"A Great Game & Everything An Adaptation Could Wish For" - RoboCop: Rogue City
31.10.2023 - 10:01
/ screenrant.com
/ Peter Weller
/ Alex Murphy
How is it that the long-running franchise has suddenly manifested its best adaptation in years? Developer Teyon should be applauded, not just for making an enjoyable, substantive game that outshines most other attempts at this IP, but for taking such delicate care of the character and his world, resulting in possibly the finest overall narrative since the original film. The subtlest details of the art direction and sound design are a knockout, supported by a solid, if somewhat simple, FPS and action-RPG framework. The resultant package feels custom-built for devotees, overstuffed with tributes at nearly every step of the story, effectively surpassing its occasional misstep or bug.
Set in time between and (but without the former’s ghastly blue fiberglass character design), puts players in the heavy boots of Alex Murphy as he cleans up the streets of Old Detroit and resolves its criminal intrigues, all while retaining his overwhelming humanity as the only cyborg cop on the force. In a move which only stirred up attention even further, actor Peter Weller reprises his peerless performance as RoboCop/Murphy, a resonant return that summons the character's mix of automated law-and-order gusto and sympathetic pathos. He continues to own this characterization, and has yet to be outdone.
Related: Every Way RoboCop Destroys Bad Guys In Rogue City Gameplay Reveal
takes place over approximately 20 chapters, some of which play out in discreet expansive levels, whereas others present an explorable hub containing secrets and side quests. The intro sequence sees RoboCop penetrating a bloody hostage situation at the Channel 9 News HQ in a one-off map, but the next takes him to the Downtown Detroit district, to which he'll also return several times throughout the game. Areas are relatively spacious and, while not always packed with unique interactive hotspots, the amount of hidden content is a surprise, including entire storylines that can be easily missed if rushing through the game, as well as incidental encounters where Robo can issue misdemeanor justice, like a parking ticket.
There’s an additional benefit to taking the time to carefully scour the levels: fueling ’s interesting system of upgrades. Skill points accrue every time the player hits 1,000 XP, which can then be slotted into gameplay-impacting traits, like damage/armor buffs, new combat abilities, scanner upgrades to assist crime scene investigation, or even a feature which improves dialogue choices.
RoboCop’s trusty Auto-9 gun uses swappable circuit boards which can be found and outfitted with pass-through chips to boost damage, reload time, weapon spread, and more esoteric effects besides. This acts as a minigame all on its own, as boards also contain