A few years ago, Teyon was not regarded highly by many in the industry due to setbacks such as a poorly received Rambo video game and a lackluster Terminator Resistance. However, perseverance paid off when RoboCop Rogue City was released in November 2023. This title marked a significant comeback for the Polish studio, boasting unwavering dedication to Paul Verhoeven’s original work, featuring Peter Weller’s return as the voice of RoboCop, and offering classic gameplay that was both engaging and effective. Approximately one and a half years later, Teyon continues its momentum with Unfinished Business, a standalone expansion that deepens the experience in a more intense and straightforward manner while maintaining respect for the original license. We had the opportunity to preview a 1.5-hour version of the game and can confidently say it promises an exhilarating experience.
Since it is a standalone game rather than a sequel, “Robocop Unfinished Business” does not revolutionize the basic formula or offer an overly elaborate plot. The story takes place shortly after the events of “Rogue City”: crime continues to plague the city, and a group of mercenaries has taken refuge in OmniTower after stealing RoboCop’s medical chair, leaving him unable to rest as usual. Naturally, Alex Murphy is upset. Who wouldn’t be? He heads to the glass tower to eliminate the mercenary threats. The setting changes but not the tone; OmniTower resembles a cyberpunk version of “Die Hard”: a multi-story building to retake room by room and corridor by corridor. This installment adopts a more linear approach compared to “Rogue City,” with less exploration and more direct confrontations, resulting in focused gunfights. This design choice is embraced: the game aims straight for its objective, minimizing narrative detours, to concentrate on action without disappointing fans of the franchise. The universe remains true to its source material.
“DEAD OR ALIVE, YOU’RE COMING WITH ME”
From a gameplay perspective, there are no significant changes, which is positive, as the enjoyment stems from the sensation of all-powerfulness, the heavy body that effortlessly handles any situation, and the Auto-9 that fires with metronomic regularity. Fans of Soldier of Fortune (yes, acknowledging it’s a reference for longtime players) will feel right at home: severed limbs, brutal finishing moves, and walls splattered with blood. The card-mother system to enhance weapons and abilities remains intact, featuring special skills such as slow motion, temporary shield, or flash dash. This time, however, Teyon has pushed the fun factor a bit further. Enemies can now be shattered against interactive environmental elements highlighted in yellow, which is both satisfying and highly effective. New weapons like a mini-gun and cryogenic pistol are also included, although they were not accessible in our preview version. We hope their integration will significantly enhance the digital combat experience.
Unfinished Business not only allows players to control the battle-ready RoboCop but also includes playable sequences featuring Alex Murphy before he transforms into the half-human, half-robot figure. In these segments, there is a significant shift in tone: power gives way to vulnerability. Players must now focus on cover mechanics, exercise caution, and manage tension. This approach provides insight into the character’s psychology while varying the gameplay pace. However, due to developer restrictions, we were unable to experience this aspect firsthand as they wished to preserve certain surprises for the final release.
“GO GET YOURSELF GREASED UP!”
Other positive aspects include an expanded enemy gallery featuring jetpack mercenaries, explosive drones, ninja androids reminiscent of RoboCop 3 (indeed, there are still fans), and a few armored units that demand strategic thinking. To add variety, players can also take on the role of Miranda Hale, an ex-OCP scientist seeking redemption, among possibly other surprising characters. All this remains to be confirmed, but the intent to diversify the gameplay is evident. RoboCop Unfinished Business often feels like a large expansion rather than a standalone new game, which accurately reflects its nature. There’s no need for drama where it doesn’t exist; it’s essentially a significant DLC that has been released as a stand-alone title with some additional content and an announced playtime of 8 to 10 hours. The game is set for release on July 17th on PC, PS4, and Xbox Series X/S, and we anticipate thorough testing as expected.
Our Level of Anticipation
Unfinished Business solidifies itself as a robust and direct extension of RoboCop: Rogue City, building upon the original’s strengths while incorporating welcome new elements. By confining the action to a more restricted environment, the game achieves greater intensity but at the cost of player freedom. This design decision appears to be fully embraced by the developers. The introduction of new gameplay features—such as contextual interactions, additional weapons, and alternative sequences—enhances an already refined formula while staying true to the RoboCop universe. Although certain sequences featuring characters like Alex Murphy or Miranda Hale are still under development for the final release, this 90-minute preview suggests a well-crafted experience designed for action aficionados and devoted fans. It remains to be seen whether the technical implementation will meet the game’s ambitious goals upon launch. Unfinished Business must deliver on its promises to fully satisfy expectations; a definitive judgment will await its July 17 release date.
