Synduality: Echo of Ada, released 23rd January 2025, and published by Bandai Namco, thrusts players into a post-apocalyptic world where survival hinges on resourceful gameplay, split-second decisions, and the relationship between the Drifter and their AI companion, the Magus. As a blend of third-person mech shooter, resource extraction game, and narrative-driven adventure, it’s an ambitious title with plenty to offer, especially in its early days of Season 1.
A Post-Apocalyptic Playground
Set in the year 2222, the game’s narrative kicks off after a devastating event called “The Tears of the New Moon” forcing humanity to retreat underground. Players take on the role of Drifters who venture to the hazardous surface of Amasia, battling mutated creatures, rival players, and environmental threats to scavenge valuable resources like AO Crystals and other materials. These missions are the lifeblood of the game, offering a constant push-pull between risk and reward.
The surface of Amasia is a desolate, atmospheric landscape, dotted with mutated flora, crystal deposits, and the remnants of humanity’s collapse. While the story begins as a mere backdrop, it deepens as players unlock additional PvE missions, uncovering the mysteries of Amasia and the bond between the Drifter and their Magus companion, Ada. This mode adds depth to the gameplay, gradually piecing together the lore behind Amasia’s collapse, through unlockable audio logs and cutscenes.
Gameplay Mechanics: Thrilling and Tactical
Synduality excels in crafting a gameplay loop that is both engaging and strategic. At its core, the game revolves around extraction missions, where players balance their loadouts, prioritise their objectives, and decide when to fight or flee. The stakes are high—losing a sortie means forfeiting all carried equipment. However, players can retrieve a percentage of its value if it’s insured (at a cost), making insurance a sort of safety net. For new players, it’s recommended to use the basic equipment first (available for free in the Item Store) until they feel more confident navigating the risks of extraction missions. Beware as uninsured items that haven’t been unlocked in the store might be gone forever.
PvEvP Tension
The game’s unique PvEvP structure is one of its standout features. While the majority of encounters (60-70%) are PvE, rival players can add unpredictable danger, especially when competing for high-purity AO Crystals or targeting Bounty objectives. The dynamic tension between cooperating with other Drifters or sabotaging them adds a thrilling layer to the experience.
Customisation and Combat
Players pilot combat-ready vehicles called CRADLECOFFINS, which can be customised, so long as you unlock or buy more equipment for your Cradle. These agile mechs are central to both mobility and combat, allowing for swift dashes, resource extraction, and intense firefights. Combat is fluid, tactical, and immensely satisfying, with players wielding multiple weapons to adapt to various enemy types. Over time, players refine their strategies, learning to exploit enemy weaknesses and manage risks more effectively.
Magus companions like Ada, or your own custom Magus, are another critical element, providing situational awareness, resource tracking, and narrative depth. The bond between the Drifter and Magus evolves over time, influenced by interactions and performance during missions. This AI partnership serves as both a gameplay mechanic and an emotional anchor for the player.
Progression: A Grind Worth Your Time
The game’s progression system offers plenty to keep players invested. Completing missions and scavenging loot allows players to upgrade their Cradles, expand and remodel their base, and unlock cosmetics. Base remodelling is particularly satisfying, transforming your quarters from a jungle-like haven to a pristine hub filled with amenities like e.g. an automated elevator that retrieves daily materials from the surface.
Seasonal progression, tied to the Drifter Pass, adds another layer of engagement. The Drifter Pass rewards players with exclusive cosmetics, upgraded equipment, and the occasional SYN-coins, which can enhance gameplay by offering unique customisation options and tactical advantages. These rewards incentivise continued play, making each season feel fresh and rewarding for dedicated players. While daily and weekly goals offer accessible XP boosts, some rewards are locked behind a Deluxe or Ultimate Drifter Pass, which may deter players unwilling to invest beyond the base game. That said, the seasonal grind appears promising, with enough challenges and unlockables to keep players occupied.
Exploring Amasia’s Past: An Immersive PvE Mode
After completing a few initial investigation requests that unlock collectibles representing Amasia’s history, players gain access to a dedicated PvE mode that dives deeper into the game’s narrative. This mode strips away the high-pressure stakes of extraction missions, allowing players to experiment with powerful borrowed equipment while tackling Bandits with relative ease. Missions focus on collecting reports and uncovering lore about Amasia’s collapse as a result, offering a slightly more relaxed, different kind of tension, but equally rewarding gameplay experience.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths:
- Engaging Gameplay Loop: The mix of extraction, customisation, randomised conditions and combat creates a dynamic and rewarding experience.
- PvEvP Balance: The combination of PvE and unpredictable PvP encounters adds excitement and replayability.
- Magus Companions: Ada and other AI companions offer both narrative depth and tactical advantages.
- Polished Mechanics: Combat feels smooth and satisfying, with room for strategic decision-making.
- Immersive World: Amasia’s desolate beauty and evolving story keep players intrigued.
Weaknesses:
- Punishing for New Players: The high stakes of losing items and equipment when failing a sortie may discourage less experienced players.
- Sparse Store Options: The in-game monetised store lacks variety of options, despite focusing primarily on cosmetics. While the Item Store has only a handful of basic items and equipment available at the start.
- Monetisation Gaps: The premium-tier rewards of the Drifter Pass could alienate budget-conscious players.
- Bugs and Issues: Minor technical issues, though addressed swiftly by the developers and providing a reasonable reward for players, may occasionally disrupt the experience for those affected.
Verdict: A Polished Gem with Room to Shine
Synduality: Echo of Ada is a polished and promising addition to the extraction shooter genre. Its engaging mechanics, dynamic PvEvP structure, and satisfying progression systems offer hours of entertainment for fans of sci-fi action games. The blend of mech combat, resource management, and narrative exploration sets it apart from competitors, even if its monetisation and content variety could use some tweaking.
With Season 1 off to a solid start and potential for growth in future updates, Synduality is well worth a look for players seeking a fresh take on the extraction shooter formula. Whether you’re in it for the fast-paced combat, the resource management, or the thrill of high-stakes risk and reward, there’s something here to keep you coming back for more.
