Syndicate's 2012 makeover turns it from an isometric, cyberpunk click 'em up into a first-person shooter with Deus Ex trimmings.

EA is promising a four-player online fragfest of a demo by the end of January -- likely January 24/25, then -- allowing punters to try out a reworked mission from the game's 1993 ancestor.

The cult classic itself is also making a return on January 19, fully compatible with modern Windows machines, courtesy of Good Old Games.

This year's outing won't be the first to reappropriate the name of a well-received forebear, a tactic that hasn't always worked out well when expectations are set so high.

Prince of Persia (2008), Bionic Commando (2009), Aliens vs Predator (2010) and Shinobi 3DS (2011) all struggled to win over fans despite their arguable merits, and it's difficult to forgive the failings of Yar's Revenge (2011), Alone in the Dark (2008) and Sonic the Hedgehog (2006).

Still, Syndicate isn't entirely doomed by association -- Mortal Kombat (2011) and A Boy and His Blob (2009) both turned out rather well -- a feat that 2012's SSX, Tomb Raider and Devil May Cry will be hoping to emulate.

Syndicate (2012) official website: ea.com/syndicate
Syndicate on Good Old Games: gog.com/gamecard/syndicate