Satellite Reign is a cyberpunk real-time tactics video game developed and published by 5 Lives Studios. The game was released for Windows, macOS, and Linux in August 2015. It is a spiritual successor to the Syndicate series, which co-founder and programmer Mike Diskett had worked on. The name of the game is derived from one of the weapons featured in Syndicate Wars called "Satellite Rain". It received positive reviews from critics.
| Satellite Reign | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | 5 Lives Studios |
| Publisher(s) | 5 Lives Studios |
| Designer(s) | Chris Conte |
| Programmer(s) | Mike Diskett |
| Artist(s) | Dean Ferguson Brent Waller Mitchell Clifford |
| Composer(s) | Russell Shaw |
| Engine | Unity |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Release | August 28, 2015 |
| Genre(s) | Tactical role-playing game, real-time tactics |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Development
editAfter the release of the Syndicate reboot in 2012, the Syndicate Wars producer and lead programmer, Mike Diskett,[1] expressed his displeasure over the game's lack of similarity to previous entries in the series:
"A lot of Syndicate fans, including myself, got our hopes up when we heard a new Syndicate game was in development, but in the end it turned out to be nothing like the original games."[2]
This encouraged him to create the Brisbane-based 5 Lives Studios (which included team members who had worked on other video game series such as Grand Theft Auto, L.A. Noire, and Darksiders[1]) and develop a spiritual successor to the game he made back in 1993:[3][4]
"I've decided to take it upon myself to deliver what the fans really wanted."[2]
Unlike the reboot, which was a first-person shooter, 5 Lives Studios tried to build upon the real-time tactics gameplay experience found in the original games by introducing a fixed camera system and character classes.[5]
On June 28, 2013, Satellite Reign was announced on crowdfunding website Kickstarter with a £350,000 (US$546,875) goal. On July 29, 2013, the project was successfully funded with £461,333 (US$720,832) raised.[6][7]
The game was released for Windows, macOS, and Linux on August 28, 2015.[8][9] A post-launch update introducing four-player cooperative gameplay was released in July 2016.[10]
The soundtrack was composed by Russell Shaw, who worked on both Syndicate and Syndicate Wars.
Plot
editSatellite Reign takes place in an unnamed fictional city referred to as "The City". A corporation named Dracogenics rises to prominence after releasing a prototype named Resurrection-Tech that is capable of providing immortality. Dracogenics turns to corporate crime and bribes politicians with immortality in exchange for control and influence. This eventually leads to the privatization of The City's services and full corporate control over The City's police force. Civil unrest arises and is suppressed by Dracogenics, but a rival corporation soon comes to light and launches anti-Dracogenics attacks. The player controls this rival corporation and must overthrow Dracogenics from The City.
Reception
edit| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| Metacritic | 75/100[11] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| Destructoid | 8/10[14] |
| GameRevolution |   [12] |
| GameSpot | 6/10[16] |
| GamesTM | 8/10[13] |
| PC Gamer (US) | 80/100[15] |
| Gameplanet | 9/10[17] |
| GameStar | 83/100[18] |
Satellite Reign received "generally favorable" reviews from critics, according to review aggregator Metacritic.[11]
References
edit- ^ a b Tach, Dave (2013-06-28). "Satellite Reign hits Kickstarter as a spiritual successor to Syndicate". Polygon. Retrieved 2013-06-28.
- ^ a b Yin-Poole, Wesley (2013-07-01). "Creator of Syndicate Wars returns with spiritual successor Satellite Reign". Eurogamer. Retrieved 2020-08-30.
- ^ Diskett, Mike (July 2013). "Satellite Reign Kickstarter Video". YouTube. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
- ^ "Satellite Reign, the Spiritual Successor to Syndicate". Fundthisgame. 2013-07-17. Archived from the original on 2013-07-23. Retrieved 2013-08-16.
- ^ Jim Rossignol (2013-07-02). "Satellite Reign And Syndicate's Simulation Legacy". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved 2018-02-23.
- ^ 5 Lives Studios (2013-06-28). "Satellite Reign". Kickstarter. Retrieved 2018-02-23.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Satellite Reign". Kickstarter. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
- ^ Purchese, Robert (2015-07-13). "Syndicate Wars-inspired Satellite Reign gets release date". Eurogamer. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
- ^ Plunkett, Luke (2015-08-25). "Satellite Reign: The Kotaku Review". Kotaku. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
- ^ Chalk, Andy (July 16, 2016). "Satellite Reign now has a four-player co-op multiplayer mode". PC Gamer. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
- ^ a b "Satellite Reign for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
- ^ Tambouro, Paul (1 September 2015). "Satellite Reign Review". Game Revolution. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
- ^ "Satellite Reign review". GamesTM. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
- ^ Tolentino, Josh (31 August 2015). "Review: Satellite Reign". Destructoid. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
- ^ Kelly, Andy (24 August 2015). "Satellite Reign review". PC Gamer. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
- ^ Saas, Don (16 September 2015). "Satellite Reign Review". GameSpot. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
- ^ Brown, Chris (13 August 2015). "Satellite Reign expands beautifully on a bona fide classic review". Gameplanet. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
- ^ Deppe, Martin (1 September 2015). "Satellite Reign im Test - Endlich: Ein neues Syndicate!". GameStar. Retrieved 25 December 2017.