Synthesis Of Corruption
Developer: VidyGames
Publisher: VidyGames
Released on: PC
Ukraine-based developer VidyGames is growing an agreeable set of games with its Dark Energy series. Its latest release borrows heavily from Half Life and Resident Evil – but, hey, if you’re going to borrow, at least borrow from the best.
You’re the improbably-named Ned Ace, arriving late for work at the Nexus Tower only to find things have gone disastrously wrong. The Supreme One’s scientists have been busy trying to harness the power of Re.Surs, a unique dark energy, and, as usual, no one stopped to think if they should. Consequently, a catastrophic failure now threatens not only the Nexus building, but the entire city and continent.
Having worked his way through the outer office buildings, Ned soon encounters his former colleagues, now in a zombie-like state thanks to what looks suspiciously like Half Life’s head crabs. Survivors plead to be left in peace or rescued. Headless, chainsaw-wielding freaks hunt Ned. And as he plunges into the deeper recesses of the tower and towards the laboratories where the accident occurred, even more horrible monstrosities appear, often transporting in from another dimension.
Synthesis Of Corruption is an FPS presented in a low-poly style reminiscent of the original PlayStation era. Ned gathers a limited cache of weaponry as he explores, usually from the bodies of unfortunate security officers. In the spirit of the first Resident Evil game, ammunition is scarce, making it important to conserve bullets while utilising melee weapons where possible. The gameplay fails a touch here. Close-range combat is wishy washy and imprecise, and with health boosts limited, I often found myself reloading just to get past a section in better condition and with a decent stash of ammo.
Nevertheless, if you can get past the Nineties aesthetics – personally, I love them – this is a playable and entertaining horror shooter, slightly undermined by the odd, frustrating moment and an over-reliance on ammo preservation.
