Richard Vronski
Search results
A loyal cop gets caught in the crosshairs of police corruption and warring gangs in Marseille, France.
- Reviews
Roger Moore Movie Nation. Writer-director Marchal loses...
- Rogue City Pictures
Rogue City Pictures and Photo Gallery -- Check out just...
- Reviews
Oct 30, 2020 · The new French film “Rogue City” tramples it, positing that corruption is pervasive and we live in a hopeless, brutal world from which there is no escape.
- Olivier Marchal
- Fully operational and ready to serve.
- DEAD OR ALIVE, YOU'RE COMING WITH ME
- Who are you taking in the '80s robot/cyborg battle royale?
- RoboCop: Rogue City Review Screenshots
- I'D BUY THAT FOR A DOLLAR
- Justin's Favorite games based on '80s movies
- Verdict
- IGN Recommends
By Justin Koreis
Updated: Nov 1, 2023 7:38 pm
Posted: Oct 31, 2023 9:00 am
Paul Verhoeven’s RoboCop is one of the quintessential action movies of the 1980s. It pushed the envelope with over-the-top violence, killer one-liners, and fantastic special effects, mixed with a biting anti-corporate social commentary under the surface that resonated with audiences. There have been multiple attempts to resurrect the series over the years, including an ill-fated reboot in 2014, but nothing has captured the ephemeral “it” that struck a chord when the series debuted. That’s what is most impressive about RoboCop: Rogue City: it’s not just a solid first-person shooter set in the RoboCop universe – developer Teyon absolutely nails the look and feel of its film inspiration in ways that nothing else has. It’s a good game, and the most authentic adaptation the series has ever seen.
The story itself is nothing groundbreaking: a bad guy who looks like he is fated to be thrown off the top of Naktatomi Plaza in Die Hard is up to no good, and you need to stop him. OCP is still an evil corporation, and drug-fueled gangs rule the streets. If you’ve ever seen an old-school action movie set in a city you’ll know what to expect.
RoboCop himself is also treading familiar ground, with what remains of Officer Alex Murphy still struggling with figuring out the line between man and machine within himself, this time with the help of a therapist. That’s the most compelling thematic thread, and it felt like it could’ve been interesting to explore. Unfortunately, it exists exclusively in dialogue options and cutscenes, with no ramifications in gameplay. That’s too bad, as it relegates us to being an observer in his introspective crises, rather than sharing in it.
It also makes some degree of sense in that Rogue City is primarily a first-person shooter about blowing through hordes of criminal scum, but it is also smart about focusing on what makes the titular character unique. Robo (as his friends call him) is a walking tank. The slow, plodding bounce of his gate, with a heavy thunk accompanying each footfall, makes him feel like a juggernaut. The street gangs, bikers, and mercenaries that make up the bulk of the enemy fodder aren’t anywhere close to as powerful as he is, and it is so fun to walk right at these evil doers, shrugging off their small arms fire, and shredding them to literal pieces with the brap brap of Robo’s iconic Auto 9 machine-pistol.
It’s exceptionally violent, as it should be.
“
It’s exceptionally violent, as it should be. Arms and heads explode like pressurized watermelons, bodies tumble and ragdoll all around, and enemies scream about lost limbs. There are often a lot of enemies on screen at once, and turning them into a shower of crimson is a frequent and entertaining occurrence. It may not be appropriate for all ages, but it’s true to the R-rated source material, and here it is ratcheted up to a degree that is humorous and over the top rather than gratuitous and excessive.
RoboCop (RoboCop)
T-800 (The Terminator)
Bishop (Aliens)
IG-88B (Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back)
Johnny 5 (Short Circuit)
Other - tell us in the comments
The entire ‘80s-ness of the presentation is brilliant. The heavy use of synth in the soundtrack fits it to a tee. The dark grimy streets and mohawk-sporting gangs that were central fictional goons throughout the decade are present in force. There are CRT monitors in all the cubices, a green wireframe HUD, and police cruisers that look an awful lot like the old Ford Tauruses that were used in the movies. Small touches, like the visible scan lines when you zoom in and aim down your weapon sights (which also highlights enemies so you can pick them off through smoke and darkness), is exactly the right vibe. Similarly, there’s no modernization of the original’s satirical critique of police brutality – and arguably, none is needed.
The appeal to nostalgia is strong.
“
The appeal to nostalgia is strong, and that can have a significant impact on how much mileage you get out of this. As a pure shooter, Rogue City isn’t overly ambitious, but it’s a lot of fun to play even if you don’t know anything about the series. However, if you grew up with RoboCop or recently watched the movies then it is chock-full of references and nods that add a lot to the experience. I found myself laughing out loud the first time I saw someone driving a 6000 SUX out in the wild. Exploding the groin of a baddie is a silly bit of over-the-top violence on its surface, but it’s so much more entertaining if you know that it’s pulled directly from the film.
Levels alternate between very linear A-to-B stages in which you charge through enemies looking for the “New Guy” in Town who’s taken over the Nuke business in the aftermath of RoboCop 2, and self-contained sandbox areas that put the “cop” in RoboCop. As you walk around the mean streets of Detroit you’ll come across side missions focused on Robo’s p...
The best adaptation of the the finest '80s finest flicks.
Other side missions are more expansive and are the sort of contained side stories that feel worth playing on their own merits. One subplot spanning multiple quests has you helping to reform a drug addict turned informant. Seemingly mundane things like helping him return a watch he stole, or picking out a VHS tape from a video store, are poignant palette-cleansers from the brutal action sequences, though there are certainly a few good shootouts along the way.
RoboCop: Rogue City is a pitch-perfect throwback to the action movies of the ‘80s. It’s over-the-top violence with charm, largely well put together but rough on the edges. Most importantly, it's a fun way to spend time in a beloved fictional universe that doesn’t overstay its welcome. Blasting at goons as an unstoppable walking machine remains as e...
- Justin Koreis
- 1 min
Roger Moore Movie Nation. Writer-director Marchal loses track of characters, story threads, mob cash and drugs, impatient as he is to get to the next shoot-out. Full Review | Original Score:...
Rogue City (French: Bronx) is a 2020 French crime film directed and written by Olivier Marchal and starring Lannick Gautry, Stanislas Merhar, David Belle and Kaaris. It was released on Netflix on 30 October 2020.
Aug 6, 2022 · Rogue City Ending, Explained. Noor Malhotra. Updated August 6, 2022. ‘Rogue City,’ also known as ‘Bronx,’ is a French action thriller that explores how the natural rivalry between cops and gangsters leads to some rather devastating outcomes. Directed by Olivier Marchal, it features stellar performances by Lannick Gautry, Stanislas ...
Oct 31, 2023 · RoboCop: Rogue City review summary. In Short: A surprisingly competent attempt at making a lost sequel to the movies, with some excellent action and ambitious but flawed storytelling. Pros: A...
