RoboCop: Rogue City review (PS5)

In RoboCop: Rogue City, players step into the iconic metal boots of Alex Murphy, the part-man, part-machine hero who patrols the dangerous streets of Old Detroit. The game’s narrative, set between the RoboCop 2 and 3 films, shows players a crime-ridden city facing a new threat. The story, while somewhat standard in its “all cops are bastards” approach, successfully captures the satirical essence of the original film’s portrayal of a dystopian future dominated by megacorporations like OCP – making this one that should definitely appeal to longtime RoboCop fans. We tried it out on a PlayStation 5.

One of the game’s standout features is the return of Peter Weller, the original RoboCop actor who first played the role over 35 years ago and is now voicing the iconic lead character for this interactive spinoff. This adds a layer of authenticity, and Rogue City excels in portraying RoboCop as a multifaceted character, delving into his psychological struggles and (human)past. The balance between short catchphrases and a more in-depth exploration of RoboCop’s personality adds depth to the narrative here, just like it did in the first film.

The gameplay mechanics, especially the combat, are a pleasant surprise. Rogue City offers responsive and weighty gunplay that makes players feel as powerful as the legendary Alex Murphy after he gets turned into RoboCop – the DualSense controller helping out in that sense. The customizable skill tree adds depth to the combat, allowing players to upgrade RoboCop’s abilities beyond the standard gunfights as you progress through the campaign. The RPG elements, including dialogue choices that impact the story and character relationships, enhance the overall experience above that of a standard shooter as well.

But despite being a fun and solid experience, the game has its drawbacks. With a 20-hour campaign, it can feel a bit on the longer side as the gameplay mechanics don’t change that much over time. Some of shooting gallery style levels feel a bit long, and a few sections have difficulty spikes where it feels like you hit a temporary wall – overemphasizing the shooting sections over the parts where you step into Alex Murphy’s more complex character.

Having said that, the dialogue choices do contribute to the game’s replayability. These choices, ranging from strictly following the law to embodying more of Alex Murphy’s humanity and making judgment calls, add nuance to the character and interactions with key figures in the game, and it’ll be interesting to see how different choices will lead to different outcomes in a future playthrough.

In terms of visuals and audio, Rogue City showcases a keen understanding of the source material, capturing the color palette and gritty and dystopian atmosphere of Old Detroit. However, the game’s technical aspects are a mixed bag. While the combat scenes are satisfying and well-executed, the overall graphics, especially character animations, suffer from a few glitches. The game’s presentation also doesn’t feel like it uses the full potential of the Unreal Engine 5, resulting in a somewhat inconsistent visual experience that wouldn’t have looked out of place on the last console generation – though RoboCop fans won’t mind as it nails the look and feel.

In conclusion, RoboCop: Rogue City is a pleasant surprise in the realm of licensed games, where things can be hit and miss. It successfully captures the essence of the RoboCop persona and world, offering an engaging narrative with a well-portrayed central character. The combat mechanics and RPG elements contribute to the game’s strengths, and for fans of the iconic cybercop, Rogue City is a worthwhile journey into the dystopian streets of Old Detroit.

Score: 7.7/10