14 DAY TRIAL // 5 Lives, the studio behind the upcoming Satellite Reign, a top-down, isometric cyberpunk action game with a distinct Syndicate vibe, announced that they plan to let their Kickstarter backers get a taste of the game sometime early this month.
The spiritual successor to Bullfrog's Syndicate series is making its way to Steam Early Access in December, if all things go as planned, so the rest of us will be able to try it on for size soon enough.
The game underwent a very successful Kickstarter campaign that concluded with £461k / $747k / €591k being raised for funding the game development process, back in July of 2013.
The development of the real-time class-based strategy game is helmed by the creator of Syndicate Wars, and the general vibe seems spot-on so far, highly atmospheric and tense.
The game looks like a modern rendition of the cult classic Syndicate, with players leading a team of up to four agents with distinct abilities and a ton of cyber-enhancements, battling for the control of a cyberpunk city with opposing factions.
Satellite Reign enables players to use brute force, infiltration and espionage, or propaganda to influence citizens and get a better grasp on the living, simulated city, with the developers intending to offer the necessary tools to enjoy the game, and to allow players the freedom of choice when it comes to the route they pick.
The first glimpse of actual gameplay
The squad-based tactical game looks pretty hot so far, and the studio just released a pre-alpha playthrough video with commentary, showing some of the features that we can expect to find in the game.
Up to now, we've only got trailers meant to showcase the world and various tech goodies such as coats flapping when cars drive by, and just a little shooting. This time around, 5 Lives Lead Designer Chris Conte offers us the full scoop, taking some agents into battle, offering a quick glimpse of what the game actually looks like.
The mission showcased follows three agents sneaking around the city and attempting to break out a fourth team member from a police compound, and the video shows them hacking cameras and doors, scouting, as well as doing a lot of sneaking past security cameras and guards.
After the fourth team member is retrieved, the squad engages in a firefight with some hostile security forces, highlighting the use of cover, grenades and the agents' special skills.
Apart from the superb visuals and deep gothic atmosphere of the futuristic cityscape, the title seems to have also gotten the gameplay down right, being similar to the way the old Syndicate games handled, but of course, with many modern enhancements and neat features to suit the theme.
The game will be released on Steam in Early Access sometime in December this year. The final version is headed for Windows, Linux and Mac OS. In case you want to learn more about the game, you can check out the Kickstarter pitch.
