It’s been a while since I’ve been on this site but I’m glad to be back. Between my non-stop playing of fighting games such as SF6 and MK1 and replaying the MGS series due to the remaster, I haven’t played much new in a while. But I’m back, and hopefully here to stay.

Anyway, RoboCop. This game is good, albeit a tad shallow unfortunately.

As a fan of the source material, RC masterfully encapsulates the essence of the Robocop universe. This is a perfect example of how to make a licensed game, as every minute detail is captured. Even the layout of the precinct is consistent with the movie. The narrative of RC is also conforming to the classic films. Yet again the OCP are a multifaceted private mega-corporation that own Detroit. RoboCop struggles with his humanity as he fights in the name of Justice for the citizens of Old Detroit. It’s another great story in the universe of RoboCop and mirrors the thematic themes of the franchise perfectly.

The gameplay even represents RoboCop well. This is a gory game, and RoboCop is not moving at breakneck speeds. The combat is methodical and precise. Enemies can take dozens of body shots, but their heads and crouches explode with one well placed bullet from your auto-9. RoboCop is a walking tank peaking around corners and using various abilities that you periodically unlock through skill points. Unfortunately, that’s where the positives of the gunplay end, as this combat is shallow.

There’s not much player agency. The player feedback is great and the spectacle of the gore will dazzle players (myself included), but underneath the surface is combat that fails to impress at a high level. None of your abilities are vital until the endgame. Regular enemies are far too easy and later enemies are far too spongy. All you’ll be doing is waiting in cover and then peaking out once a useful ability such as the shield or slow-motion has recharged. You can do some cool stuff against regular goons such as throwing them into each other and chaining moves together, but by the end of the game, this will be impractical as you’ll be shredded for giving more than 2 enemies a line of sight at you. This is one of my pet peeves. The best way to play should be the most fun way. Unfortunately in RC, this isn’t the case.

It’s not all combat however. Much like Terminator: Resistance, Teyon’s previous game, RoboCop: Rogue City is an action-RPG.
RC introduces a diverse range of crime scene investigations and side quests, offering players a variety of activities. While the storytelling and world-building during these quests is mostly excellent, the player engagement is lacking. Your decisions do matter and they will impact future events, but the missions themselves are formulaic. The player will mostly be walking around and scanning various points of interest with shootouts dispersed intermittently. It’s not bad whatsoever, but there’s not much going on here gameplay wise. It offers a smooth experience that’s likely not to bore you, but ultimately lacks depth.

I was expecting a bit more from this release. After the flawed yet charming Terminator: Resistance, I figured Teyon would break through to deliver a modern classic. The storytelling and world building really does the heavy-lifting here. Along with its impressive respect for the source material, it’s the only aspect of the game that soars above mediocrity. While Robocop: Rogue City is wholly competent and offers generous variety, the main gameplay is unfortunately shallow and inconsequential. Don’t let my 6/10 score deter you however, especially if your a fan of the films. Over my 16 or so hours, I was never bored or was wishing to play something else. It accomplishes that at the very least.

6/10