Time is everything. During the PlayStation May Showcase, nDreams unveiled Synapse. Described as “Inception meets FPS”, Synapse is set to bring the trademark action that nDreams is known for but set it into a surreal and strange sci-fi world. The trailer shows fluid action set in a strange world. Not much is known but the description labels the world a “mindscape.” The environment is grey and drab, with abstract surroundings. Humanoid enemies arrive to attack the player. However, the player is armed with a gun in one hand and telekinesis in another.
The rest of the trailer shows the visual flair of the game and the action that is expected. Gunfire erupts and a neon glow of orange erupts from the gun and other surroundings. The trailer shows players using the left hand for telekinesis. The humanoid enemies appear alien and attempt to stop the; players, but can also be thrown with the left hand. Not much else is known but it does feel like something ripped straight from a Christopher Nolan movie with its style and aesthetic.
A Metal Gear Reunion
The game experience will have a top-tier voice cast. As it turns out, it’s a Metal Gear Solid reunion of sorts. David Hayter plays Colonel Conrad, a nod to Apocalypse Now and Heart of Darkness. On the PlayStation Blog, David, who voiced the infamous Solid Snake in the Metal Gear games, reveals more details. The game takes place in the Colonel’s mind and he is excited to play as an antagonist. “I love diving into the role of a powerful antagonist, particularly one with a compelling back story because those roles are the biggest blast to play. So, when nDreams approached me about playing the Colonel, I saw a deeply complex character and an opportunity to create a truly unique, gaming experience. And going toe to toe with Jennifer Hale is every voice actor’s dream. I cannot wait to face you in the battlefield of the Colonel’s mind on July 4.”
Accompanying your journey into Conrad’s mind is Jennifer Hale. Jennifer voiced Naomi Hunter in the Metal Gear games and the touchstone sci-fi trilogy Mass Effect. Similar to her role in the Metal Gear games, she will be a guiding voice as you enter the mind of Conrad, “A couple of things drew me to Synapse. The first was that the game looks amazing – the team at nDreams has done a fantastic job, the writing is excellent, and the visuals are AMAZING, plus the team is really great to work with. The second thing that called to me was the opportunity to help defeat David, which I will always say yes to. I’ll see you when you report for duty on July 4, Agent.”
A Fracking Good Time
The studio recently released Fracked. Fracked was a fantastic action game. While short, the intuitiveness of the VR controls helped make it a sensation-action adventure in VR. It was a joy blasting away enemies and platforming around an oil rig. The entire experience felt pulled from a high-stakes action movie. Synapse is a different beast. This new surreal take on time and mental perception is sure to make quite an impression on players when it arrives in July.
Synapse comes exclusively to PlayStation VR 2 this July 2023.
