Prerelease:Syndicate Wars (PlayStation)
This page details pre-release information and/or media for Syndicate Wars (PlayStation).
The PS1 Syndicate Wars had an odd and interesting development history. Repeatedly touted as the lead development platform of the game by Bullfrog (likely in a quickly-abandoned attempt to reposition the company as focusing on the more lucrative console market), there's no real evidence this was ever the case, and the port suffered from a complete change of direction late in development resulting in an across-the-board revamp and simplification to a more "consolified" direction, making the game six months late to store shelves.
Contents
Magazine Coverage
Play Magazine
This British PlayStation magazine took a particular shine to Syndicate Wars, writing extensively about the game throughout its development in several multi-page preview articles. By luck, the magazine also captured it at key points in its development, laying out almost the entire story of its development.
Issue 1 - November 1995
Very early coverage that has some of the best screenshots of this build of the game. This version seems derived from the PC pre-alpha builds, with a single agent on screen and a similar look, but already more complex lighting in place. In fact, it's questionable if this really is a PS1 build, as the pictures look far too crisp for the console's 320×200 resolution, and are likely from a PC. The article also states the cut Sonic Blast weapon would "stun people within its range."
One of the best reproductions of this Mike Man concept art
A single agent fighting in an area with a red tint not seen in the PC final game
Very different bloody death graphics not seen in any final version of the game
An intriguing far zoomed out view not possible in the final
The player battling female unguided. The final PS1 version only features male unguided enemies
Different flamer graphics to the final
Issue 14 - December 1996
Particularly interesting coverage that now shows the game on the verge of completion in its original iteration. Here, it can be seen the PlayStation version was on par feature-wise with the original PC game, with a near-identical menu system, and the map screen on full display. The article also states the game will have 15 multiplayer maps accessible via link-up multiplayer between two consoles. The final game had no multiplayer mode at all.
The in-game interface looks very different in this build, based as it is on the original low-res assets used by the PC game. The game is said to only feature two sides now, with the Unguided long since cut from the original release. The article also mentions trains, so it's not clear if they were still present in the game at this point, or if it's just a list of features from the PC original.
The mouse pointer is also visible in most screenshots, which suggests the mouse control was already in place.
A small image of the original Cryo screen design. Note the cut menu icons at the bottom, adapted from the PC original
The completely cut Map screen. The font and design are slightly different to the PC version
Note the debug values below the first agent's weapons, it's unknown what these would mean. The vehicles also have different looking health bars and the scanner is very different in design to the final, with the objective text still displayed below it like in the PC game. This was totally removed for the final PS1 version.
More debug values. See also the cut interface design visible only in the files of the final game, and that the weapon icons here are the original PC game's low res assets
Very different trees not seen in the final
More Debug values
Issue 20 - May 1997
A very late preview just before the game's final release. Screenshots show the game is now identical to the final, with the UI totally redone and completely different to the PC version. It's also confirmed that by now the multiplayer mode was cut and that the game was massively redesigned and cut down since the previous article.
