Frozen Synapse is an indie simultaneous turn based strategy game. A multiplayer beta has been available for a while, the full game has been out for a week and it's an absolute blast.
Concept :
You command a squad of soldiers, and you give complex orders to your team in order to take down your opponent's team. The game is seen from the top, graphics are minimalist to say the least, and you can see the shapes of buildings, like a blueprint. Maps are random generated, even in single player to maximize the replayability, and you can even import png files to create new maps ^^.
In most of the turn based strategy games, you play, then the enemy moves, and so on (Fire Emblem, Advance Wars). Meaning you always react to your enemy movement. In Frozen synapse, you can simulate the moves of your squad, and simulate also the movement of the enemy squad. You can only forecast what can happen, but sometimes, there's a blind spot you have not seen, there's a sniper from the other side of the map, or an unimprepared rocket ^^. Each turns are 5 second long, but you spend a long time trying to find the best strategy for each of your member, by forecasting every moves your enemy can do. But when you click the submit button, the turn is computed and you can't come back.
The different command are complex, but you get the hang of it fast. The real trick is to understand the different types of soldiers and what is the best way to take down an enemy with the correct class.
Squads are composed of a mix of shotguner (fast, short range), gunners (mid range, spreading shots), snipers (long aim, but very long range), rockets (to destroy walls and campers :) ), grenade launchers (with bouncing grenades ^^)
SP :
Single player is a long campaign with a forgettable story ^^ The very first mission almost put me out of the game at first cause the tutorial is as the graphism, minimalist. Somehow, once this has been passed, the missions are very fun and it has been an awesome experience so far. New challenges are added, the objectives are different (get key, shoot everybody, get to a zone, protect a VIP). There's two main games mode, the light mode in which you can see the position of your opponent, and a dark mode where you can only see your enemies if they are in your line of sight.
MP :
I have not tried the MP cause I am hooked on the SP, but basically, you can play at your rythm. Also, to expend the amount of player, you pay the game 15€ and you get two copy, to send to a friend. Or a future enemy ^^ The MP is fully customizable, in terms of size of map, structure of the team, objectives and so on.
The game has an in game chat, and a fancy youtube integration function. At the end of the match, you can either export to your Youtube account the video of all the turns put together (in HD , please). You can also record offline to your computer. Every mission I finish, I record it for my viewing pleasure.
Tutorial :
<iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/KMK60yc7eWE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Just type Frozen Synapse for many MP videos
Have fun guys !
