Rogue Trooper
A genetically engineered soldier seeks revenge after the Quartz Zone Massacre.
Rogue Trooper is a third-person shooter from Rebellion Developments, published by Eidos Interactive. It first launched in 2006 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, and Xbox, with a Wii version called *Rogue Trooper: Quartz Zone Massacre* arriving in 2009. A remastered edition, *Rogue Trooper Redux*, followed on 17 October 2017 for Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. This was Rebellion’s second game based on characters from the *2000 AD* comics, after *Judge Dredd: Dredd vs. Death* in 2003.
The story takes place on Nu-Earth, a planet caught between two suns and a black hole—the latter used by the Southers to warp to their space station command. A endless war rages between the Norts and Southers, with chemical and biological weapons poisoning the entire world. Troops live in sealed cities and need protective bio-suits to venture outside. The Southers created the Genetic Infantry, engineered by “gene genies” to be immune to the deadly atmosphere. All G.I.s are resistant to toxins, diseases, and acids, bar one weakness. When the Souther High Command launches an airborne assault, a traitor reveals the G.I. secret to the Norts, leading to the Quartz Zone Massacre.
Rogue, the sole surviving G.I. (until he meets Venus Bluegenes), goes AWOL to hunt down the Traitor General and avenge his comrades. Along the way, he sabotages Nort operations and eliminates high-ranking figures like Grand Admiral Hoffa and Surgeon-Kapten Natashov. Every G.I. has a biochip in their skull storing their personality and memories. After death, the chip can be slotted into another G.I.’s equipment or weapon, allowing control of it. If placed into a new body within 60 seconds, the fallen G.I. is reborn; otherwise, the chip burns out permanently. As one quote puts it: “we’re genetic infantry – even when we’re dead we don’t escape from war.”
Gameplay is third-person shooting. Rogue’s main weapons are a pistol and an upgradeable assault rifle. The rifle can be silenced or deployed as a sentry turret, and later gains attachments like a sniper scope, shotgun, cluster mortar, anti-air rocket launcher, and electric beam rifle. He also uses micro mines, incendiary, scrambler, fragmentation, and sticky grenades, plus heavy machine gun posts and flak cannons, with occasional rocket launchers and hell cannons.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Rogue Trooper
- Developer
- Rebellion Developments / TickTock Games (Redux)
- Publisher
- Eidos Interactive / Reef Entertainment (Wii) / Rebellion Developments (Redux)
- Series
- 2000 AD
- Released
- Windows, PlayStation 2, XboxEU · 21 April 2006 · NA · 23 May 2006Wii / EU · 20 February 2009 · NA · 4 December 2009Redux / Windows, Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox OneWW · 17 October 2017
- Genre
- Third-person shooter
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
- Platforms
- Microsoft Windows / PlayStation 2 / Xbox / Wii / Nintendo Switch / PlayStation 4 / Xbox One
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The story is set on the planet Nu-Earth, caught in the gravitational forces of two suns and a black hole used by Southers to warp into their space station high command. A perpetual war between the Norts and Southers has killed millions, with chemical and biological weapons poisoning the planet. Troops must live in enclosed cities and wear protective bio-suits outside. The Southers developed Genetic Infantry (G.I.s) through genetic engineering, making them immune to all toxins, diseases, and acids except one. The Souther High Command deployed the G.I.s in an airborne assault, but a traitor betrayed their secret to the Norts, leading to the Quartz Zone Massacre. Rogue, apparently the only surviving G.I. until he meets Venus Bluegenes, goes AWOL to track down the Traitor General and avenge the other G.I.s. He thwarts numerous Nort schemes and destroys high-ranking personnel such as Grand Admiral Hoffa and Surgeon-Kapten Natashov. All G.I.s possess a biochip implanted in their skull containing their personality, memories, and consciousness. After death, a biochip can be inserted into another G.I.'s equipment or weapon, enabling control, and can later be placed into a new body if saved within 60 seconds before the chip burns out permanently.
Reader's Guide
Rogue Trooper received average to positive reviews on all platforms according to Metacritic. The Times gave it four stars out of five, praising its smooth graphics and learning curve. The A.V. Club gave it a B, noting it didn't approach the inventiveness of a great budget TPS like Raze's Hell but was priced to move. The Sydney Morning Herald gave three stars out of five, highlighting the use of Gunnar, Helm and Bagman with humorous quips and inventive gadgetry. Detroit Free Press gave two stars out of four, feeling it was more like basic training than hardcore warfare. Computer Games Magazine gave the PC version two-and-a-half stars out of five, calling it competent but not memorable. Computer Gaming World gave an unfavorable review, stating that a game composed entirely of canned set pieces breeds contempt with repeated play. The Redux edition received more mixed reviews than the original on all platforms according to Metacritic. In 2006, the screenplay by Gordon Rennie and the character Rogue were both nominated for BAFTAs. The Redux edition was nominated for Best Action and Adventure Game and Heritage awards at The Independent Game Developers' Association Awards 2018.
Did You Know?
- The game uses several story and plot elements from the original comic.
- Rogue's rifle can be deployed as a sentry turret and outfitted with attachments including a sniper scope, shotgun, cluster mortar, anti-aircraft rocket launcher, and electric beam rifle.
- Shooting an enemy soldier's air tank causes them to run frantically and then explode, damaging nearby enemies.
- The game supported online multiplayer via GameSpy servers on PC/PlayStation 2 and Xbox Live on the original Xbox, with up to four-player co-operative gameplay.
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