About a month ago, CD Projekt Red released 48 minutes of gameplay footage of its upcoming, highly-anticipated title, Cyberpunk 2077. Personally, I sat in awe, giddy at what I saw on the screen. My rational, skeptical mind took over as I calmed down my excitement and hype, but now that rumours abound about a 2019 release –not to mention that we’ve also had a few weeks to digest what was shown off – I think it’s safe to put to words why I’m excited for this game.
Genre
One of my favourite genres in fiction is dystopian, such as you would find in 1984, 1Q84, Snow Crash, Neuromancer, and Brave New World; mix in some cyberpunk and you have me hooked. Films and games have touched on this topic before, notably Blade Runner and Deus Ex, respectively, but it seems less popular than the post-apocalytpic genre.
There’s a lot of enthusiasm and nostalgia when I go back to play Deus Ex, a masterpiece from 2000. Its rebooted successors are also very good for the most part, even if they lack some of the flair of the original. There is so much to say in this genre, and there aren’t as many games in it as I wish; certain titles like Remember Me are on the cusp of greatness, but not quite there. But, hopefully, Cyberpunk 2077 will change that.
Gameplay
If you’ve played The Witcher 3, then you know that CD Projekt Red has some serious potential to put out an excellent game, both in story and in mechanics. TW3 wasn’t without its problems gameplay-wise (or plot holes because video games), but CDPR has proven that it takes feedback well and uses it to improve its next title.
From the demo, we’re looking a first-person shooter/RPG set in a universe that has me excited (if you can’t tell). What we saw showed some smooth gameplay (though I hope the enemies don’t end up as bullet sponges in the final product), but we’ll have to wait to test that ourselves when Cyberpunk 2077 launches. I have no doubt, however, that CDPR will make it an immersive experience that’s also a ton of fun to play, but I think I can hear my PC crying already.
World
The genre is definitely a draw for me on merit alone, but seeing the world that CDPR has brought to life is fascinating. Cyberpunk 2077 looks alive with a bustling city that features depth and plenty of paths to take. Though we know that the final product often differs from the demo – as was the case with Dark Souls II – I’m still super excited to see what Night City has to offer.
One thing that was mentioned in the reveal was making sure that the game stays rooted in its lore, which helps with believability. So even though you’re going to see some crazy stuff that isn’t remotely possible right now, you’ll still easily be able to suspend your disbelief. Not all games accomplish that.
Character Customisation
This being an RPG, CD Projekt Red is putting in a ton of customisation options. Not only will we fine-tune our character’s appearance (and we’re talking serious details), but also their backstory and stats to create an avatar through which we can experience Night City and the world of Cyberpunk 2077.
Furthermore, the gameplay footage revealed that a core mechanic will be cybernetic augmentations to improve attributes or abilities, though there will be trade-offs (unlike becoming an OP god in Deus Ex: Mankind Divided). Since there’s no strict class system, Cyberpunk 2077 will let you choose how you to play and also let you tweak that style at any point.
The Future
What will Cyberpunk 2077 inspire in the gaming industry? We saw that The Witcher 3 had a significant impact and is still held up as one of the gold standards of a good RPG. We don’t know if Cyberpunk 2077 will have a similar effect, but I, for one, hope it revitalises a market interest in cyberpunk dystopias (and maybe get Deus Ex off of its hiatus).
Assuming that Cypberpunk 2077 comes anywhere close to The Witcher 3, and I have little doubt that it will, I think we could see another deep impact in this hobby we love so much.
Are you ready for Cyberpunk 2077? Tell us what excites you most about this game and we can all wait impatiently together to get our hands on it.