Synduality Echo of Ada Review — Fun Experience Despite Microtransactions

SYNDUALITY Echo of Ada is the latest installment in Bandai Namco’s mix-media franchise. Echo of Ada, joins the Synduality: Noir anime and Synduality: Ellie manga and light novel, as the first video game, allowing YOU to join the world of Drifters who fight Enders. The official release date is January 24th (or 23rd, depending on the time zone), but we got a chance to take a look at the early access, also available to players who bought Deluxe and Ultimate editions. The launch trailer, which came out earlier today features “Departures” by RON and ReoNa:

The game shares the setting with other media from the franchise: the year is 2222, years after a mysterious poisonous rain called The Tears of the New Moon wiped out most of humanity and birthed deformed creatures that now hunt the population. Humans are forced underground and a group of people, known as Drifters, are tasked with collecting a rare resource, known as AO Crystals in collaboration with Magus, who are their AI partners. In this process, they face xenomorphic creatures (Enders) and collect AO Crystals and other materials needed for survival.

Bandai Namco is the publisher for the Echo of Ada, while Game Studio Inc. is the developer. System requirements are as follows for minimum:

• 64-bit processor and operating system
• OS: Windows10/11 64bit
• Processor: Intel Core i5-11600K / AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
• Memory: 16 GB RAM
• Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 [8 GB] / AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT [8 GB]
• DirectX: Version 12
• Network: Broadband Internet connection
• Storage: 60 GB available space

I just barely managed to meet the recommended requirements for the 1080p/60fps and had no issues:

• Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
• OS: Windows10/11 64bit
• Processor: Intel Core i7-11700K / AMD Ryzen 7 5800X
• Memory: 16 GB RAM
• Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Ti [8 GB] / AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT [12 GB]
• DirectX: Version 12
• Network: Broadband Internet connection
• Storage: 60 GB available space

Gameplay

SYNDUALITY Echo of Ada is a PvPvE game with a match system known as Sortie. The game offers two maps: a beginner-friendly Northern Zone and a PvP-oriented Southern Zone. In the Northern Zone, you will meet enemies and other players. You can team up with the players, but you don’t have to, and you can choose to loot them. If you end up defeating other players, a bounty will be issued on your head by the Association. You can pay them to get back into their good graces (yay, corruption) or you can choose to live as an outlaw.

You take part in Sorties with your Magus partner (I’ll get into this in a bit) and your CRADLECOFFIN, a mecha-style suit that allows you to fight, collect and carry items, and move around in all kinds of terrain. As you progress, you get access to your Garage, which serves as your base and eventually allows you to upgrade your CRADECOFFIN and tools, including weapons. The Garage also features a shop and a wardrobe selection for your Magus.

The game has multiple weapons, divided into two types based on ammunition: Live Ammunition and Energy Ammunition. They also vary by range, bullet reserve, power, and fire rate. All items, including weapons, excavators, and armor, eventually break down. You can repair them but eventually, you will have to replace them.

The game also features Achievement List which allows you to collect points for the Drifter Pass. Overall, it can be grind-y but it’s fun.

Magus

The AI partners seem to be one of the most visible points of the SYNDUALITY Echo of Ada and with a good reason. I found these characters to be quite suitable companions with cute daily life tidbits added to make them seem more “alive.” They have an actual role to play in the combat and scavenging too, so it’s not like they are there to just be beautiful. If you “die” your Magus becomes inactive until you clean it (by paying after unlocking). I picked Ibis for my playthrough and only did minor tweaks to her design and outfits.

The Glaring Issue

Microtransactions. SYNDUALITY Echo of Ada has what I consider an unholy number of things you can buy, speed up, tweak, and upgrade with real money. Besides the Item Shop, which uses in-game currency that you grind for and which I will not count here, we have:

• SYS Coins (if my math is correct 1EUR is around 100 SYS Coins)
  • Costume Packs: 150 to 1,500 SYS Coins
  • Magus: 2,000 SYS Coins (20 EUR)
• Tickets (split into four types):
  • Magus Production Ticket (2,000 SYS Coins or 1 Ticket (20EUR))
  • Remake Ticket (1,000 SYS Coins or 1 Ticket (10 EUR)
  • Drifter Pass Deluxe (1,000 SYS Coins or 1 Ticket (around 10EUR)) – certain rewards are locked behind this tier
  • Drifter Pass Ultimate (3,000 SYS Coins or a Ticket (around 30EUR)) – gives you 25 rank boost

The Remodel section is also time-gated and to speed up the crafting process you can spend SYS Coins. For a paid game, this feels like a bit much.

SYNDUALITY Echo of Ada – Worth Playing?

Despite the microtransactions, I found SYNDUALITY Echo of Ada to be quite a fun game. I don’t mind grinding for money and although the prices are a bit much for certain things, finally getting to the point where you have enough resources to afford something is satisfying.

I’m not the best at this game (skill issue) but I enjoyed that you can choose factions. It adds a layer of complexity to an otherwise simple PvPvE system. It doesn’t feel repetitive, which is what I worried about. I’ve stayed on the Association’s side for now and stuck to fighting monsters and running away.

I had concerns about the sustainability of this game because I wasn’t sure if SYNDUALITY was a franchise strong enough to carry a game that is not only paid but also features this amount of microtransactions. However, it seems that it has a fairly active community, at least for now. The initial reviews were not looking great, but we are already getting updates that aim to improve quality of life and I was glad to see that the price of AO Crystals was increased. Time will tell how the PvP aspect will hold up, but at least we know that PvE is not going anywhere.

I plan to keep playing and I look forward to seeing what updates they have in store. For now, I’m giving it 7/10. One thing I have to ask though: why are all of these Bandai Namco games so difficult to close? Why do we have to go to settings to exit the game?

SYNDUALITY Echo of Ada is available on Steam, Play Station 5, and Xbox
© MAGUS / SYNDUALITY™ & ©Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc.

Author was given a review copy of the game.