Back in the 1980s and ’90s, when comic books were entering a new age of prosperity, the big two (Marvel and DC) resorted to gimmicks to sell book. Holograms, die-cut covers, and poly bags became all the rage. When this happened, I turned to other publishers, including a fledgling upstart aptly named Dark Horse, and a popular publisher in the U.K., 2000 AD. As a publisher, 2000 AD was telling mature themed stories like Judge Dredd and a comic called Rogue Trooper, co-created by Dave Gibbons, the co-creator of Watchmen for DC. I remember Rogue Trooper’s adventures, as it was like Sgt. Rock and GI Joe, with a sci-fi twist. Developer Rebellion, the creators of the stellar Sniper Elite franchise, created a game based on Rogue Trooper in 2006 for the Sony PS2 and original Xbox, and even ported it to the Nintendo Wii in 2009. And now that game has been remade in HD for current gen consoles, and as a long time fan of the IP, I couldn’t be happier.
Going Rogue
Rogue Trooper Redux is the story of Rogue, a genetic infantryman (GI) and his squadron, who lay siege to a Nort stronghold on Nu-Earth. During the skirmish, Rogue’s fellow squadmates are killed, and he’s able to save their genetic coding chips, adding each to his weapon, his rucksack, and his helmet, and together, Rogue and his brothers take the fight to the Traitor General, the person responsible for what is known as the Quartz Zone Massacre, the bloody battle which saw the GI troopers slaughtered by the vile Norts.
As a third person shooter, the original Rogue Trooper game redefined the genre, with elements like cover and blind shooting from cover, two things that games like Uncharted and Gears of War have made commonplace, attributed to the franchise. Rogue Trooper Redux adds so much more to the genre. Using fallen GI Gunnar’s chip, Rogue can modify his weapon on the fly, using it as a machine gun, a sniper rifle, he can add a silencer, and more. Bagman, the GI in Rogue’s rucksack allows the blue-skinned soldier to create new ammo, grenades and mines, and various other upgrades on the fly. Rogue collects salvage from fallen Norts and from stockpiles of scrap scattered throughout levels. The player constantly jumps into the menu to create the tools needed to succeed.
The Gang Is All Together
Helm, the GI chip attached to Rogue’s helmet (you see the pattern here?) gives Rogue much needed insight into the enemies locations, can assist with sniping, can create hologram dummies, and can even hack doors and gates. All three genetic chip upgrades make Rogue the superior fighter, and killing Norts becomes sport. One of my favorite things to do in the game it to pull off a tank shot, which destroys the life support tanks on the Nort soldiers, causing them to run haphazardly and then explode. It’s sadistically fun to pull off and watch.
Later chapters in the campaign allow for some stealth and sneaking, which plays like a charm. It was nice taking a breather from the constant chaos of the battlefield to sneak onto bases and disrupt Nort high command from the shadows. All in all, Rogue Trooper Redux has a little bit of everything that gamers love about third person shooters.
The graphics and play control are both overhauled in Rogue Trooper Redux, and for the better. Controlling Rogue no longer feels like driving a tank, and while it is noticeable that the game was original designed for consoles two generation old, Rogue Trooper Redux still presents a unique sci-fi aesthetic that is enjoyable to explore.
Welcome Back, Rogue Trooper
Rogue Trooper Redux also features a multiplayer option, with a few game modes for online play, but the multiplayer is more like a welcome distraction than a true selling point. Make no mistake: the solo campaign is the gold medal winner here, as it draws on the storylines from the classic comic and transcends that material, creating an amazing gaming experience, even for a game that is 11-years-old.
Rogue Trooper Redux is a welcome reminder of a great game that many overlooked in 2006, and now have the chance to pick up and play on all current gen consoles, including the Nintendo Switch. The solid gameplay and campaign can make gamers overlook any graphical liabilities, and the multiplayer mode adds icing to the proverbial cake. If you’ve missed this one in any of its past incarnations, now is the time to pick it up and take Rogue and his squadmates on a quest for vengeance that you won’t soon forget.
Rogue Trooper Redux is available now for the PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. This review is based off a PS4 code, provided by the publisher.
