Mercifully, Rogue City is a lot better than most of the films and TV shows.
It almost feels like it came out of nowhere, but the best entry in the RoboCop franchise since the original film is here.
Yet longtime fans might be wondering, “When is RoboCop: Rogue City set?”
Luckily for you, we have how exactly it fits into the timeline explained, with the events of the preceding film to provide you with the context needed for going into the new narrative.
There were three RoboCop films, with a couple of spin-off TV series produced in Canada. We don’t need to worry about the latter, however, as the game is nestled neatly between the movies.
It’s quite the substantive story, too, with many missions that explore Detroit and its troubled inhabitants in greater depth than ever before. Such is the wonder of the video game medium.
Fully realised characters and setting aside, being a video game, we also get to be RoboCop and blast away hoodlums and punks with the signature Auto-9 sidearm. Such is the duality of mankind.
But enough babbling, our programming is telling you to read on – and listen to our podcast, One More Life.
When is RoboCop: Rogue City set? Timeline with the films explained
RoboCop: Rogue City is set between the second and third RoboCop films, RoboCop 2 and RoboCop 3 respectively.
In RoboCop 2, the megacorporation Omnu Consumer Products (OCP) tried to further its plans of taking over the entire city via the Delta City project by letting it default on its debt.
To make the city look even more incompetent, the OCP slashed the private pension of the Detroit Police Department before implementing their own security forces.
Subverting all of these is Cain, the cartel of a dangerous drug gang that manufactures the designer narcotic, Nuke.
During the power struggle, Cain is apprehended by RoboCop and is transformed into a cybernetically enhanced killing machine – RoboCop 2 – by the OCP and RoboCop 2 lead, Dr Faxx, believing they can control him by manipulating his drug dependency.
Meanwhile, being stuck between a rock and a hard place, the Mayor of Detroit agrees with Hob – Cain’s right hand – to do with away the city’s debt in exchange for amnesty to continue creating Nuke, circumventing the OCP’s plans.
Fearing their iron grip will loosen, the OCP sends Cain to the meeting – and he murders all but the mayor and Hob, who is severely wounded.
RoboCop is late to the scene, but manages to find Hob, who tells him Cain was behind the attack – before succumbing to his wounds.
Elsewhere, believing Cain is under their thumb, the OCP chairman unveils the Delta City Project alongside Cain as part of their security force. Upon seeing a Nuke canister, Cain goes into a murderous frenzy, killing civilians and police officers alike.
RoboCop, with help from his partner Officer Lewis, manages to defeat Cain in a gruesome final battle.
The OCP chairman and vice president Donald Johnson shift blame to Dr Faxx and shirk all responsibility, allowing the OCP to get away with all the death and destruction.
Officer Lewis is devastated by the lack of accountability, but RoboCop wisely reminds her to be patient as “we’re only human”.
Enter RoboCop: Rogue City and its all original plot – one that is markedly better than the final film in the series.
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