A world rebuilt in metal and code
By Paul Hunter
The extraction shooter genre has steadily grown in popularity, offering high-stakes gameplay that blends survival, resource gathering, and combat. Escape from Tarkov helped reshape this space, while major franchises like Call of Duty have adopted similar mechanics with their Zombies mode. Now, Synduality: Echo of Ada, developed by Game Studio and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment, enters the scene with an anime-inspired setting and mech-based battles, aiming to establish its own identity.
Taking place in a world where toxic rainfall has driven humanity underground, you step into the role of Drifters—pilots of heavily armed mechs who brave the surface to collect vital resources. Unlike many other games in this category, Synduality: Echo of Ada places greater emphasis on narrative, providing you with objectives that extend beyond mere survival. The addition of humanoid AI companions, called Magus, introduces another strategic element to the overall experience.
With its mix of PvPvE encounters, deep customization options, and a distinctive visual direction, Synduality: Echo of Ada introduces fresh concepts to a competitive space. But does it truly establish itself as a standout title, or does it suffer from the same issues of repetition and balance that often affect extraction shooters? Let’s explore the PS5 version to find out.
Set in the year 2222, Synduality: Echo of Ada introduces a world on the verge of collapse. Toxic rains have rendered the surface nearly uninhabitable, forcing the remnants of humanity underground. However, survival is only possible by returning to the wastelands to gather essential resources—a task assigned to skilled mech pilots known as Drifters. As one of these pilots, you must navigate dangerous landscapes, facing aggressive creatures and rival scavengers while working to secure supplies that can sustain their underground settlements.
Unlike many other extraction shooters, Synduality places greater emphasis on its story. While the core gameplay revolves around combat and resource collection, the game unfolds a structured narrative that develops as you progress. The overarching premise draws from familiar post-apocalyptic themes, but the world-building introduces enough mystery to maintain interest. A key part of this storytelling is your Garage home base, which along with your Magus AI helper, you must revitalize the space while unlocking new facility upgrades that offer support for extraction missions.
Though Synduality: Echo of Ada incorporates more storytelling than most games in its genre, it doesn’t break new ground. The central conflict revolves around survival and competition for resources, and while the plot remains engaging, it follows a relatively familiar trajectory. However, for those who enjoy a mix of lore and action, Synduality provides a more developed narrative than is typically seen in extraction shooters.
Synduality: Echo of Ada combines third-person shooting with extraction-based mechanics, with the core loop having you deploy into hostile zones, gather valuable resources like AO Crystals, and escaping through designated extraction points. Along the way, you must contend with AI-controlled adversaries, environmental challenges, and rival players seeking the same rewards.
Combat provides a mix of weapons with varying ranges, ammunition types, and fire rates to accommodate different approaches. You can utilize both Live and Energy-based weapons, allowing for flexibility in battle. Your Magus companion is useful, offering real-time information, tracking targets, and providing abilities that aid in both offense and defense. Customization plays a key role, as mechs can be modified and upgraded in the Garage, allowing you to fine-tune their loadouts before missions.
Although Synduality follows familiar extraction shooter mechanics, it introduces elements that give it a distinct feel. PvE threats add unpredictability to each deployment, ensuring no two sessions play out identically. Faction-based contracts and special solo missions provide additional mission types beyond basic resource collection. However, some combat mechanics feel rough around the edges, with aiming occasionally lacking precision and resource depletion happening at a pace that may frustrate some players.
Progression presents both benefits and drawbacks. While upgrading mechs and equipment encourages investment, the system can feel slow due to the amount of resources required for meaningful advancements. Microtransactions, while mainly limited to speeding up upgrades and acquiring cosmetics, may be a point of contention for some, especially considering the game’s premium price point.
Despite this, Synduality: Echo of Ada delivers an engaging combat system with room for strategy and customization. Its long-term appeal will depend on future balance updates and additional content, which could help refine its mechanics and solidify its place among other extraction shooters.
Synduality: Echo of Ada features a distinct anime-inspired aesthetic, combining detailed mech designs with a well-realized post-apocalyptic setting. The environments showcase a range of landscapes, from industrial ruins to barren wastelands and underground settlements, reinforcing the world’s bleak atmosphere. While not the most visually advanced game out there, its strong artistic direction helps establish a setting that fits well with its narrative themes.
Character and mech models stand out with intricate detailing and fluid animations. The Drifters’ mechanical suits feature carefully designed components that move naturally in combat, while the Magus AI companions each have distinct appearances that reflect their personalities. Though the game runs smoothly for the most part, minor technical issues such as occasional texture pop-ins and frame rate dips in asset-heavy areas can occur. Fortunately, these moments are rare and do not significantly impact gameplay.
The audio design helps reinforce the game's tone, with mechanical hums, the weighty movements of mechs, and the crackle of gunfire adding to the tension of each battle. The soundtrack supports the action well, using atmospheric compositions for exploration and more energetic tracks during combat sequences. Voice acting is well-executed, helping to give life to both human characters and your Magus companion.
While Synduality: Echo of Ada may not set new technical benchmarks, its cohesive presentation—bolstered by strong art direction, polished animations, and effective sound design—helps draw you into its dystopian sci-fi world.
Final Score: 7/10 - Good
Developer: Game Studio Inc.
Publisher: Bandai Namco
Genre: Extraction, Third-Person Shooter
Modes: Single-player, Multiplayer
A key was provided by the publisher.
By Paul Hunter
The extraction shooter genre has steadily grown in popularity, offering high-stakes gameplay that blends survival, resource gathering, and combat. Escape from Tarkov helped reshape this space, while major franchises like Call of Duty have adopted similar mechanics with their Zombies mode. Now, Synduality: Echo of Ada, developed by Game Studio and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment, enters the scene with an anime-inspired setting and mech-based battles, aiming to establish its own identity.
Taking place in a world where toxic rainfall has driven humanity underground, you step into the role of Drifters—pilots of heavily armed mechs who brave the surface to collect vital resources. Unlike many other games in this category, Synduality: Echo of Ada places greater emphasis on narrative, providing you with objectives that extend beyond mere survival. The addition of humanoid AI companions, called Magus, introduces another strategic element to the overall experience.
With its mix of PvPvE encounters, deep customization options, and a distinctive visual direction, Synduality: Echo of Ada introduces fresh concepts to a competitive space. But does it truly establish itself as a standout title, or does it suffer from the same issues of repetition and balance that often affect extraction shooters? Let’s explore the PS5 version to find out.
Set in the year 2222, Synduality: Echo of Ada introduces a world on the verge of collapse. Toxic rains have rendered the surface nearly uninhabitable, forcing the remnants of humanity underground. However, survival is only possible by returning to the wastelands to gather essential resources—a task assigned to skilled mech pilots known as Drifters. As one of these pilots, you must navigate dangerous landscapes, facing aggressive creatures and rival scavengers while working to secure supplies that can sustain their underground settlements.
Unlike many other extraction shooters, Synduality places greater emphasis on its story. While the core gameplay revolves around combat and resource collection, the game unfolds a structured narrative that develops as you progress. The overarching premise draws from familiar post-apocalyptic themes, but the world-building introduces enough mystery to maintain interest. A key part of this storytelling is your Garage home base, which along with your Magus AI helper, you must revitalize the space while unlocking new facility upgrades that offer support for extraction missions.
Though Synduality: Echo of Ada incorporates more storytelling than most games in its genre, it doesn’t break new ground. The central conflict revolves around survival and competition for resources, and while the plot remains engaging, it follows a relatively familiar trajectory. However, for those who enjoy a mix of lore and action, Synduality provides a more developed narrative than is typically seen in extraction shooters.
Synduality: Echo of Ada combines third-person shooting with extraction-based mechanics, with the core loop having you deploy into hostile zones, gather valuable resources like AO Crystals, and escaping through designated extraction points. Along the way, you must contend with AI-controlled adversaries, environmental challenges, and rival players seeking the same rewards.
Combat provides a mix of weapons with varying ranges, ammunition types, and fire rates to accommodate different approaches. You can utilize both Live and Energy-based weapons, allowing for flexibility in battle. Your Magus companion is useful, offering real-time information, tracking targets, and providing abilities that aid in both offense and defense. Customization plays a key role, as mechs can be modified and upgraded in the Garage, allowing you to fine-tune their loadouts before missions.
Although Synduality follows familiar extraction shooter mechanics, it introduces elements that give it a distinct feel. PvE threats add unpredictability to each deployment, ensuring no two sessions play out identically. Faction-based contracts and special solo missions provide additional mission types beyond basic resource collection. However, some combat mechanics feel rough around the edges, with aiming occasionally lacking precision and resource depletion happening at a pace that may frustrate some players.
Progression presents both benefits and drawbacks. While upgrading mechs and equipment encourages investment, the system can feel slow due to the amount of resources required for meaningful advancements. Microtransactions, while mainly limited to speeding up upgrades and acquiring cosmetics, may be a point of contention for some, especially considering the game’s premium price point.
Despite this, Synduality: Echo of Ada delivers an engaging combat system with room for strategy and customization. Its long-term appeal will depend on future balance updates and additional content, which could help refine its mechanics and solidify its place among other extraction shooters.
Synduality: Echo of Ada features a distinct anime-inspired aesthetic, combining detailed mech designs with a well-realized post-apocalyptic setting. The environments showcase a range of landscapes, from industrial ruins to barren wastelands and underground settlements, reinforcing the world’s bleak atmosphere. While not the most visually advanced game out there, its strong artistic direction helps establish a setting that fits well with its narrative themes.
Character and mech models stand out with intricate detailing and fluid animations. The Drifters’ mechanical suits feature carefully designed components that move naturally in combat, while the Magus AI companions each have distinct appearances that reflect their personalities. Though the game runs smoothly for the most part, minor technical issues such as occasional texture pop-ins and frame rate dips in asset-heavy areas can occur. Fortunately, these moments are rare and do not significantly impact gameplay.
The audio design helps reinforce the game's tone, with mechanical hums, the weighty movements of mechs, and the crackle of gunfire adding to the tension of each battle. The soundtrack supports the action well, using atmospheric compositions for exploration and more energetic tracks during combat sequences. Voice acting is well-executed, helping to give life to both human characters and your Magus companion.
While Synduality: Echo of Ada may not set new technical benchmarks, its cohesive presentation—bolstered by strong art direction, polished animations, and effective sound design—helps draw you into its dystopian sci-fi world.
The Verdict
Synduality: Echo of Ada blends third-person extraction shooter mechanics with an anime-inspired sci-fi setting, bringing a fresh take to the genre. Its combination of PvPvE gameplay, customizable mechs, and AI companions adds variety to the experience, even if some elements feel familiar. The game’s narrative, while straightforward, provides structure and a stronger sense of progression compared to many of its competitors. Echo of Ada offers a solid foundation, but its long-term appeal will depend on future updates and continued developer support.Final Score: 7/10 - Good
Synduality: Echo of Ada details
Platform: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PCDeveloper: Game Studio Inc.
Publisher: Bandai Namco
Genre: Extraction, Third-Person Shooter
Modes: Single-player, Multiplayer
A key was provided by the publisher.