Frozen Synapse is a turn-based strategy game from Mode 7 Games, and after enjoying a great deal of fanfare on the PC, it has finally made its way to the iPad for on-the-go strategizing.
Each match in Frozen Synapse is separated into alternating, five second turns between two players. You control a squad of green, gun-toting soldiers tasked with wiping out the opposing red soldiers. Depending on the mode, you might be asked to rescue hostages, defend a set region, collect important boxes, or charge a line that the other player is defending. The game can be overwhelming at first, but a large collection of video tutorials within the game are extremely helpful for new players, or old players in need of a refresher course.
Patience is vital in Frozen Synapse. A single miscalculation could wipe out an entire team, and there's no going back. Thankfully, players are granted an unlimited amount of time to play for any given scenario. During a round of Frozen Synapse, in both online multiplayer matches or single player campaign missions, each and every step, every turn, every engagement can be plotted out before players finally send their forces on a very long five second march from one location to another.
The asychronous multiplayer is the draw of Frozen Synapse without a doubt, but the single player campaign is more than just a convenient distraction while you await your turn in online play. Each scenario in the campaign follows a competently entertaining story about the protagonist Tactics' (yep, that's his name) involvement in an operation to take down the evil Enyo:Nomad company. A man named Graham Nix leads the resistance force, and he relays orders throughout the campaign as Tactics makes his way through the city, Markov Geist.
It has been over a year since the original game was released on Steam, so Mode 7 has had time to give the iPad edition a lot of attention. The highest compliment I can pay the mobile Frozen Synapse is that it looks almost identical to the PC Frozen Synapse. The bright, easily distinguishable character models are as sharp as ever; the levels are simple, but stand out nicely on the iPad's screen; even the menus are nearly the same on both versions. Plus, the fantastic soundtrack returns, and it sounds just as good as it ever did.
Fans of the original game looking for a brand new experience will be disappointed, but that was never Mode 7's intent. Frozen Synapse on the iPad allows you to bring the robust, fast-paced multiplayer game with you wherever you go, but you won't find much new content. The additions that did make it in are welcome, and make perfect sense considering the game's new audience. My personal favorite is Hotseat mode, which allows two players to pass the iPad back and forth, powering through a match in just a few minutes. Pass-and-play games are few and far between on the App Store, so if you are looking for something violent and entertaining to play with your family and friends, Frozen Synapse is a no-brainer.
Everyone who played the PC version of Frozen Synapse has one very obvious question: is it worth owning both the original and the iOS port of the game? Let's start with the first group. If you love Frozen Synapse, and you want to have access to your games in a more portable format, get on the App Store and purchase Frozen Synapse right away, because almost nothing is lost in translation. How about if you've never played Frozen Synapse? After jumping back in to the PC version to compare the two, there is no question that I prefer the mouse to the touch controls offered on the iPad. The entire game revolves around making precise movements with your soldiers, and navigating the UI while trying to get everyone into place can be tedious. The more I've played, the better the controls have felt. In my case, it probably doesn't hurt to spend a little more time planning my turns, but skilled players might get frustrated while fumbling with the touch controls at first.
If your thirst for turn-based tactics has been whetted by XCOM: Enemy Unknown (which should also see an iOS port in the near future), Frozen Synapse is the perfect cure. The menus and controls might not always suit themselves perfectly to the iPad's touchscreen, but otherwise this is a perfect translation of a great multiplayer game.
Frozen Synapse is available now for $6.99 on the App Store.
