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ROBOCOP: ROGUE CITY
review | PLAYSTATION 5
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Publisher: Nacon.
Developer: Teyon. Released: November 2023. Genre: FPS; Open World. Other versions: XSX; PC. Posted 7th October 2025. By Shane Battams © 2025 |
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Robocop has endured mixed luck in the video game space, as while early adaptations proved popular with critics, the tin man would also be on the receiving end of the more pilloried licensed games in Titus’s effort from 2003. Seemingly exiled to a life of mobile instalments, it would take another 20 years for another console entry to surface in the form of Rogue City. Coming from Teyon, who earned fan praise for Terminator Resistance a few years prior, this shooter offers another faithful video game interpretation of a classic movie universe.
Set between the second and third films, Robocop: Rogue City naturally follows Alex Murphy, the deceased officer resurrected as a cybernetic peacekeeper. After saving a television station from a hostage situation, a new guy in town is found to be the cause, with his appearance coinciding with an increasing crime rate. Robocop attempts to track down the mysterious individual, but must also contend with malfunctions affecting his performance, and the doubt this casts on his abilities. Those wanting another RoboCop tale should be more than pleased, thanks to a combination of enjoyably paced storytelling and sharp, satirical writing that apes the films. Peter Weller capably reprises his role as Robocop, characters such as Anne Lewis and Sgt. Reed return and new characters fit into the world smoothly with voicework balancing the line between cheesy and serious.
Rogue City does a brilliant job of putting players in the shoes of RoboCop, with satisfying shooting and a great setting
In terms of Robocop wish fulfilment, this first-person shooter nails it. It takes a while to adjust to the slower movement, but the snappy shooting makes up for it. Aiming down the sights highlights foes and snaps your aim to them, replicating the efficiency Robocop shows in the movies. Plentiful foes, frequent grenade throws and armour-clad goons ensure it’s not a cakewalk, even if the AI is fairly basic. The iconic Auto-9 serves as your primary gun, as it’s potent and comes with infinite ammo. There’s a slew of other weaponry to be found, ranging from SMGs to shotguns, but the A9 proves more than capable and quite malleable due to the upgrade system. You can insert Motherboards into the gun, and chips provide stat bonuses. Using the wrong node can result in a penalty, however, meaning you need to collect the right chips for the job. While past games have struggled to capture it, Rogue City feels exactly how a Robocop game should: powerful and violent.
There are three main endings, but an epilogue is shaped by your choices. The campaign is fairly lengthy anyway, taking between 12 and 14 hours to complete, but more thorough playthroughs will likely take longer as you search for secrets. It rarely feels bloated either, with a slew of fantastic missions with intricate maps and engaging setpieces. From the opening hostage situation at the TV station, to a bank heist and prison breakout, it proves rather entertaining. The addition of New Game + allows you to carry over your upgrades and test your mettle on harder settings. The upgrades definitely affect your approach to certain scenarios, as you can opt to focus on combat upgrades, including vitality and strength, or more technical skills such as hacking and conversation aids. It’s great value for a single-player shooter.
There are three main endings, but an epilogue is shaped by your choices. The campaign is fairly lengthy anyway, taking between 12 and 14 hours to complete, but more thorough playthroughs will likely take longer as you search for secrets. It rarely feels bloated either, with a slew of fantastic missions with intricate maps and engaging setpieces. From the opening hostage situation at the TV station, to a bank heist and prison breakout, it proves rather entertaining. The addition of New Game + allows you to carry over your upgrades and test your mettle on harder settings. The upgrades definitely affect your approach to certain scenarios, as you can opt to focus on combat upgrades, including vitality and strength, or more technical skills such as hacking and conversation aids. It’s great value for a single-player shooter.
FOCAL POINT: DETROIT ROCK CITY
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Teyon also successfully recreates Old Detroit, capturing the 80s depiction of the future. The use of outdated tech, such as payphones, retro computers, and even the 6000 SUX are all lovingly depicted here. The grimy streets and rundown businesses make for a fitting backdrop for Robocop to clean, and exploring the semi-open streets of Detroit proves quite rewarding. Interactions offer a plethora of dialogue options which shape how the public and certain characters can see you, such as giving warnings or tickets to offenders. Hidden quests can be found, allowing you to fulfil the peacekeeper role by tracking down a stolen vehicle, stopping a courthouse takeover, and searching the area for misdemeanours such as parking violations. Not only do these reward XP for completion, but being able to patrol and search for crimes is pretty awesome, even if Robocop’s slowness can be detrimental to exploring.
The only major barrier to overcome is a lack of polish to the proceedings, not unlike Terminator Resistance. It’s a solid-looking game for the most part, with excellent lighting, a detailed model for Robocop during cut-scenes and ghoulish gore effects that fit right in with the first film. However, the performance can be quite shaky during intense battles, side characters look a bit rougher and animations can feel a touch stiff during both gameplay and cut-scenes. There’s a lot of weird visual bugs that spoil the immersion, such as bodies getting stuck in objects. The sound is ace though, especially the use of the iconic theme from the films. Fans will get goosebumps when that track kicks in during the opening combat sequence. The guns are potent, explosions rattle your ears and voicework is generally quality. There can be issues with balancing and other odd flaws, such as subtitles failing to match with the spoken dialogue.
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However, what Robocop: Rogue City perhaps lacks in refinement, it more than makes up for with heart. From the weighty combat and smart use of classic elements, to the faithful recreation of Old Detroit and worthwhile narrative: this is a game made by Robocop fans for those who remain loyal to the metalhead. Perhaps more significantly, it’s enjoyable even for those less attached to the license. Unless you crave absolute polish from your shooters, this one’s definitely worth at least a dollar.
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VERDICT"From the weighty combat and smart use of classic elements, to the faithful recreation of Old Detroit and worthwhile narrative: this is a game for faithful Robocop fans that can be enjoyed by anyone – provided you can overlook a lack of polish in spots." OVERALL: 8/10 |
PIXEL SECONDS: ROBOCOP: ROGUE CITY (PS5)
I think it’s fair to say, we didn’t see a RoboCop reboot emerging as one of the standout games of 2023. Rogue City is a fantastic use of the license, using its source material to bolster an inviting, solid FPS open world. Part-man, part-machine, all unstoppable dispenser of lawful justice, Alex Murphy begins experiencing glitches and breakdowns, which appear to coincide with the appearance of the mysterious ‘new guy’. The story is a real surprise, buoyed by excellent voicing and strong writing. It examines RoboCop’s humanity and lands the player with a raft of interesting cause-and-effect choices which, when relating to justice, aren’t always as black and white as they might seem. The Detroit setting is remarkably good: the little details ensure it’s incredibly tangible, like being dropped straight into the films, without ever feeling like a pastiche. Its combat is super punchy as well, with some awesomely destructive weapons and abilities. Shootouts in an arcade and a video store allow it to play to its era of inspiration, whilst explosive battles with motorbike gangs also prove a great deal of fun. Though it looks nice on the whole, there are a few noticeable blips with character models (especially bodies) exhibiting errant behaviour, and slight performance hitches in busy moments. Don’t let that put you off, though: Rogue City is a brilliant bit of fun, and thoroughly recommended. [8] – Tom Clare © 2025
I think it’s fair to say, we didn’t see a RoboCop reboot emerging as one of the standout games of 2023. Rogue City is a fantastic use of the license, using its source material to bolster an inviting, solid FPS open world. Part-man, part-machine, all unstoppable dispenser of lawful justice, Alex Murphy begins experiencing glitches and breakdowns, which appear to coincide with the appearance of the mysterious ‘new guy’. The story is a real surprise, buoyed by excellent voicing and strong writing. It examines RoboCop’s humanity and lands the player with a raft of interesting cause-and-effect choices which, when relating to justice, aren’t always as black and white as they might seem. The Detroit setting is remarkably good: the little details ensure it’s incredibly tangible, like being dropped straight into the films, without ever feeling like a pastiche. Its combat is super punchy as well, with some awesomely destructive weapons and abilities. Shootouts in an arcade and a video store allow it to play to its era of inspiration, whilst explosive battles with motorbike gangs also prove a great deal of fun. Though it looks nice on the whole, there are a few noticeable blips with character models (especially bodies) exhibiting errant behaviour, and slight performance hitches in busy moments. Don’t let that put you off, though: Rogue City is a brilliant bit of fun, and thoroughly recommended. [8] – Tom Clare © 2025
OTHER TOP GAMES BASED ON CINEMATIC LICENSES REVIEWED
Alien 3 (1993, Mega Drive)
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The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay (2004, Xbox)
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