Save for a select few developers who still do it, video game demos are firmly a thing of the past. The once ubiquitous demo versions that provided potential players with a glimpse of a game before its full release are rare sights, especially for AAA games from well-known studios, which is a shame. The promise of a demo was not only a generous marketing tool but also proves the confidence developers have in their projects, giving players a taste of what they were investing in. The announcement that Teyon and Nacon’s RoboCop: Rogue City would be offering a demo on Steam was, therefore, met with a mix of nostalgia and anticipation.
RoboCop: Rogue City, an upcoming first-person shooter, takes audiences on a deep dive into the familiar, crime-infested world of the city of Detroit in the 1980s. This ambitious venture, set between the events of the second and third movies, promises familiar locations, iconic characters, and even a possible encounter with the original RoboCop, voiced by actor Peter Weller. And while the gameplay focuses heavily on gunplay, RoboCop’s characteristics, such as his signature heavy armor and slow movement, offer a distinct contrast to the agile FPS protagonists we have grown accustomed to.
The inclusion of the demo for RoboCop: Rogue City isn’t an ode to gaming’s past; it’s a strategic move that highlights a tradition that companies have forgotten.
As the year already boasts a formidable lineup of Game of the Year contenders, including titles like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Baldur’s Gate 3, the decision to release a demo amidst such competition helps the developer showcase the game and make it stand out. Players have already expressed their approval of this move online, and the feedback has largely been positive. Many have praised the immersive 80s action movie vibe, robust gore effects, and unique gameplay mechanics that closely align with RoboCop’s characterization.
However, it’s also crucial to note that while the demo has garnered a positive reception, it hasn’t been without its share of criticisms. Some players experienced performance issues, which the developers promptly addressed, reaffirming their commitment to refining the gaming experience. Additionally, early impressions of the game indicate both strengths and areas of potential improvement. The sheer expanse of the demo, combined with the storyline and game mechanics, has evoked mixed feelings. The demo’s vastness suggests an ambitious scale for the full game, although there are concerns about its overall depth and coherence in narrative direction.
After all, if a demo of a game by a relatively small studio is this big, does this mean that the rest of the game is more of the same?
What makes the RoboCop: Rogue City demo even more significant is its reflection on the industry’s broader narrative. The return of video game demos, as seen with this title, marks a conscious shift towards user engagement and, perhaps, more importantly, transparency. In an era where gamers demand more value and clarity before investing, demos serve as a bridge of trust between developers and players.
By offering tangible experiences ahead of official releases, developers not only showcase their confidence in the game but also collect invaluable feedback.
Unfortunately, demos aren’t always in a game’s best interest. Forspoken, in particular, suffered mightily because of its demo. Instead of helping its developers, Luminous Productions, gather valuable feedback to help better prepare the game for when it launches, it showed gamers that, beneath all the glitz and glamor, the PS5-exclusive was a relatively empty game that could’ve used more time in the lab to further flesh out its gameplay and narrative. Now, its developers are long gone and Forspoken has become one of the industry’s worst examples.
In the case of RoboCop: Rogue City, the game clearly aims to provide a rich narrative and gaming experience, drawing on familiar elements from the iconic movie series. The demo, while showcasing much of what the game has to offer, also leaves many questions unanswered.
As players dive into the grimy streets of Detroit, battling crime and confronting moral quandaries, it remains to be seen how the full game will unfold and if it will truly live up to the immense promise its demo suggests.
Be warned though, that the demo for RoboCop: Rogue City can take up a huge chunk of your storage space. But, just in case you’re not up for an all-nighter downloading it, you can check out Teyon’s previous game, which ironically was also about robots, Terminator: Resistance.
