Rogue Trooper
In 1981 the British comic 2000 AD introduced the genetically engineered soldier to the masses. With an atmosphere that carried strong implications to World War II and the Nazi party this futuristic tale quickly became popular. The titular character Rogue fought to discover who betrayed his people during their initial campaign. The thing that made the comic special though was the fact that he didn't quite go at his mission alone. Even though he was the only "living" soldier from his squad he picked up a few personalities along the way.
You see, these blue fighters (Genetic Infantry) are not only powerful and able to withstand the toxic surface of Nu-Earth, they can also be non-corporeal. Each soldier carries a chip in the back of their neck that once removed when the body dies can be attached to a piece of equipment. In the case of Rogue he finds three allies, Gunnar, Helm, and Bagman. Naturally they become a part of his gun, helmet, and backpack. This is the premise behind Eidos' Rogue Trooper; a game that will bring a smile to the face of Rogue fans but most likely get lost in the sea of wartime action shooters to the uninitiated.
Gameplay:
The game immediately starts you out with the fantastic world of Rogue Trooper and drops you into the thick of things. As Rogue you'll live through the betrayal that cost the lives of your fellow soldiers and find your way to Gunnar, Helm, and Bagman in short fashion. The game wastes no time tossing you into the action and while it may seem like a straight forward experience at first, things get deeper as you go along. The development and acquisition of new abilities helps keep things from getting stale, though to be fair that doesn't last for very long.
The basic concept of the gameplay in Rogue Trooper is fundamentally the same that we have been exposed to over the past generation of action titles. Rogue runs around shooting bad guys, throwing grenades, and taking cover whenever necessary. To be honest that element of the game is easily the most disappointing aspect of this title. Then again that particular style of action is merely a shell; a foundation if you will, for the implementation of Rogue's buddies.
Gunnar is easily the most offensive of the Genetic Infantry. I don't meant "offensive" as a way to say he smells bad or anything, but since he is the GI that gets attached to your gun he does tend to do the most killing. He gives you a few different abilities that each prove to be useful in the heat of battle. From improved aiming to a speedy reload you'll notice a difference once you start using him in combat. Gunnar also becomes more useful once you start utilizing him as a sentry gun to give you a bit of support or suppression fire. That particular bit adds quite an amount of strategy to Rogue Trooper and helps break the monotony of run and gun gameplay.
Another useful GI member is Helm. He brings a few tricks to the table that definitely added something to the gameplay. My favorite ability of his was being able to create a hologram of Rogue to distract enemy troopers with. That particular tool came in handy more times than I can truly say. Being able to hack into locked gates was a nice addition as well. Bagman was equally useful thanks to his ability to create items, re-supply munitions, and heal you when you get hurt.
The concept of the GI's being attached to Rogue's equipment follows the theme of the comic book very closely. Unfortunately amidst the battlefield in Rogue Trooper it becomes little more than a charming gimmick. Each of the skills you gain from them proves to be useful but they are basically familiar tools presented in a different way. It gives the game a squad-based feel despite the fact that you are a lone warrior, but it's a coat of paint that wears off well before the game's ending.
Despite the fact that the game takes roughly seven hours to beat it stays pretty linear most of the way through. The development of the plot and staged action elements are there and quite frankly they are sometimes predictable. The action is very solid and the addition of your fellow GI mates improves things greatly, but only for a time. As the adventure moves forward it begins to feel a little long in tooth. In the end this is a standard action title with some original elements that may appeal to some gamers. Fans of the comic will definitely get the most enjoyment out of this title but newcomers may get bored after a while.
Graphics:
Graphically Rogue Trooper looks pretty good, but it's nothing to get too excited about. There's a certain lack of polish that comes into play when you look at the repetitive textures and stuttering framerate, which can get fairly annoying. Even so the effects are nice and the animations are equally impressive. The art style stays true to that found in the comic book so yet again this game feels more like service to fans than the uninitiated.
Audio:
Ah, the sounds of war. Explosions and gunfire pops from the screen in all the fashion that we've come to expect from a title like this. The voice acting, however, is a step above the rest. With more voice in Rogue's head than mine, Rogue Trooper offers a great cast, wonderful dialogue, and quite a bit of charm. The music and sound effects may be only better than superficial, but the voice acting made this game work for me.
Conclusion:
My time with Rogue Trooper was cut short thanks to the miniscule length and paltry multiplayer modes. The game wanted to be so much more than it was in the end. The multiple personalities inherent in Rogue's gear and the implementation of their abilities brought an air of cool to an otherwise generic game. Unfortunately the entire concept feels like a gimmick in the end, and it's one that tones down the difficulty as well. Still, I appreciate where the developers were going with this and quite honestly Rogue Trooper is a great companion for fans of the comic. I'm just not sure the gameplay, challenge, and length are enough to warrant a purchase in the end.