Although Robert Heinlein’s 1959 novel remains a highly influential and controversial cornerstone of modern sci-fi, the name Starship Troopers is inextricably linked to Paul Verhoeven’s 1997 satirical masterpiece. Despite initially underperforming commercially and being misunderstood as pro-fascist rather than a critique of it, the movie has evolved into a cherished cult classic. It stands as one of the director’s most relevant works, comparable to Robocop. The film spawned two live-action sequels, two animated features, and numerous video games set within its universe, leading up to the upcoming retro-shooter Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War.
Speaking with Inverse, producer Anthony O’Neil and level designer Jack Chapman discussed the challenges of developing a title that honors the Starship Troopers legacy and the cinematic universe. O’Neil, a lifelong fan, recalled watching the film underage at a friend’s house, noting it has always held a special place in his heart.
Chapman shares this enthusiasm, recalling it as one of his first DVD purchases. This devotion permeates the Auroch Digital development team, who previously worked on Warhammer 40K: Boltgun. O’Neil observes that there is a specific niche of fans who adore both Warhammer and Starship Troopers.
This passion results in a game that integrates seamlessly into the world of Starship Troopers, particularly the canon established by the first film. O’Neil told Inverse that the 1997 movie is the franchise’s most recognizable element, serving as the primary reference for nearly everything they built.
While relying on Verhoeven’s 1997 original as a base, Auroch also drew inspiration from the sequels. O’Neil noted that their lead designer began the project by watching all three films to catalog every potential asset to utilize.
While iconic elements like the Warrior Bugs and Morita Rifle from the first movie appear in the game, a major addition from the sequels is the mech suits. These suits, a significant part of Heinlein’s novel, were absent from the first film. Chapman explained that while they generally avoided the books, the inclusion of the heavy mech suits was a major challenge. They aimed to design something that felt authentic to the film universe, even if it hadn’t appeared on screen before.
The team also faced the challenge of placing the game on the timeline, ultimately setting it alongside the events of the original film. The protagonist, Sammy, trains concurrently with Rico. Both deploy to Klendathu, but while Rico recovers in a healing tank, Sammy fights at Zegema Beach.
The narrative is delivered through FMV-style propaganda vignettes reminiscent of the original film, featuring the return of Casper Van Dien as Rico. To accommodate the actor’s age, the FMVs are framed as reflections on the first Bug War taking place years later.
Auroch ensured the game was not only aesthetically faithful but also captured Verhoeven’s satirical take on jingoism and authoritarianism. O’Neil stated that if the original film was a Federation recruitment tool, then their game had to adopt that same in-universe perspective.
This metatextual approach required maintaining the self-serious tone that fuels the satire. The developers ensured the main character fully believes in her actions, creating a humorous contrast when players realize the absurdity of the situation, such as nuking one’s own team without consequence.