“RoboCop: Rogue City” is the latest entry in developer Teyon’s portfolio of video games based on ’80s action classics, including “Rambo: The Video Game” and “Terminator: Resistance.” With its release on the horizon, this first-person shooter attempts to capture the essence of the iconic “RoboCop” franchise, but the result is a mixed bag of commendable elements and shortcomings.
The shooting mechanics are solid, the satirical elements align with the source material, and there’s an attempt to explore the human side of Alex Murphy, the man behind the RoboCop suit. However, the game adheres too closely to the themes and story of “RoboCop” and its sequel, “RoboCop 2,” failing to deliver a truly original experience.
Set after the events of “RoboCop 2,” the game’s narrative revolves around Omni Consumer Products (OCP), a corporate giant developing a new RoboCop to address the city’s crime problem and the proliferation of the designer drug Nuke. Rogue City’s plot delves into the ongoing spread of Nuke and OCP’s ambitious plan to build Delta City over the ruins of Old Detroit. A gang of Nuke dealers, known as the Torch Heads, welcomes a new player to the city, “The New Guy in Town,” who emerges as one of RoboCop’s adversaries.
The initial stages of “RoboCop: Rogue City” are characterized by pure power fantasy, as players take on the role of RoboCop alongside his partner, Anne Lewis. Armed with the formidable burst-fire Auto-9 handgun, players engage in intense firefights against waves of easily dispatched Torch Heads, dismantling them with a barrage of bullets. Environmental objects can also be weaponized, adding a layer of creative destruction to the gameplay.
The game provides moments of tension as RoboCop encounters hostage situations that require swift action to save lives, employing a “bullet time” mechanic. The outcomes of these scenarios influence RoboCop’s evaluations by OCP officials, affecting his overall progress.
Upon completing the initial mission, RoboCop and his fellow officers return to a faithfully recreated version of the police station from the original film. This section of the game transcends the typical run-and-gun shooter, allowing players to explore the police station, engage in shooting practice, and undertake side missions. These tasks range from manning the front desk and listening to citizens’ complaints to fetching a “Get Well” card for a fellow officer.
Interactions with characters like Dr. Olivia Blanche, a psychologist hired by OCP to investigate RoboCop’s glitches, occur through Mass Effect-style dialogue sequences. These exchanges explore RoboCop’s humanity, delving into the question of whether he perceives himself as a programmed machine or a human with free will and a commitment to justice.
Beyond the police station, players engage with the citizens of downtown Detroit through dialogue, handling interactions with fellow officers, law-abiding citizens, and minor offenders. These choices affect how NPCs perceive RoboCop and can lead to significant consequences, often revealed later in the game.
Downtown Detroit serves as one of the game’s open-world locations, offering opportunities for exploration and interaction. Players can write tickets for parking violations, address graffiti artists and drunks, and eliminate gang stashes of illegal goods. These choices have a lasting impact on the game world and can shape RoboCop’s reputation.
While “RoboCop: Rogue City” introduces diversity in weapons and challenges, none of them compare to the satisfaction of wielding RoboCop’s Auto-9. An intriguing upgrade system for the Auto-9 keeps the gameplay fresh, allowing players to customize and enhance the weapon with collectible components. Multiple motherboard options offer different attributes, such as improved armor-piercing capabilities or an autoloader, eliminating the need to reload.
The game also features unique encounters and boss battles, with ED-209 making multiple appearances. A particularly engaging showdown occurs when players must compete with the ED-209 to eliminate foes within a brief time frame. These moments add a distinct personality to “RoboCop: Rogue City,” echoing the spirit of the original films.
Despite its strong points, “RoboCop: Rogue City” relies heavily on its source material to a fault. The narrative closely mirrors that of the original film, centered around an evil corporation trying to seize control of Old Detroit. Many references and one-liners from the original film are clumsily integrated, and some elements of humor and acting fall flat.
Technical issues plague the game, with choppy frame rates and occasional visual glitches. Dialogue scenes suffer from distracting visual hitches when camera angles shift, and pre-recorded video segments may experience desynchronization.
“RoboCop: Rogue City” is an earnest attempt to recapture the essence of the franchise, with moments of engaging action and thoughtful character exploration. However, its technical issues and narrative reliance on the source material hinder its potential as a truly exceptional shooter. “RoboCop: Rogue City” is set to release on Nov. 2 on PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X, offering fans a chance to dive into the gritty world of RoboCop once more.
