That soon sees Rogue insert Gunnar’s biochip in his rifle, Bagman’s in his backpack, and Helm’s in his helmet, a design choice that, true to the source material, lends him a tactical advantage on the battlefield. Every GI has a biochip implanted inside their skull that holds their personality traits, memories, and consciousness, and, once they die, these can be inserted in a weapon or equipment slot where they can continue to help out their comrades.
You play as Rogue, a blue-skinned soldier who, after his entire squad is decimated when their drop point location is leaked to the enemy, sets out to uncover the Traitor General that was responsible for the betrayal and exact his revenge. But, whether it is a game that you have experienced before or not, it now makes an explosive return in Rogue Trooper Redux on Nintendo Switch. Some may have played it way back in 2006 on PlayStation 2, Xbox, or PC, and others may have first taken their chance to blast their way across Nu-Earth on Wii when that version released in 2009. Long before we relied on roadie runs to move into cover in Gears of War, it was Rebellion that was a pioneer in the third-person action genre with Rogue Trooper – which had been adapted from the 2000 AD comic strip. Deployed in an airborne assault to surprise their enemy, they were betrayed when a traitor leaked the plans for the attack which resulted in their merciless slaughter – an event that became known as the Quartz Zone massacre. Bred to end a perpetual war between the Norts and Southers, these genetically engineered soldiers were created to survive the harsh climates of Nu-Earth, a planet that has become the battleground for the endless conflict. Overall Score – 6.You are the last Genetic Infantryman. Just be sure you know what version is best for you. If you’ve never experienced Rogue Trooper before, now is definitely the time. Still, the gameplay is frenetic, the humor is on point, and the camp is awesome as it ever was.
Enemies and gunfire feel weak and impactless compared to the PC version, making this the poorer of the Redux versions. It looks far more like the Rogue Trooper of 2006 than the one from 2017.
It’s not that it plays poorly, it’s that it’s so clearly a downgraded version of the revamped game, making it a zero-sum equation if you know what I mean.
If you’re going to choose between RTR on the other consoles or the PC, and the Switch? The only reason to choose the Switch is if you simply must have the game in a portable fashion. I’m not a graphics snob, as the Switch is probably my favorite current generation console, but it’s clear that Tick Tock (the studio that handled the port) was unable to push Rogue Trooper Redux on the Switch as far as Bethesda has proven it’s capable of doing with Doom. That said, RTR looks plain awful in handheld mode, and in docked mode, while it looks better, Anti-aliasing is completely missing and it shows on the scenery in a very obvious way. Yes, I know the Switch is a lower power machine compared to its contemporaries, and I also I know that it most games look better when docked for the Switch as the resolution is upgraded a bit. Now, where the Switch version of Rogue Trooper Redux falls flat, is in its visuals. But its strange setting and the little touches that make it a customizable experience play towards making this 11 year old game still feel fresh. Were it not for the upgrades, crafting, and variety of ways you can get out of situations, Rogue Trooper Redux would fall into the “just another shooter” category. The variety of ways you can approach any mission in the game is what earns its notoriety – a freedom that Rebellion would later use in its Sniper Elite series, the latest of which still sits on my Best of 2017 list. But, hey, I like that camp and the jokey dialog and over the top drama make for a hell of a romp here. The story is based on the 2000AD comics of the same name out of England, and falls firmly into the sort of campy sci-fi milieu you’d expect for a game starring a shirtless blue supersoldier. Rebellion is known for its third-person cover mechanics, and Rogue Trooper Redux highlights where the studio started making its name for itself. As one of the best but probably most underappreciated third person shooters of its time, Rogue Trooper’s controls and action stand the test of time, even if the sort of linear gameplay has become a bit archaic at this point.
And the original came out 11 years ago… this is our Rogue Trooper Redux Switch review. It’s not demonstrably bad, it’s just clearly kind of a rushed job which makes RTR look visually unappealing and below even the original’s fidelity. The Nintendo Switch port of this remake, however, is a different story. And in truth, I love the original, and I’ve played the new PC release. I want to say I love Rogue Trooper Redux as much as Arkady does.