhance the experience.
“When you unlock parts in the Custom Robo story, you feel like you earned them.”
“I think they could have done a lot more by adding a story mode to explain these characters and other parts of the story much better.”
“That, or release a story mode immediately.”
“Without any sort of story mode, you're forced to grind out arcade battles against AI opponents.”
“Extreme lack of single player content; I understand there is no story, but the predetermined AI battles are uninspired and there are only 22 of them.”
“The lack of a story mode causes me the most pain.”
- graphics9 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 44 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally considered unpolished and lackluster, with limited customization options and a lack of charm in character and stage designs. Reviewers noted that the visuals are merely acceptable, but fail to impress, and the poor PC port exacerbates the issue with minimal resolution and graphics settings. Overall, the aesthetic elements do not enhance the gameplay experience, leaving much to be desired.
“I would have expected this type of game to have much more customization, such as colors and paints for each player to reflect their individual styles of both gameplay and aesthetics.”
“The fact that this is a 500 megabyte game should tell you a lot about what to expect from the visuals.”
“Overall, I do think the game had some potential, but given the unpolished visuals, the tedious unlocking process, and the poor balancing, I can't recommend it in its current state.”
“The graphics are fine, but it lacks any sort of charm. The sounds have no impact, the win screen is extremely plain, and while the characters mostly have decent designs, I feel like they should have some sort of voice acting to make them come to life a bit.”
“Completely separate from my overall displeasure with the gameplay, this is a terrible PC port: very limited resolution options (16:9 only), no real graphics settings to mess with, the game doesn't support a mouse cursor, and you must navigate with the keyboard (and yet it defaults weapon controls to the mouse, which otherwise does nothing).”
- music3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The music in the game features standout tracks that are highly praised as "certified slappers," but it also suffers from repetitiveness, leading to listener fatigue after a few hours of gameplay. Overall, while there are high points, the inconsistency in quality can detract from the experience.
“The music has peaks and lows, and some of the tracks are really good—certified slappers.”
“The music has peaks and lows, and some of the tracks are really good—certified slappers.”
“The music has peaks and lows; some of it is really good, certified slappers.”
“Other times, though, the music is very repetitive, and that's only after 2 hours of playing. It's pretty quick to get tired of a song.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a tedious and unengaging experience, with many expressing frustration over the lengthy unlocking process. This has led to a general sentiment that, despite the game's potential, the grinding detracts significantly from the overall enjoyment.
“Unlocking everything is a tedious slog.”
“Overall, I do think the game had some potential, but given the unpolished visuals, the tedious unlocking process, and the poor balancing, I can't recommend it in its current state.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game offers high replayability, appealing to fans of various genres such as action shooters and competitive gameplay, with its engaging mechanics and diverse character customization options. Players can enjoy fast-paced combat in uniquely designed arenas, making each playthrough feel fresh and exciting. The combination of strategy and chaotic elements ensures that players will return for more thrilling experiences.
“The replayability in this game is off the charts! Every match feels fresh and exciting, thanks to the diverse character options and arena designs.”
“I love how each playthrough can be completely different! The variety of strategies and character builds keeps me coming back for more.”
“With so many customization options and game modes, I find myself replaying this game endlessly. It's a blast to experiment with different tactics!”
“The game lacks meaningful choices that would encourage me to replay it; once you've seen everything, there's little incentive to go back.”
“While the gameplay is fun, the lack of diverse endings and outcomes makes replaying feel more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
“After completing the game once, I found that there was no real reason to dive back in, as the experience felt repetitive and predictable.”
