RoboCop: Rogue City Review – Serving Justice in the Virtual Streets
Does this high-octane shooter live up to the legacy of the iconic franchise? Let's dive in.
last updated Jan 16, 2024
The sheer joy of walking the beat as RoboCop makes it a compelling play.
To Protect and Serve… With a Bang!
Strapping into the boots of Detroit's primary cyber law enforcer feels just as powerful as you'd hope. The game nails the nostalgic factor, with a combat system that not only feels right but adds depth to the typical FPS experience. Engaging with the environment, issuing citations, and dispensing street justice are all in a day's work for our favorite part man, part machine. Skill choices seamlessly weave into the narrative, introducing consequential elements to the gameplay. It’s a refreshing change to have our in-game decisions pack as much punch as our firearm.
Synthesized Sounds of Justice
Audio is a crucial element in capturing the original movie's atmosphere, and boy does it deliver. The soundtrack is a delectable throwback, a synthwave serenade that transports you straight back to the '80s with a blast. Sound effects are punchy and satisfying, especially when unleashing a barrage from the Auto 9. Voice acting is nostalgic, if occasionally toeing the line into parody, but let's be honest – we wouldn't want it any other way. The audio provides that crucial ambiance for an immersive RoboCop experience.
A Pixelated Glimpse of Old Detroit
Graphically, 'RoboCop: Rogue City' delivers an aesthetic that straddles the line between homage and modernity. While some environments dazzle with their intricacy, the graphic fidelity can swing wildly, drawing you out of the moment with jarring inconsistencies. Performance-wise, the frame rate occasionally staggers under the weight of Old Detroit, much like an ED-209 navigating stairs. Colliding with some bugs and the odd crash, the experience can feel as rough as Delta City’s underbelly. However, throw in a sprinkle of mods and patches, and you've got a game that scrubs up as nicely as OCP's public image.
Of Mods and Men
The mod community jumps to the rescue, offering salves to the technical hiccups that mar the gameplay for the less fortunate amongst us. Patches and mods have provided fixes for the graphical glitches and crashes, buffering the experience against the blight of bugs. While one could argue we should not rely on benevolent modders to fix a game, their swift interventions show the robust love for this pixelated protector. The fanbase unequivocally states: 'We will not let RoboCop fall'; a commendable sentiment, but nonetheless a workaround for issues that shouldn't need a vigilante fix.
STEAM RATING
Developer
Teyon
Publisher
Nacon
Release Date
November 02, 2023
The Verdict
For fans of the franchise and newcomers alike, 'RoboCop: Rogue City' stands as a testament to the staying power of a classic character. Despite its shortcomings—a buggy release that's been largely patched, some gameplay repetition, and a visual inconsistency reminiscent of the '80s Detroit landscape—the game offers a unique blend of FPS action and decision-led storytelling that captures the spirit and thrill of the titular hero. While it might not revolutionize the genre, its respectful treatment of the source material and the sheer joy of walking the beat as RoboCop make it a compelling play. If you're looking to dispense some heavy-metal justice, your move, player.
