Hey friends, we are nearing the end of not only 2019, but the end of this console generation with both the PS5 and Xbox Scarlett slated to launch next Fall. Keeping that in mind – there are still so many incredible, generation-defining games still to come in the final year of these consoles. Speaking of generation-defining, the first game on our list is looking like it is just that. We are going to kick off our Watchlist 2020 series with Cyberpunk 2077.
The story of Cyberpunk 2077 begins with a two-minute cinematic trailer that casually dropped in January of 2013. There wasn’t any real context to what happened in the trailer but graphically it was so advanced that it piqued my interest immediately.
Fast forward to today, nearly seven years and one blockbuster release (The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt) later and CD Projekt Red is just mere months away from releasing Cyberpunk 2077. The game has quickly become one of the most anticipated releases of all-time thanks to its beautiful presentation, the sheer scale of the world, and the impact player’s decisions will have on the game’s world.
For those of you who do not know what Cyberpunk 2077 is, the game is a massive open-world roleplaying game that is loosely based on the tabletop RPG Cyberpunk. The game takes place in the megacity known as Night City, a town free of government control. Due to the lack of structure, the town is always full of chaos and conflict between gangs and corporations. There are six different districts in Night City, with each bringing different conflicts for you to resolve. Since Cyberpunk is a non-linear story, when and how these conflicts are resolved is entirely up to you.
Who you are in the game is entirely up to you. The only constant with the protagonist (or potentially antagonist, depending on how you play) is that you are V, but who V is entirely up to you. From gender to appearance, the backstory to skills, the choice is yours to make as to who you are going to be. This is the first example of how your decisions impact the game world. Your backstory, skills, and appearance all have an impact on how you will interact with NPCs in the game. If you’re a street kid you may have an easier time getting along with some of the street gangs of Night City, and difficulty fitting in amongst the corporations.
That is just a small taste of how much depth and attention to detail CD Projekt Red has put into this game. Every interaction you have can affect your playthrough of the game. If you use the same doctor to help upgrade your character, they will give you a loyalty discount. If you make friends with a certain NPC companion in the game, it can harm your relationship with others. This world that CD Projekt Red has crafted is truly alive, and that’s what makes the idea of playing this game so enticing.
All of this is simply scratching the surface of what Cyberpunk 2077 is going to be. The above video gives a great look at the gameplay and character skills in the game. I would highly recommend checking out that video, as well as the 48-minute gameplay, reveal that came out last year. I can assure you once you watch those videos you will be as sold on Cyberpunk as I am. The level of freedom and roleplaying that this game offers is something we have yet to see in video games and I believe that CD Projekt Red is going to knock it out of the park.
The Nerd Chambers 