RoboCop is Pure Nostalgia
In the world of video games, there’s nothing quite like the thrill of revisiting a beloved franchise from your childhood. Recently, I had the opportunity to dive into RoboCop: Rogue City, a game that brilliantly resurrects the spirit of the classic 80s cyborg cop.
The Nostalgia Factor
From the moment you boot up the game, the nostalgia factor hits you like a well-aimed round from RoboCop’s signature Auto-9 weapon. The original actors’ voices and faces, such as Peter Weller’s portrayal of RoboCop, are faithfully recreated. The gritty style and familiar locations of a dystopian Detroit all contribute to a sense of warm familiarity. It’s like stepping back into a world you thought you’d left behind, but finding it just as captivating as ever.
It’s worth noting that the game completely ignores the 2014 remake, directed by the Brazilian José Padilha.
However, this familiarity can also work against the game. The original RoboCop movies were clearly low-budget productions, and while the game does an excellent job of recreating their aesthetic, it can sometimes feel a bit too faithful. Some areas of the game feel a bit sparse and could have benefited from a bit more detail or variety.
Despite this, RoboCop: Rogue City doesn’t shy away from the source material. It embraces the original’s super violent, yet goofy nature. The game is a bloody ballet of bullets and one-liners, a testament to the enduring appeal of the RoboCop franchise. It’s clear that the developers have a deep love and understanding of what makes RoboCop so iconic.
Graphics and Gameplay
The graphics are top-notch, with detailed environments and character models that bring the dystopian future of Detroit to life. However, the game’s AA budget is evident in some areas, such as the facial animations during cutscenes, which can be a bit of a detriment. Fortunately, these cutscenes are not crucial to the overall gameplay experience.
The gameplay is straightforward but effective, offering a satisfying experience despite its simplicity. The core mechanics involve aiming and shooting, with little strategy required. This doesn’t detract from the enjoyment of mowing down waves of criminals with RoboCop’s iconic gun. The game offers a variety of weapons, but RoboCop’s signature sidearm is often the most efficient choice due to its infinite ammo. It requires a bit of determination from the player to actually care to use other guns like bazookas, shotguns, or even throwing chairs and monitors at enemies, despite being fun.
One downside of the game is its lack of difficulty. For the most part, the game is quite easy, with only the final boss providing a significant challenge. Additionally, the mini-bosses can be easily exploited by hiding in blind spots and shooting, which takes away from the excitement of these encounters.
The Story
The story of RoboCop: Rogue City is delightfully cheesy, but it doesn’t innovate much. It uses several tropes from the original movies, and some beats even seem like they’ve been copy-pasted from the source material. The villain, known as “The New Guy,” is a classic RoboCop bad guy, and the plot involves nuke drug, a scheme to replace RoboCop with a fully mechanical cop, and a second-in-command trying to climb the corporate ladder. It’s all very RoboCopy and fans of the franchise will appreciate the nods to the original films. However, the game’s story is not its strong suit, and it’s clear that the focus was on gameplay rather than narrative.
The RPG elements of the game are simple but add a layer of depth to the gameplay. You can upgrade various aspects of RoboCop, from his weapons to his targeting system. While none of these upgrades are essential, they do make the game a bit easier and more enjoyable. Additionally, the game features side characters that you can interact with, but none of them are particularly fleshed out. They’re not irritating, but they don’t add much to the overall experience.
A Parallel Surprise
One of the most pleasant surprises while playing, I searched for news about the cast and the universe, I ended up discovering a documentary titled RoboDoc: The Creation of RoboCop (). This four-episode series features interviews with all the cast and crew of the original 1987 movie, providing a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film. It’s a fascinating watch, full of easter eggs and insights into the precarious and tense shooting environment. The documentary reveals the struggles the filmmakers faced, from fights over budget to disagreements about artistic vision. It’s clear that the creation of RoboCop was a labor of love, and the documentary does an excellent job of capturing that spirit.
RoboCop: Rogue City is a nostalgic trip down memory lane that respects its source material while offering a fun and engaging gameplay experience. The graphics are impressive, the gameplay is satisfying, and the cheesy story is a loving homage to the original films. While may not be groundbreaking, it’s a solid shooter that’s worth checking out for fans of the franchise or anyone looking for a good time. And if you’re a fan of the original movie, be sure to also check out the RoboDoc documentary.
