| DATA | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | TickTock Games |
| Genre | TPS |
| Platform(s) |  |
| Release date | 2017-10-17 |
Note: this game is a remaster of the 2006 original.
I'm very organized so I don't particularly like reviewing a remaster before having played the original, but as that may still take some years (at least at the rate I manage to finish games nowadays), I'll leave here my impressions now. Anyway it seems that only the graphics have been changed; the core gameplay is essentially the same.
This game is based on a British comic strip that has been published since the early 80s. The perk of this is that a vast lore existed already for the developers to take advantage of, including a particular setting on a remote planet, Nu-Earth. Devastated by a long conflict between the Norts and the Southers, the mass use of chemical and biological weapons has left its surface ravaged and toxic (and very ugly too), so much that humans require breathing equipment when going outside. When I originally read it I couldn't but see the inspiration taken from the American Civil War and both World Wars (the Northerners are here the fascists, the Southerns the good guys). The uniforms, the trench warfare, the gas masks, the propaganda... There's even some mention to PTSD (a concept made famous by the Vietnam War, though it was already known in WWI as shell shock).
Despite this potential "depth", the game resigns itself to being just another third-person shooter, and the plot lacks any kind of significance. The occasional cutscenes can be safely skipped if you want; you won't miss important details. Your character, Rogue, is one of the few surviving members of a genetically modified group of super-warriors, the Genetic Infantry (G.I.), the result of mixing Rambo, B.J. Blazkowicz and a smurf (that's my guess, because of the blue skin). A traitorous Souther general almost manages to wipe them all out in an ambush, and Rogue sets out to avenge his comrades.
Apart from being fit and able to breathe the poisonous atmosphere of Nu-Earth, Rogue is helped by three of his former mates, whose personalities are stored in special biochips recovered from their bodies. Gunnar's chip has been installed in your weapon, allowing it to be upgraded and modified, or even laid down to work as an autonomous fire support unit. Helm's chip went to your helmet and can hack devices or project an holographic decoy of Rogue, to distract enemies or attract their fire. Finally, Bagman controls your backpack and keeps it fully stashed with ammo and supplies.
These must be "paid" for with the game's main resource, the salvage. Salvage points can be gained by inspecting fallen bodies or certain heaps of rubble spread around. This action is fairly quick, but it can get a little tiring as you spend most of the gameplay doing it (more than shooting, or so it seems). Apart from assembling fresh magazines and medkits, salvage can also be used to level up your gear, developing upgrades that get unlocked regularly as you make progress.
A good TPS must offer a varied assortment of weapons, and Rogue Trooper is unique in that aspect as there are only two to speak of: the pistol and the rifle. But, as I mentioned before, the latter can be changed to different configurations, such as the wonderful suppressor (never took it off), the shotgun for close quarters, the sniper rifle for precision shots (mandatory in some stages, and for certain adversaries like the turrets) and even a MANPADS to shoot down those pesky gunships. The system works well and with a quick-access menu you can switch modes easily.
And the thing is... the gunplay is actually funny. Towards the end of the game you may feel a little worn out after having wasted a couple thousand guys, but the rest feels pretty rewarding. The selling point is the locational damage. With ability and a good mouse, you'll deliver headshots left and right. A well-placed bullet in their air tanks is even better, as they'll explode after some seconds running around in panic, taking their comrades to hell with them. A kneecap will leave them limping, and so on. It feels great and the varied types of grenades and mines only make it better. Using stealth is also a well-implemented possibility, with lethal takedowns if you manage to approach an unaware soldier from behind.
One aspect I sadly didn't enjoy is the cover system. In the line of many shooters of that era, you can hide behind corners or duck down next to low walls or debris, and even shoot blindly to make your foes keep their heads down. But apparently, the control scheme present in the original game has been changed to worse. Now it triggers automatically at the moments you least want it, and instead of being a help, it'll lead to your death on more than one occasion. The repeating waves of enemy reinforcements are of no help with this, and our poor Rogue will end up many times on a pool of blue blood, with more holes than a pincushion.
But don't let this little problem keep you away from Rogue Trooper. Yeah, you'll forget it after a few days, but it's enjoyable in the meantime. Oh, and there used to be a multiplayer mode but I think the servers went offline long ago. Not that there was a proper co-op mode anyway.
Playing
Steam or GoG. There's an absolutely unnecessary Collector's Edition with the soundtrack, a comic and wallpapers.
(Yes, I know it's also on other platforms, but no console released after 2006 exists for me)