SYNDUALITY: Echo of Ada is an upcoming extraction shooter with giant mechas and automaton companions. Read on to learn everything we know, our review of the playtest, and more.
Everything We Know About SYNDUALITY: Echo of Ada
SYNDUALITY: Echo of Ada Plot
In SYNDUALITY: Echo of Ada, players take on the role of Drifters—explorers who scour the planet of Amasia in search of precious AO crystals. To fulfill your duties, you are assigned a COFFINCRADLE—state-of-the-art combat and exploration mechs—and are accompanied by Magus, automatons that you can customize and bond with, designed to assist with both your missions and day-to-day tasks.
However, your quest won’t be easy. Standing in your way are the terrifying Enders, monstrous creatures scattered across the planet. To make matters worse, other Drifters are also competing for control of these rare crystals, and they’ll stop at nothing to claim them before you do.
SYNDUALITY: Echo of Ada Gameplay
The core gameplay of SYNDUALITY revolves around collecting AO Crystals—a precious resource you’ll need to bring back to your home base. Selling these crystals provides you with the funds to support your future expeditions. Sounds simple enough, right? Well, not exactly…
You’ll have to contend with the relentless Enders scattered throughout the world who will do everything they can to keep you from getting your hands on those valuable crystals. To complicate matters further, other Drifters are also on the hunt, and they won’t hesitate to clash with you to claim your loot for themselves.
SYNDUALITY: Echo of Ada Release Date
Bandai Namco has yet to announce a specific release date for SYNDUALITY: Echo of Ada. Initially slated for release in 2023, the game has since been delayed until 2024, leaving fans eagerly awaiting further updates.
SYNDUALITY: Echo of Ada Review [Playtest]
Shiny, But Could Be Shinier
I’ve always been excited to get my hands on a game with giant mechs, and SYNDUALITY: Echo of Ada is no exception. In fact, if you’re a fan of mecha games, this one should be on your radar—and here’s why:
Unlike most mech-focused games, SYNDUALITY: Echo of Ada isn’t purely about combat. Sure, you’ll have your fair share of firefights, but much of your time will be spent exploring the map, scavenging for resources, and trying to avoid enemies, certain or otherwise, whenever possible. That’s because at its core, it’s an extraction shooter.
The extraction shooter mechanics really drive the experience. When you die, the penalties are quite harsh. You risk losing almost everything, including your mech. You also have a limited time to spend on the surface dictated by your mecha’s battery levels. Hence, you must plan your excursions so that you’ll always have enough time to retreat to an extraction point. There’s also a crafting system, home management mechanics, and other features that fit right into the game.
Of course, there are moments when avoiding combat isn’t an option. This is especially true when you encounter Enders, monsters born from the game’s lore. They usually just wander the world, content with sniffing wet grass and watching the sky. But the second they spot you, you can be sure they’ll be on to you in no time (or a lot if you’re up on a cliff).
Thankfully, you’re not completely defenseless. You’ve got weapons at your disposal. They need ammo, though, and just like in real life, ammo doesn’t come cheap or in endless supply. Every time you head out, you’ve got a limited stash, and restocking costs in-game currency. This adds another layer of strategy, encouraging you to avoid unnecessary fights whenever you can.
On top of that, you have your trusty Magus AI companion. These customizable humanoid automatons are more than just fancy sidekicks—they help with everything from combat to daily tasks. Okay, they’re essentially just fancy sidekicks, but they do have unique abilities. Depending on how you designed them, they can jam enemy movement systems, launch missile volleys, etc., making them your most reliable partners in the game.
That said, don’t expect that you can perform complete pacifist runs. Enders often guard AO Crystals, which are critical for any successful scavenging run because of how valuable they are. They’re essentially cash in rock form, really. But despite that, the biggest threat isn’t actually the Enders.
How does that saying go again? “The most dangerous animal to a human is another human?” Well, that holds true here. Since the game is a PvPvE one, you’ll have to share the map with other players, each with their own agendas. Some just want to scavenge in peace, others may be open to temporary alliances, but there will always be those out there hunting for prey—and in this game, everyone is fair game (even them).
Now, let’s talk about the game’s flaws. Inventory management is a pain, especially early on. You only get 100 slots, and ammo takes up so much space that it’s almost laughable. I get what the developers were going for, though—it’s their way of discouraging players from hoarding ammo. In this game, inventory space is a valuable resource too.
The controls? They’re clunky. Hitboxes can feel off, too, especially if you’re sniping and trying to land shots through tight spaces. It definitely needs some tweaking. Translation quality could use a lot of work as well.
And then there’s the performance. Even on a high-end NVIDIA 40-series GPU, I experienced frequent frame drops, which is pretty frustrating. The game also takes up over 50GB of space in its playtest state, and I can only imagine what the final system requirements will look like.
Still, for fans of mecha games or extraction shooters, this is one to watch. With any luck, the developers will smooth out the rough, almost jagged edges and maybe even add a single-player mode for those who prefer a solo experience. SYNDUALITY: Echo of Ada may have its issues, but it’s got the potential to be a standout title.
A Vibrant, Ruined World
While SYNDUALITY: Echo of Ada isn’t set in a true post-apocalyptic world thanks to the thriving, advanced societies still flourishing underground, the surface tells a different story. The ruins of civilization above are a breathtaking sight. Picture vast cityscapes, once man-made, now overtaken by nature, blended with functional, high-tech facilities built for humanity’s gradual return to the surface. That is what it looks like from a mile away, and it’s gorgeous.
What makes these environments even more interesting is their practicality. The sprawling streets are perfect for taking cover from sniper fire, while the massive warehouse districts are ideal for scavenging valuable man-made materials. It’s a world where the landscape isn’t just for show—it’s a strategic playground for combat and survival—or for taking shelter from the rain.
Delicate Dance Between Risk and Reward
SYNDUALITY: Echo of Ada throws you into a world where survival and scavenging go hand in hand. The core gameplay revolves around hunting for AO Crystals, which you can trade for cash, and gathering materials to craft gear. But there’s a catch: all those precious resources are out in the open, where danger is lurking around every corner. To eke out a living, you’ll have to risk your neck every single time you venture out.
What makes scavenging in the wastelands of Amasia great is that when you die, you lose everything. Yes, everything. And no, my saying that it’s “great” wasn’t a typo. This is a good thing to have in the game, at least in terms of engagement. You don’t just lose the loot you worked hard to gather, but also your weapons and even your mech. Thankfully, you can insure some of your equipment, so you’ll get it back after an unfortunate encounter (for a price, of course). But here’s the kicker: you can’t insure the stuff you’ve gone out of your way to find. If you die doing the game’s metaphorical equivalent of dumpster diving, it’s gone.
This constant threat forces a tough question to its players: Do you play it safe with quick, low-risk runs to protect your loot? Or do you push your luck, go deeper, and risk losing half an hour of progress to a particularly patient player waiting on top of some cliff with a giant sniper rifle and a ruthless grin? It’s these high-stakes moments that keep you on edge and make the experience all the more thrilling.
Very Real Agency and Freedom
In case you’re still wondering, SYNDUALITY: Echo of Ada is a PvPvE game. This means that while you’re dealing with AI-controlled enemies, other players are also roaming the surface, scavenging just like you.
There’s no option to disable PvP. You’re always at risk of running into other players, and not all of them will be friendly. However, the game gives you tools to communicate. You can send a greeting or signal that you come in peace. Of course, they can do the same, and from there, it’s up to you how to respond.
Do you trust them and maybe form a quick alliance? Or do you like to make things harder for everybody with your itchy trigger finger? These impromptu alliances and rivalries add a layer of unpredictability, creating a dynamic experience that’s unique to multiplayer games.
Demanding Hardware Requirements
As one would expect from such a beautiful, open and modern game, SYNDUALITY: Echo of Ada is quite demanding in terms of hardware requirements. Even with a 40-series NVIDIA GPU, frame drops were a common sight, and there were also times when the game simply refused to render light sources. On top of that, the playtest version alone took up over a whopping 50GBs of disk space. Imagine how large it would be once the full version is released in the near future.
To be fair, though; the game will likely receive further optimizations prior to its full release. This should clear up much of its performance issues and such. The game’s sheer size, though, can only go up from here.
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SYNDUALITY: Echo of Ada Product Information
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| Title | SYNDUALITY: ECHO OF ADA |
|---|---|
| Release Date | TBA |
| Developer | Game Studio Inc. |
| Publisher | Bandai Namco |
| Supported Platforms | PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC (Steam) |
| Genre | Online PvPvE Shooter |
| Number of Players | TBA |
| ESRB Rating | Teen (PEGI 16) |
| Official Website | SYNDUALITY Official Website |
