Wilmington enjoyed how the satire transformed a cliché revenge story by making the protagonist a machine that keeps succumbing to humanity, emotion, and idealism. He said it was good to see a fable about a decent hero fighting back against corruption, villains, and the theft of his humanity. Thomson said the film works because it takes a classic take of the tragic hero in search of redemption, and adds a science-fiction element; and Ricket said that RoboCop's victory is satisfying because he has both technology and morality on his side. Kehr said that the satire of corporations was the film's most successful effort, depicting unchecked greed and callous disregard. Kempley praised Neumeier's and Miner's portrayal of corporate villains and street-level criminals as interchangeable, complemented by understated dialogue and clever criticisms of various subjects, including game shows and military culture. Kempley agreed that the film's "heart" is the story of Murphy regaining his humanity, but action fans less interested in depth could still enjoy the effects and stunts. She concluded that "with all our flesh-and-blood heroes failing us—from brokers to ballplayers—we need a man of mettle, a real straight shooter who doesn't fool around with Phi Beta Kappas and never puts anything up his nose. What this world needs is 'RoboCop'."