For many years, video games, especially shooters, have been escalating in speed. RoboCop: Rogue City, currently available on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC, defies this trend by placing players in the slow, deliberate movements of RoboCop. Surprisingly, the joy lies not in rapid action but in the careful design of this RPG shooter, even though it occasionally overlooks the satirical nature of the original film.
In terms of the timeline and lore, RoboCop: Rogue City is set after RoboCop 2 but before RoboCop 3. Anne Lewis, RoboCop's reliable partner, is still in the picture, and Omni Consumer Products (OCP), the corporation behind the metallic law enforcer, hasn't been acquired by Kanemitsu Corporation. This period provides an ideal backdrop for a game, offering sufficient characters and backstory for a compelling side adventure without veering into the overly absurd territory seen in later films.
The game kicks off with RoboCop responding to a hostage situation in a massive corporate news building. The troublemaking gang seeks the attention of the "New Guy" in town, a wealthy criminal in need of henchmen. RoboCop intervenes, dispenses justice, and discovers hostages. However, one hostage triggers memories of his wife, causing RoboCop to experience a hallucination and malfunction. OCP sends the dubious executive Max Becker to install a monitoring chip in RoboCop and oversee his actions (for purely benevolent reasons, no doubt).
The subsequent narrative involves RoboCop unraveling the identity and plans of the "New Guy," uncovering OCP's secrets, and addressing his persistent malfunctions. Despite occasional lapses in acknowledging the original film's satirical nature, the game delves into a thoughtful exploration of the storyline.
The setup lays a strong foundation for a narrative filled with enough twists and turns to keep me engaged. While the writing isn't top-tier, with characters occasionally feeling like vessels for exposition rather than authentic individuals, the voice cast excels in infusing the main characters with sufficient personality. By the conclusion, I found myself cheering for the heroes and relishing the villain's comeuppance.
Peter Weller reprising his role as RoboCop adds authenticity, capturing the iconic character's tone and essence quite well. What's even better is that his likeness is seamlessly incorporated into the game, bringing back his perfect lips under RoboCop's visor.
RoboCop's Unique Gameplay Experience
Initially, I wasn't completely sold on this concept. In the early stages, most levels and combat sequences felt excessively easy. RoboCop seemed invincible, and while it was enjoyable initially to effortlessly dispatch a gang of criminals, after the third or fourth repetition, concerns arose that this might define the entire game.
However, as the game progresses and you become familiar with its mechanics, RoboCop: Rogue City starts to ramp up the difficulty, introducing more engaging challenges in later encounters.
You encounter armored thugs requiring more damage, well-equipped mercenaries capable of swiftly depleting your health, and even robots advancing relentlessly like RoboCop himself. Amidst these tougher encounters, the game occasionally throws a group of minimally armed criminals at you, allowing you to swiftly dispatch them and reaffirm your powerful Robotic Cop status.
Balancing Power Fantasy with Original Themes
RoboCop: Rogue City's dedication to fulfilling the power fantasy of embodying RoboCop stands in contrast to the essence of the original film. In the 1987 movie, RoboCop isn't portrayed as a straightforward badass; instead, he's a broken man grappling with his existence and struggling to find his place in the world.While the original film is saturated with 1980s action, gore, and violence, it, like many of Paul Verhoeven's works, serves as a satirical critique of power, technology, violence, and corporations. However, Rogue City, much like the later films and TV adaptations, appears more inclined towards portraying RoboCop and his police comrades as conventional heroes tasked with saving the day.
It's not a dismissal of enjoying the experience of playing as a formidable cyborg or appreciating the game's combat—personally, I find it quite enjoyable. However, a lingering question arises about what Verhoeven, the original film's director, would think of this game. Nevertheless, considering that subsequent films beyond the first one also struggled with portraying RoboCop as something other than a cool hero, Rogue City's continuation of this trend isn't entirely surprising.
The game does deserve credit for delving more deeply into RoboCop's identity and the remnants of Alex Murphy within the steel body. Moments of introspection, often occurring during therapy sessions, stand out as some of the game's best, capturing the essence of the first film's themes. However, Rogue City refrains from fully embracing this narrative aspect, a decision that, while disappointing, is somewhat understandable. The game, after all, is a semi-open-world RPG shooter centered around being a nearly indestructible cyborg. The inclusion of any introspective moments at all is commendable in this context.
A Surprising Blend: RPG Elements and Narrative Depth
Contrary to a simple first-person shooter, RoboCop: Rogue City adopts a gameplay style reminiscent of a smaller-budget Bethesda RPG, complete with stiff NPC facial animations.As you progress through missions, solve crimes, and take down adversaries, RoboCop earns XP and levels up. Utilizing skill points, you can enhance stats or unlock new abilities and traits. While some improvements are predictable, like increasing armor or damage output, others focus on enhancing investigative skills or facilitating more effective interactions with people.
Unexpectedly, a significant portion of the game involves talking to characters, solving crimes, and scanning locations for clues and contraband. Rogue City's 11- to 13-hour runtime includes wandering through a small section of Detroit, aiding people, addressing minor crimes, and even issuing tickets for infractions.
Although engaging in these activities is optional, it proves worthwhile, not just for the XP rewards. RoboCop's assistance and leniency towards minor crimes can build public trust, influencing the main narrative's outcome and the ending—a mechanic reminiscent of Fallout 3's multiple endings shaped by in-game actions and choices.
By the game's conclusion, I had become intimately acquainted with the open-world Detroit slice and its residents. Having assisted them, explored their surroundings, and genuinely cared about their fates, the final hours presented opportunities to save the city during riots. I chose this not for a trophy or XP but because I felt a genuine connection between RoboCop and the people he had helped.
As the credits rolled, revealing the outcomes for the characters I had assisted, a smile graced my face. Imagining Peter Weller's iconic lips smiling as RoboCop witnessed the positive impact he made on the world, despite being a creation of a monstrous corporation enforcing an unjust system, brought a satisfying conclusion to the game.
A Mixed Bag: Enjoyable Elements Amidst Technical Hiccups
Despite the enjoyable side quests, RPG systems, and open-world dynamics, RoboCop: Rogue City falls short in stability. Over my 12-hour gameplay, I encountered numerous bugs, faced performance issues on PC, and dealt with irritating quirks, including audio glitches and menu malfunctions.While many problems could be resolved with a reset or reload, they did disrupt the flow of the game and made it challenging to distinguish between genuine bugs and potential limitations tied to a smaller budget.
An instance of missing music in certain levels raised the question: bug or resource constraint? It's unclear, but such moments left the game feeling uncomfortably quiet and awkward.
RoboCop: Rogue City might not clinch the title of my game of the year, yet I'm content that it exists and grateful to have played it. It exudes a sense of being crafted by passionate individuals who cared deeply, not only about capturing the RoboCop aesthetic but also about achieving something ambitious within likely budget constraints.
Undeniably, it has its shortcomings. The unwavering commitment to the RoboCop power fantasy occasionally constrains the narrative, and the presence of bugs and pacing issues further compounds the challenges. Nevertheless, the game coalesces into a unique experience, thanks to its deliberate, methodical combat—a departure from the typical shooter released in recent years. While it may not receive accolades for being the best, RoboCop: Rogue City is unlikely to fade from memory anytime soon.
