What might’ve simply been a very forgettable licensed sport within the conventional model turned out to be a charmingly old-school expertise in all the fitting methods. The form of sport the place the enemies are all the identical three guys on a bike and the textures pop in on each body, however you couldn’t care much less as you burn by all the things it has to supply.
That is the product of a centered group making a sport with an achievable scope that prioritises stunning and considerate interactions over an inexpensive size of time, relatively than stretching a few pedestrian mechanics advert infinitum. And inside that framework, it manages to be the most effective and admittedly solely worthy follow-up to the unique movie that is ever been produced (Sure, RoboCop 2 is bobbins, do not write in). Jim and I collaborated on the video under which units out why Rogue Metropolis is so profitable as a licensed challenge:
It’s a crunchy, satisfying shooter, with a well-realised cyberpunk setting that carries on and extends the themes and satire of the supply materials in a means that really understands what it’s imagined to be about.
Virtually, it’s principally the cancelled third sport within the trilogy after Deus Ex Mankind Divided – simply if it was made by a AA studio in Poland as a substitute of for $100 million.
As a substitute of exploring Prague, fixing mysteries, finishing facet quests, in RoboCop: Rogue Metropolis, you’re exploring Previous Detroit, fixing crimes and serving to folks discover the fitting VHS within the rental retailer.
I’ve seen quibbles about it not having the identical immersive sim parts – it does in a restricted capability the place you burst by partitions or break down doorways if you wish to get pedantic – however philosophically it seems like an immersive sim throughout the confines of the character, that you simply’re attending to grips with the restrictions of your mechanical physique as a lot as your exploring its many powers.
It’s simply one of many primary themes of RoboCop that’s barely at odds with the ‘nevertheless you wish to method it’ concept of immersive sims, however can be one of many examples of how Teyon has clearly put numerous thought and craft into creating an genuine role-play of the character, relatively than simply slapping a licence onto a run-of-the-mill shooter marketing campaign and calling it a day.
Evaluating this to many AAA RPGs which have blueprinted and bloated themselves into predictability, RoboCop has room inside its remit to nonetheless really feel bespoke and attention-grabbing, like its eventualities can take unanticipated turns with out crashing into the partitions of its sandbox.
With that each one mentioned, I’m keen to not elevate expectations about Rogue Metropolis too excessive, as a result of I really feel just like the air of shock is likely one of the sport’s greatest property. It’s graphically janky in locations, mechanically bizarre in others, and a few of the missions devolve into frustration, but it surely’s the primary sport I’ve gotten the platinum trophy for in ages and is certainly one of many tough diamonds of 2023.
Once more like the unique movie, I really feel like RoboCop: Rogue Metropolis might be an Arrow Video launch in 10 years time. A cult relic that attempted to do one thing completely different with attention-grabbing sport design and might be fondly remembered as greater than the sum of its elements
Given the similarities between the characters, and the way the developer has now dealt with two beloved sci-fi properties with grace and ability, we’re making an attempt to manifest from the universe a Decide Dredd sport from them.
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