RoboCop: Rogue City | Xbox Review

After previously reviewing Terminator: Resistance and offering considerable praise, I was ecstatic to learn that the next endeavor by the same developers would be a new first-person interpretation of yet another iconic 80s sci-fi franchise, RoboCop. Developed by Teyon and published by Nacon, RoboCop: Rogue City is once again – like Terminator before it – another love letter made by a group of passionate game makers who clearly adore and revere the source material from which it’s based. I will always hold extra sentiment for Terminator: Resistance, as not only was it a surprisingly excellent shooter, but it was also my first written review for the site. So when just the title card was announced back in July of 2021, I immediately felt the need to claim dibs amongst our writing team to review RoboCop: Rogue City.

Serve the Public Trust

RoboCop: Rogue City delves into the gritty, crime-ridden underbelly of Old Detroit, introducing a new narrative that intertwines quite seamlessly within the original trilogy. Set between the events of RoboCop 2 and RoboCop 3, the game explores a city engulfed by chaos as new gangs attempt to assert dominance over distribution of the designer narcotic Nuke, a central plot element leftover from the second film. Suddenly a new mysterious crime boss dubbed “The New Guy in Town” emerges in an attempt to reshape the criminal landscape and becomes a focal point of intrigue as all the various gangs wish to offer their services and form an allegiance to this newcomer.

Meanwhile, amid a tense hostage crisis, RoboCop suffers a psychological break. This event happened to be caught on camera by a tenacious journalist with an unyielding pursuit of breaking news. Omni Consumer Products (OCP), the Mega corporation and entity behind RoboCop’s creation, sends an executive to mitigate damage control and supervise RoboCop’s ensuing actions. This character is portrayed as a typical 80s corporate sleaze. 

Despite the overwhelmingly negative reception of the third film (currently holding a 9% score on Rotten Tomatoes), I appreciated the fact that RoboCop: Rogue City makes no attempt to retcon said film. Instead it opts to create an original narrative which respects the entire RoboCop mythos, serving as connective tissue between the sequel films. Several familiar faces from the film series make a return, including RoboCop’s partner Anne Lewis, Sgt. Reed, Mayor Kuzac, along with the Omni Consumer Products CEO known only as ‘The Old Man.’ While Peter Weller returns to voice Alex Murphy/RoboCop, the other characters maintain their likenesses but are absent of voice-over work by the original actors.

Protect the Innocent

RoboCop: Rogue City unfolds mostly within an expansive section of Detroit, offering players ample opportunities for exploration. The city functions as a hub-and-spoke system, providing a dynamic backdrop for RoboCop’s patrols along with opportunities to complete side quests. As you walk the beat, you will encounter citizens committing petty crimes like vandalism, vagrancy, and parking violations. Each of these incidents presents you with a choice: you can opt to issue warnings, aligning with his first directive of serving the public trust, or choose the by-the-book approach and issue citations aligning with his third directive of upholding the law. Balancing these decisions impacts your standing with various NPCs while also shaping the overall narrative, leading to vastly different outcomes.

The Police Precinct acts as a home base between missions, allowing interaction with fellow officers, completion of favors, and skill refinement at the firing range. It’s here where assignments from Sgt. Reed can be obtained, adding depth to the overarching narrative. The precinct (meticulously recreated from the first film) serves as a dynamic space where RoboCop’s human and mechanical aspects converge, reinforcing the delicate balance between the character’s humanity and duty. RoboCop’s targeting scanner, much like Batman’s detective mode in the Arkham series, takes center stage during investigative segments. This tool becomes essential for searching crime scenes, unraveling mysteries, and piecing together crucial clues, respecting its cinematic inspiration and gameplay functionality in RoboCop: Rogue City.

Uphold the Law

At its core, RoboCop: Rogue City is a first-person shooter that stands out as one of the most concise and tight gaming experiences in recent memory. Departing deliberately from standard FPS conventions, the game adheres closely to the character’s cinematic portrayal. RoboCop’s movement and speed differ significantly from typical FPS protagonists, emphasizing a deliberate and methodical approach. The absence of traditional mechanics like crouching or sprinting, replaced by a brisk walk, contributes to the game’s unique feel. Moreover, the violence in RoboCop: Rogue City serves as a fitting homage to the visceral horror and brutal intensity of the 1987 original film; limbs get severed and heads explode like grapefruits. It perfectly captures the essence of RoboCop’s world, delivering a cathartic and authentic experience for fans of the franchise.

The iconic Auto-9 machine pistol serves as RoboCop’s primary weapon featuring unlimited ammo, and can also be upgraded with greater firepower and accuracy among other enhancements. The game features a diverse arsenal of secondary weapons, each with limited ammo, providing players with strategic choices for engaging enemies. Rather than traditional aiming down sights, the game instead triggers RoboCop’s targeting system, a nod to the films, adding to the already deep immersion. 

You can also make use of environmental objects, like exploding barrels offering a tactical edge, allowing players to pick them up and hurl them at enemies, turning them into a fine red mist. In close quarters combat, RoboCop can showcase his strength by grabbing enemies and tossing them against each other, into walls or even out of glass windows from towering office structures. Remarkably, the developers strike a perfect balance in portraying RoboCop as an unstoppable machine while ensuring the gameplay remains challenging. Health packs (which in this context are high tech power cells) can be found throughout the environments. 

Dead or Alive, You’re Coming With Me

When you consider the fact that Teyon is not a triple A developer with deep pockets, the game still looks visually amazing, where it could be easily mistaken as a triple A game. RoboCop: Rogue City excels in replicating iconic locations seen in the films proving this was a game made by fans for fans. The human characters I’m sad to say once again can fall short at times. This was a similar issue I noticed in Terminator: Resistance, the character models lack expressive detail, bordering on a doll-like appearance. Meanwhile on a positive note, the game takes great advantage in the capabilities of the Unreal 5 engine to deliver an impressive environmental damage system. Columns and walls realistically chip away, eventually revealing rebar and support beams, adding visual enhancements to the frantic chaos during shootouts.

In the realm of sound design, RoboCop: Rogue City offers a compelling auditory experience with its impactful weapon sounds, providing each shot with a satisfying and punchy feeling during combat and they pulled his foot stomping sound effect directly from the films. The game skillfully integrates Basil Poledouris’ iconic score, especially in action sequences. However, it’s worth noting that the voice acting, while not personally detracting from my immersion as a fan, is noticeable enough that it could potentially diminish the experience for those less familiar with the source material. The human characters lack the emotional depth needed for broader engagement. This, combined with the doll-like character models, are perhaps the only negative things I have to say about this otherwise great game.

I’d Buy That for a Dollar!!

I’ll say it now, RoboCop: Rogue City is easily my 2023 game of the year. Considering we’re this late in the year, it’s unlikely to get surpassed. The shooting is tight and concise, the story pays respect to the overall mythos, and the violence is brutal and disgusting, just like the films. The return of Peter Weller as RoboCop adds an additional layer of authenticity. While I wasn’t personally bothered by the issues with the character models and voice acting, I wouldn’t be a good critic if I didn’t at least make mention of them and offer constructive criticism.

Looking back on the critical reception of Terminator: Resistance, which was reviled from the major outlets, it underscores the importance of championing game studios that truly grasp the essence of the source material. Teyon showcased dedication and passion with Terminator, and this commitment shines even brighter with RoboCop. It reaffirms that when developers authentically embrace the franchises they handle, the outcome is a game that not only connects with fans but also merits enthusiastic support. This stands as a testament to the potential of mid-tier studios to deliver outstanding experiences, proving that creativity and devotion can triumph even with budget constraints.

To hear me talk more about RoboCop: Rogue City, be sure to listen to the November 15 episode of The Gaming Outsider podcast around the 1:01:20 time stamp.

This review is based on a purchased copy of RoboCop: Rogue City. It is also available on PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store.