RoboCop: Rogue City is a 2023 first-person shooter game developed by Teyon and published by Nacon. The game features an original storyline based on the RoboCop films, with Peter Weller reprising his role as the titular character. It was released for PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S on November 2, 2023. Here’s the GamersGuide review of it:
In the neon-infused shadows of Old Detroit, justice strides boldly on legs of titanium. It’s the year 2043, and once again, the city is gripped by the tendrils of crime, sinking deep into its decaying core. Turf wars among gangs scar the streets with graffiti, dividing neighborhoods like battle scars. Enter Alex Murphy, a man resurrected from steel and sorrow. He is RoboCop, the cybernetic law enforcer whose metallic gaze penetrates the city’s smog, a beacon of hope amid urban deterioration.
My return to the streets after a failed bust was far from seamless. The alleyway resembled a macabre scene, with lifeless bodies strewn like discarded dolls, their vacant eyes mirroring the glow of flickering neon signs. The air reeked of gunpowder, a gruesome perfume lingering from the recent violence. Beside me, my partner Lewis wore a grim expression under her visor, muttering a brief prayer before we cautiously advanced into the chaos. The path led us through a maze of abandoned warehouses and dimly lit arcade parlors, the echoes of my armored footsteps resonating against the grime. We battled through waves of adversaries, their chrome-plated pistols unleashing flashes of fire in the darkness. My Auto-9 responded in kind, its rounds piercing through flesh and metal with sickening thuds. My visor scanned the turmoil, highlighting threats in crimson, their malevolence exposed for me to eliminate.
As the gunfire subsided and the haze dissipated, a figure materialized from the shadows. Towering, draped in a black trench coat that engulfed him entirely, a glimmer of malice in his steely gaze. Mr. King, the whispered name on every street corner, the puppeteer orchestrating Detroit’s criminal underworld. His grin mirrored that of a shark—cold, calculating, foretelling more bloodshed to come.
This wasn’t merely another street thug with a firearm. It was a strategic move, a declaration of war. And RoboCop, the enigmatic force within the machinery, stood as the sole obstacle. This marked the true commencement of my narrative.
So fasten your seatbelt, partner, and let’s explore the tales of battles bathed in neon, corrupt corporations, and the struggle for a city’s essence, one circuit at a time. You’ll witness the clash of metal against bone and the subtle hum of humanity flickering within the mechanical shell. Welcome to the realm of RoboCop: Rogue City, where the boundary between man and machine is etched in blood, and justice is delivered with a stern, unyielding fist.
Script and Voices Behind:
Rogue City serves up a potent blend of timeless RoboCop motifs and innovative nuances. It fearlessly delves into the gritty, cyberpunk tapestry that Detroit has evolved into, interweaving threads of Alex Murphy’s internal strife as he grapples to reclaim his humanity within the metallic exoskeleton. The dialogue sizzles with the iconic RoboCop mix of dry humor and unwavering determination, flawlessly delivered by Peter Weller. He breathes life into the character with a poignant undertone, reminding us of the man obscured beneath the titanium exterior, all while exuding the aura of a cybernetic law enforcer.
Going beyond Weller, the supporting ensemble delivers exceptional performances. Koshla Engler’s portrayal of Lewis serves as a steadfast anchor, her voice resonating with fatigue yet ablaze with loyalty. Mark Holden’s rendition of “The Old Man” exudes corporate menace, and Ako Mitchell’s Jackie injects a dose of youthful, tech-savvy swagger. Each voice resonates with authenticity, constructing a mosaic of humanity amidst the chrome and neon backdrop.
One aspect meriting consideration is the reception of RoboCop’s vocal portrayal. While Weller’s return initially sparked enthusiasm, some players noted that his voice leaned towards a more robotic tone compared to previous renditions, impacting the emotional connection. This could be perceived as a deliberate stylistic choice, mirroring the encroaching machine aspect within Alex Murphy, or perhaps an element that could have been fine-tuned for a broader emotional spectrum.
Nevertheless, the true brilliance of the writing emerges in its exploration of intricate themes. The battle for Detroit’s future transcends the simplistic dichotomy of good versus evil. Instead, it unfurls as a complex tapestry of corporate avarice, social disparities, and the ever-blurring demarcations between man and machine. The game fearlessly poses challenging inquiries about the toll of progress and the price of justice in a world teetering on the edge.
Rogue City feels like a warm, metallic homecoming. Set after the original film but before RoboCop 3, the game lovingly recreates the cyberpunk atmosphere of Old Detroit. Familiar haunts like the OCP headquarters and the decaying steel mills stand as silent sentinels of the past, their shadows echoing the struggles Alex Murphy faced as he became RoboCop.
The game also neatly fills in narrative gaps left by RoboCop 3. The absence of the Nuke cult is finally addressed, and the game hints at the fate of RoboCop 2’s Cain, leaving you with a sense of closure and a deeper understanding of this twisted timeline.
StoryLine:
In Rogue City, Detroit isn’t just a metropolis; it’s an overflowing cauldron of crime and corruption. Picture Gotham City downing a six-pack of RoboCop 2’s Nuke cola, and you’ll come close. Our protagonist, Alex Murphy, isn’t lounging with margaritas on a beach in this installment. He’s RoboCop, a living titanium migraine for every hoodlum, cyborg, and corporate executive who believes they control the streets.
The narrative takes unpredictable twists and turns, akin to a renegade ED-209 on a joyride. Enter Mr. King, a mysterious puppet master sporting a chrome-plated grin, manipulating the threads of Detroit’s criminal underworld. He’s like Lex Luthor moonlighting as a nightclub DJ. Then there’s Project Afterlife, a experiment promising resurrection with a caveat. Murphy, naturally, rejects it all. He’s a one-man SWAT team with a moral compass, bulldozing through gang hideouts and corporate plots. However, this time, the line between hero and villain is hazier than RoboCop’s visor in a dust storm. Can he trust his own memories? Is the OCP, his alleged employer, truly the puppet master in disguise? And that lingering feeling in his circuits – something just doesn’t add up.
It’s a tale of the struggle for humanity in a world where the boundary between man and machine is thinner than a laser sight. Murphy grapples with his identity, haunted by the ghost of his former self. He’s a walking existential crisis with a rocket launcher, questioning everything from free will to the ethics of Robo-turkey legs.
The atmosphere exudes cyberpunk brilliance – envision Blade Runner meeting RoboCop on a spree in a Tron-owned casino. The soundtrack pulsates with synthwave beats and industrial growls, while the neon-soaked streets seethe with grime and desperation. Every corner feels like a story waiting to be confronted, and each flickering sign narrates tales of corporate avarice and cybernetic turmoil.
Alex Murphy – Hero or a Badass:
In the midst of the neon-lit expanse of Detroit, where chrome intertwines with flesh and morality becomes entangled in wires, RoboCop, the fusion of man and machine embodied in Alex Murphy, occupies a space betwixt good and bad. His psychology forms a intricate blend of conflicting elements, prompting us to ponder: is he a champion of justice or a marionette manipulated by corporate strings?
The genesis tale cannot be overlooked. Murphy, once a devoted cop and a loving family man, met a brutal end only to be reborn as RoboCop – a cyborg enforcer serving the very corporation that orchestrated his demise. This inherent injustice propels his unyielding quest for law and order, nudging him towards the “good” side of the spectrum. His metallic fist becomes a symbol of resistance against the rampant crime and corruption besieging Detroit.
However, Murphy is not merely flesh and steel; he’s a walking paradox, his mind confined in a cybernetic cage. The OCP, his masters, persistently tamper with his programming, blurring the demarcation between free will and corporate control. The glitches in his memories, the haunting echoes of his past life, depict a man grappling to preserve his humanity amidst the machine’s sterile logic. This internal conflict, this perpetual struggle for dominance, casts doubt upon his moral compass.
A Pawn or a Player? Is RoboCop authentically striving for good, or is he merely a tool, a weapon wielded by the OCP to sustain their iron grip on Detroit? His actions often align with corporate interests, prompting us to ponder if his pursuit of justice is merely a meticulously programmed directive. The line between enforcer and puppet becomes indistinct, eliciting disquieting questions about who genuinely holds the reins.
The allure of RoboCop’s character lies in the absence of a straightforward answer. He isn’t a conventional hero nor a pure villain. Instead, he mirrors the morally ambiguous world he inhabits, a cyborg ensnared in a web of conflicting forces. His choices, propelled by a complex interplay of programmed directives, fading memories, and a flickering spark of human defiance, elude easy categorization.
Ultimately, it falls upon us to discern where RoboCop stands on the moral spectrum. Do we perceive him as a tragic hero, battling for justice even when his mind is no longer his own? Or do we regard him as a pawn, a symbol of corporate control and technological dystopia? Amidst the neon-drenched shadows of Detroit, the answer, much like RoboCop himself, remains veiled in ambiguity.
Gameplay and possible pitfalls:
RoboCop: Rogue City plunges you into the metallic heart of Detroit, a cyberpunk playground brimming with both potential and pitfalls. Its gameplay is a fusion of first-person shooting, light RPG elements, and open-world exploration, offering a satisfying, if not flawless, experience.
Image Credit u/ne0neka
What Works:
From the iconic Auto-9 pistol to the devastating Cobra Assault Cannon, wielding RoboCop’s arsenal is pure arcade-style mayhem. The satisfyingly brutal sound design and impactful feedback make every shot feel like a satisfying punch to the face (of crime, of course).
Cybernetic Enhancements:
More than just a gun-toting bot, RoboCop’s visor scans enemies, highlights weak points, and even boosts your speed with a burst of thrusters. These abilities add tactical depth to the combat, encouraging creative takedowns and strategic play.
Open-World Detour:
The sprawling cityscape of Detroit, though not expansive, is densely packed with secrets, side quests, and collectibles. Hunting down hidden OCP data disks or rescuing hostages feels surprisingly rewarding, adding a layer of exploration to the otherwise linear story.
RPG Tweaks:
Upgrading RoboCop’s weapons and abilities with skill points and collected resources adds a satisfying sense of progression, allowing you to tailor your cyborg cop to your preferred playstyle.
Glitches in the System:
Mission Monotony: While the main story throws some interesting curveballs, the side quests often fall into predictable fetch-and-deliver or “clear this room of bad guys” territory. They can feel like padding at times, detracting from the narrative momentum.
Open World, Open Bugs: The open world, unfortunately, suffers from occasional technical hiccups. Frame rate drops, clipping issues, and the occasional teleporting enemy can disrupt the immersive experience.
Story Stumbles: While the narrative has its share of intriguing moments, the overall plot feels somewhat predictable, struggling to fully capitalize on the rich lore and potential of the RoboCop universe.
Limited Character Interactions: Beyond RoboCop and his main allies, the world feels surprisingly static. Interacting with civilians or other factions could have added depth and a sense of consequence to your actions.
Bottom Line:
Overall, RoboCop: Rogue City is a good first-person shooter game that is sure to please fans of the RoboCop franchise. The game has a satisfying story, fun combat, and a well-designed open world. However, the graphics are not great, and the PC version of the game is not very well-optimized.
I would recommend RoboCop: Rogue City to fans of the RoboCop franchise and to anyone who is looking for a good first-person shooter game to play.