SYNTHETIK 2

85%
Game Brain Score Based on 3,145 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • music
SYNTHETIK 2 Game Cover
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Synthetik 2 is a tactical, rogue-like shooter set in a dystopian world overrun by synthetic lifeforms. Featuring deep customization, challenging gameplay, and destructible environments, players must use skill and strategy to battle their way through hordes of enemies and powerful bosses. With a wide range of weapons, abilities, and character classes to choose from, Synthetik 2 offers endless replayability and a intense, immersive experience.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

85%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,145 reviews
gameplay153 positive mentions
optimization36 negative mentions
  • The game has improved significantly since its early access launch, with better graphics, sound design, and gameplay mechanics.
  • The gunplay is satisfying, with impactful sounds and visuals that enhance the overall experience.
  • The developers are actively listening to community feedback and regularly updating the game, showing a commitment to improvement.
  • The game is still in early access and lacks content compared to the original Synthetik, with some features and classes missing.
  • There are numerous bugs and performance issues, including crashes and UI problems that hinder the gameplay experience.
  • The pacing feels slower and less engaging than the first game, with some players finding the new mechanics and changes to be less enjoyable.
  • gameplay509 mentions

    The gameplay of Synthetik 2 has received mixed reviews, with many praising its fast-paced, tactical combat and engaging mechanics that build on its predecessor. However, some players criticize the slower pacing, clunky controls, and various bugs that detract from the overall experience. While the game shows promise with its new classes and mechanics, it still requires significant polish and content updates to fully realize its potential.

    • “This gameplay is fast, visceral, and intense; the soundtrack is loud and abrasive in the best way.”
    • “The core gameplay is really solid and there's plenty of run variety when it comes to classes, weapons, and items.”
    • “The gameplay loop is great!”
    • “I really want to like this game, but by removing customization and player agency in different gameplay modifiers and class modules in favor of just adding more classes, it really falls flat.”
    • “The presentation is dull, the gameplay feels hollow, the weapons are unsatisfying in accuracy and give terrible feedback when fired, and the controls are just... wrong on multiple levels.”
    • “The gameplay feels slow and clunky compared to the original, half the stage spots you the moment you move after starting a level, and half of the sound effects are recycled from the first game.”
  • graphics309 mentions

    The graphics of "Synthetik 2" have received mixed reviews, with many praising the significant upgrade to 3D visuals and the overall aesthetic appeal, particularly in terms of color palettes and environmental design. However, some players feel that the new art style lacks the sharpness and distinctiveness of the original, leading to issues with visual clarity during gameplay. Additionally, performance concerns, such as frame rate drops and graphical glitches, have been noted, suggesting that while the visuals are impressive, they may require further optimization to enhance the overall experience.

    • “In its current state, I would say it's a worthy successor to the first; the major addition is the jump to 3D graphics which they pulled off extremely well, some of the areas with their color palettes and lighting make for a distinct art style that transferred over very well.”
    • “The graphics look amazing, especially compared to Synthetik 1's lovable but simplistic designs.”
    • “Exhilarating gunplay, awesome upgrades, and stunning visuals.”
    • “The graphics are a big qualm because I want to turn off a lot of the crap they added so I can see what is happening, but the most I can do is just kill motion blur. Why even have that in a top-down shooter?”
    • “The aesthetics: God did they butcher the art style, look how they massacred my boy.”
    • “The graphics are generic and smoothed compared to the first game where everything is sharp and geometric.”
  • music243 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its energetic and engaging soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience, particularly during intense combat. While some players appreciate the dynamic and varied tracks, others feel that the new music lacks the distinctiveness and sharpness of the original game's soundtrack. Overall, the soundtrack is often described as a "banger," with requests for a standalone release due to its popularity.

    • “In addition to its compelling gameplay, 'Synthetik 2' boasts stunning visuals and a pulsating soundtrack that perfectly complements the frenetic action.”
    • “Excellent tactical shooter with an incredible 80s synthwave dubstep soundtrack that expertly increases in pace and intensity to go along with the firefight.”
    • “The soundtrack is right up there in my top 5 of all games right now.”
    • “The music is muddled and lacks distinction; certain instruments are not emphasized as they should and feel very muffled.”
    • “Overall, not a bad game, but the music could use some serious extra variety, and the bosses need some boss music.”
    • “The music, if it is not taken from the first game, also sucks; it is just some background noise that is high-pitched and hummy, unlike the sharp abrasiveness of much of the first game's music, especially the military bay music which stomps this soundtrack to bits.”
  • optimization128 mentions

    The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including frame rate drops and stuttering, especially during intense gameplay. Despite some improvements noted in recent updates, the overall consensus is that the game remains poorly optimized, requiring further polishing and bug fixes to enhance the experience, particularly on lower-end hardware. While some users have experienced better performance on higher-end systems, the game still struggles to maintain smooth gameplay across various configurations.

    • “The performance, while relatively demanding on the hardware, has been improved considerably and there are a lot less moments of desynchronization in co-op.”
    • “As of February 2023, the most recent update has massively improved performance.”
    • “Since the armory update, the performance seems to have been greatly improved.”
    • “The updates have been extremely far apart, with major bugs (saving broken, new features like in-game progress of finding guns broken), performance issues, and networking issues persisting for months because the cadence for updates and bug fixes is measured in quarters, not weeks.”
    • “The most severe problem in my honest opinion is the god-awful performance.”
    • “Performance is surprisingly poor, and the 'improved graphics' don't really add anything over the original game.”
  • stability102 mentions

    The game is currently plagued by numerous bugs and glitches, particularly in multiplayer modes, which can significantly detract from the overall experience. While some players report improvements and stability in single-player, many still encounter game-breaking issues that hinder gameplay. Overall, the game remains in a very buggy state, with ongoing updates aimed at addressing these problems, but it is still considered unoptimized and frustratingly unstable by a significant portion of the player base.

    • “It also runs great.”
    • “I'm playing on a 3090 and the game runs great.”
    • “I hope you'll optimize it seriously, as I understand that it's early access.”
    • “The formula is slower, less violent, and less chaotic while being too coated in visual vomit and full of extremely bad glitches that just really take away from any faith I had in this company to make something good.”
    • “This game is still full of some game-breaking glitches and, in a roguelike that depends somewhat on RNG, that can truly be a dealbreaker for a great run.”
    • “It is an absolute buggy mess - worse than many EA titles you'll see.”
  • story32 mentions

    The story in Synthetik 2 is generally considered minimal and lacks depth, with some players noting it feels more like a backdrop to the gameplay mechanics rather than a central focus. While there are hints of an engaging narrative, such as a futuristic John Wick scenario, many reviewers feel the game prioritizes rogue-lite mechanics over storytelling, leading to a light quest system and limited narrative development. Overall, the game shows potential for improvement in its storytelling as it evolves.

    • “If John Wick was around in the distant future, tasked to destroy a never-ending army of killer robots, this would be that story, and you would be John Wick.”
    • “S1 is a superb game, but S2, good in production, tells another story about the studio... they can deliver, they can evolve.”
    • “This game isn't in the same state Synthetik 1 is right now, but I can see how this game, if given the time and love it deserves, can surpass the first game in gameplay, mechanics, story, and feel.”
    • “It is a rogue-lite game based on mastering the mechanical elements of the gameplay rather than telling a story.”
    • “Synthetik 2 is a game where you play as a member of the android resistance, but the game is very light on story.”
    • “The quest system doesn't seem to exist anymore, or I just haven't encountered it yet.”
  • replayability25 mentions

    The game boasts high replayability due to its roguelike elements, diverse classes, and varied enemies and weapons, which encourage players to explore different strategies. While some users note that the current content is limited, many express excitement for future updates that promise to enhance the experience further. Overall, players find the gameplay deep and engaging, making it a highly replayable title.

    • “The roguelike elements add a layer of unpredictability and replayability to each run.”
    • “Gameplay is surprisingly deep with lots of replayability, and the soundtrack is excellent.”
    • “🔲 no replay value”
    • “The content is small so far but very replayable; the enemies and weapons are varied, and I'm very excited to see the later updates to add even more!”
    • “The first game is admittedly in a league of its own in terms of quality and replay value, but I'd be lying if I said that wasn't an incredibly fun hour.”
  • grinding22 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and sluggish, often describing it as a chore rather than an enjoyable experience. While some appreciate the challenge of grinding bosses, many express frustration with the repetitive nature of gameplay and cumbersome mechanics, such as the reload process. The enjoyment of grinding seems to vary significantly among players, often depending on personal preferences.

    • “It's just tedious.”
    • “I really hate to leave a bad review, but after watching this game turtle through development, constantly adding and changing minor things that add no real value to the formula while also sticking to a slower, more tedious, and more yawn-inducing gameplay, I just really don't know how the devs lost the plot.”
    • “The graphics are faded and washed out and the reloading process is tediously annoying with constantly having to press two separate keys to reload.”
  • humor17 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, featuring moments of slapstick comedy, such as accidental self-harm and amusing character designs, like synths resembling bucket-headed figures. While some players find the early co-op mishaps and funny bugs entertaining, there are concerns about the presence of anti-Semitic humor, which detracts from the overall comedic experience. The nostalgic dialogue from previous installments is also missed, as it provided significant comic relief.

    • “Funny robot go shooty.”
    • “Synths look like they have buckets on their heads rather than helmets, but I think that is funny.”
    • “- Jet fight is still as hilariously easy as the first game, and I crave that they slap the same dialogue in as the first game because that was comic relief to its highest degree.”
  • monetization9 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with some players appreciating the absence of microtransactions and cash grabs, while others express disappointment over perceived cash-grab elements and a lack of content. Overall, the game is noted for not having intrusive monetization tactics, but concerns about its quality and value persist.

    • “The game is simple and fun, moderately challenging (for now), no performance issues, no cheap stuff ruining the fun (so far), no microtransactions, and apparently the game receives updates constantly, which is good.”
    • “This seems like an actual cash grab. I'm so disappointed; not only is there so much stuff that needs to be fixed in Synthetik 2, but this game is a complete downgrade and mockery of what Synthetik was. Don't support this game or the developers; I don't even recommend buying the original game.”
    • “Like, why does the 'elite' signifier on an enemy health bar have to be a huge neon advertisement that's 1/10 of the screen total?”
    • “No cosmetics, no microtransactions, nothing to leech your money.”
  • atmosphere6 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is praised for its detailed and visually appealing 3D environments, enhancing the overall experience. However, some players express a desire for clearer visibility of enemies, suggesting that the gloomy atmosphere can hinder gameplay. Overall, the atmosphere is a mix of impressive visuals and occasional frustration due to visibility issues.

    • “+ sick atmosphere”
    • “+ sick atmosphere”
    • “The maps can look pretty and the visually animated stuff can be nice, but often I would prefer being able to see the enemies clearly rather than have some gloomy atmosphere. Night vision, maybe?”
    • “The transition to full 3D has done the game well, and I love the level of detail and atmosphere we are getting in these new environments, which have only been improved throughout early access.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development is seen as a work in progress, with designs lacking polish but offering a solid foundation for future enhancement.

  • emotional2 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game appears to be underwhelming, as players express disappointment in the weapon mechanics, particularly noting that certain snipers lack the impact and effectiveness compared to other options available. This sentiment suggests a disconnect between the intended emotional engagement and the gameplay experience.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

141hMedian play time
244hAverage play time
3-300hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 13 analyzed playthroughs

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