SYNERGY REVIEW: WHEN CITY BUILDERS GO GREEN AND GORGEOUS
Synergy is here to make city building sexy again. This early access gem is like if Moebius and SimCity had a lovechild, then raised it on a strict diet of environmental awareness and chill vibes. But does it have the gameplay chops to match its drop-dead gorgeous looks? Let's dive into this terraforming wonderland and find out!
PRETTIER THAN A SUNSET ON ACID
First things first: Synergy is fucking beautiful. The art style is so stunning it could make a blind man weep. It's like someone took all the best parts of retro sci-fi art, sprinkled in some Moebius magic, and turned it into a playable fever dream. Every screenshot is wallpaper material, folks. It's almost unfair to other games. Almost.
GAMEPLAY: SIMCITY MEETS CAPTAIN PLANET
Synergy sets itself apart with its focus on environmental interaction and plant life. You'll be playing botanical Tetris, trying to create the perfect eco-system while also building a city that doesn't look like it was designed by a drunk toddler. It's a neat concept that adds some extra spice to the tried-and-true city builder formula.
The game shines in its implementation of plant-life and horticulture. Each plant species affects the environment around it, enabling you to play god with your very own terrarium. It's like Pokémon, but instead of catching 'em all, you're cultivating them all. And trust me, it's more addictive than it sounds.
LEARNING CURVE: STEEPER THAN YOUR MOM'S EXPECTATIONS
Fair warning, folks: this game's learning curve is so steep, you might need climbing gear. The tutorial is drier than a popcorn fart in the Sahara, but push through it, and you'll find a game with more layers than an onion wearing a parka. Just when you think you've got it figured out, BAM! Three more mechanics pop up to say "Surprise, motherfucker!"
But hey, that's part of the fun. It's like solving a puzzle where the pieces keep changing shape. Frustrating? Sometimes. Satisfying when you figure it out? Abso-fucking-lutely.
THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE BUGGY
Now, it's not all sunshine and renewable energy. The game can get a bit repetitive, and the replayability is currently as sparse as vegetation in the game's desert biome. And watch out for those clay roads, folks. They'll turn your PC into a stuttering mess faster than you can say "frame rate drop."
But the pros outweigh the cons. The district system is pretty nifty, letting you organize your city like a Type A personality on a power trip. The building animations are chef's kiss - it's like watching a time-lapse of urban development, minus the soul-crushing gentrification. And the storytelling? It's got more depth than your average philosophy major's Twitter feed.
FINAL VERDICT: A GREEN THUMBS UP
Synergy is like that really hot, environmentally conscious person you meet at a farmer's market. They're gorgeous, they care about the planet, and yeah, sometimes they can be a bit preachy, but damn if they don't make you want to be a better person (or in this case, a better city planner).
Is it perfect? Nah. But for an early access game, it's got more potential than a lottery ticket. With some more development and a bit more depth, Synergy could be the next big thing in city builders. It's already a solid, engaging experience that'll have you saying "just one more turn" until the sun comes up.
Final Score: 8/10 – Prettier than a supermodel, deeper than it looks, and greener than Kermit the Frog. Synergy is a city builder that's actually trying to build a better future.
We at NLM received a key for this game for free, this however didn’t impact our review in any way.