CD Projekt's Cyberpunk 2077 Update 2.0 + Phantom Liberty Expansion Thread

[alyvain]

These things would annoy me normally, but CP2077 is based on a universe created during a time when people had a vague understanding of how computers worked and thought of cyberspace as some sort of another dimension where magic happens, so i water down my expectations there and try to accept the universe as it is presented - basically more like TRON and less like Ghost in the Shell.

I think that's why there are so many fantasy tropes in Cyberpunk. Including techno-shamans in Pacifica, the fact that Mikoshi for some is quite literally the plane of dead souls (with bits and pieces of the Fortress of Regrets from PS:T), the AI we encounter looks and acts like a god from another dimension, the main corpo-cunt is literally presented as "the Devil" who is in conflict with the aforementioned ascended god, Misty tells you about Tarot cards, all the new age and spiritual stuff is (kinda) true and even leaving NC in one of the endings is kinda looks like getting to the afterlife with stars shining in the all-encompassing void, etc.

I guess that kinda works, although in this game there are too many problems with the narrative presentation.

 

[Druid Ardun]

"Cyberpunk was announced in 2012 and Keanu joined in 2018." literally tells you that the game in some form existed 6 years before Keanu. Is that sentence too complicated for you to understand?

Do you understand that Keanu doesn't make game ? He is just voice actor. For some idiotic reason you assume taht they scrapped whole game because god Keanu arrived on white horse and now everything has to be thrown into bin just like that. It is obvious that his character was written easily years before game went into full production.

Maybe you really never existed before joining codex ? Being this dumb kind of leads to such logical conclusion.

If you had read my post you would know that I've said it's not his fault. What I clearly stated in my 2 posts is that CDPR couldn't be bothered with making the game as they presented it, because it would take too much time, so they decided to make Keanu aka Silverhand the main object of the story.

 

[Perkel]

It is obvious that his character was written easily years before game went into full production.

See the other post about Silverhand being merely a lore tidbit in a pre-Keanu video.

For some reason you assume that this tidbit is central to story and somehow proves point that story was always different. Except that part where it comes from gameplay part which already had Jackie and V and it is in the game as it is first mission after prologue. Moreover narrator at the time clearly stated "you play as V".

Here is alternative explentation that is more logical: This was fluff-text that maybe gave you extra line or two when you actually met your hero.

If you had read my post you would know that I've said it's not his fault. What I clearly stated in my 2 posts is that CDPR couldn't be bothered with making the game as they presented it,

Except you are yet to state what that game was about. Other than some idiotic assumptions you have only tales from your ass. On other hand we have basically every video released by them proving it was always V/Johny story.

 

[Heroic Liberator]

Here is alternative explentation that is more logical: This was fluff-text that maybe gave you extra line or two when you actually met your hero.

That still leaves out Morgan Blackhand who is absent from the game. I'm guessing that they've merged his character with that of Johnny as part of the content cutting.

Otherwise I agree with you that the general plot was probably planned as is from way back.

 

[gurugeorge]

"Cyberpunk was announced in 2012 and Keanu joined in 2018." literally tells you that the game in some form existed 6 years before Keanu. Is that sentence too complicated for you to understand?

Do you understand that Keanu doesn't make game ? He is just voice actor. For some idiotic reason you assume taht they scrapped whole game because god Keanu arrived on white horse and now everything has to be thrown into bin just like that. It is obvious that his character was written easily years before game went into full production.

Maybe you really never existed before joining codex ? Being this dumb kind of leads to such logical conclusion.

No, quite the opposite is obvious. Check the video from 30:00 and you can see that in 2018 Johnny Silverhand is just an "inspirational figure" in the character creation process.

What it stinks of most is cocaine madness and marketing insanity derailing game development from the moment Keanu agreed to come on board. Prior to that point, "V" was clearly meant to have 3 different lifepaths, with 3 different sets of C&C.

Obviously Keanu isn't to blame. Stars do what they do, they want to be in everything, they want to hear themselves, like singers and guitarists in bands IT WAS THE JOB OF CDPR MANAGEMENT TO SAY "NO, WE HAVE THIS GAME PLANNED AN ON TRACK, WE'D JUST LIKE YOU TO DO A FEW COOL CAMEOS THANKS."

 

[Perkel]

That still leaves out Morgan Blackhand who is absent from the game. I'm guessing that they've merged his character with that of Johnny as part of the content cutting.

Otherwise I agree with you that the general plot was probably planned as is from way back.

Or it was fluff text with no meaning they scrapped. Or that full text only worked for one of characters in game or two.
Trying to prove game had different story on that basis is just idiotic.

In very first trailer they literally showed jackie in one of scenes as well as other characters that are now in main story.
And like i said before that gameplay trailer had already in it Jackie and V and narrator clearly stated you play as V and it is exact same mission you play after prologue.

There is literally nothing suggesting story was different. Moreover if you play game it is very clear that it was always story about V and Johny.

What it stinks of most is cocaine madness and marketing insanity derailing game development from the moment Keanu agreed to come on board. Prior to that point, "V" was clearly meant to have 3 different lifepaths, with 3 different sets of C&C.

Except you do. Game is clearly structured with starts and endings that follow through those lifepaths choices. It is the middle that is more nautral.

But i guess you could say they could expand on it.

Or next time they could just cut it out. Clearly they would save themselves from retards arguing that they should make 3 separate games or what they did with Witcher 2 again

 

[gurugeorge]

That still leaves out Morgan Blackhand who is absent from the game. I'm guessing that they've merged his character with that of Johnny as part of the content cutting.

Otherwise I agree with you that the general plot was probably planned as is from way back.

Or it was fluff text with no meaning they scrapped. Or that full text only worked for one of characters in game or two.
Trying to prove game had different story on that basis is just idiotic.

Obviously it's impossible to "prove" it, but it's highly suggestive circumstantially, combined with the weight of promo material suggesting 3 lifepaths. Just look at the video, they actually go to the trouble of digging up all the old promo videos and going through them, checking their promises against what eventuated. 3 distinct lifepaths is VERY CLEARLY PROMOTED in the earlier videos.

Also, IIRC some of the voice actors were re-called. So for example one thing that comes to mind is that you have a little chat with Panam at one point about your condition. That actually comes very late in your relationship with her, and it's only a few lines.

Now ofc voice actors can be re-called for any number of reasons. But one of those reasons could very easily be because it's necessary to stuff reference to story in there that wasn't originally in the game.

Recall also, how the story is a "one and done" thing that's relatively much easier to do and set up than the meat and potatoes of a proper RPG with C&C and progression balance, etc.

Also consider how mighty peculiar it is, as many have remarked, that you have these 3 lifepath prologues, but everyone ends up, effectivel, as a streetkid. Again, that's not what was promoted for the bulk of promotion this game has had.

 

[Turjan]

Obviously Keanu isn't to blame. Stars do what they do, they want to be in everything, they want to hear themselves, like singers and guitarists in bands IT WAS THE JOB OF CDPR MANAGEMENT TO SAY "NO, WE HAVE THIS GAME PLANNED AN ON TRACK, WE'D JUST LIKE YOU TO DO A FEW COOL CAMEOS THANKS."

I assume he was also cheap. One reason for this may be expressed in this sentence:

"Arch Motorcycle Company, LLC is a high-end custom American motorcycle manufacturer founded by Keanu Reeves and Gard Hollinger in 2011."

This also explains why riding your bike through Night City is one of the actual fun activities in the game.

 

[Perkel]

3 distinct lifepaths is VERY CLEARLY PROMOTED in the earlier videos.

And game delivered them. You just have problem with them because Cyberpunk is not actually 3 games at once or something like that or more extensive that what you want.

 

[gurugeorge]

3 distinct lifepaths is VERY CLEARLY PROMOTED in the earlier videos.

And game delivered them. You just have problem with them because Cyberpunk is not actually 3 games at once or something like that or more extensive that what you want.

Don't be silly, they're not lifepaths, they're prologues, after those prologues everyone ends up in one path, as a streetkid.

 

[Heroic Liberator]

3 distinct lifepaths is VERY CLEARLY PROMOTED in the earlier videos.

And game delivered them. You just have problem with them because Cyberpunk is not actually 3 games at once or something like that or more extensive that what you want.

Don't be silly, they're not lifepaths, they're prologues, after those prologues everyone ends up in one path, as a streetkid.

They're underdeveloped, but they serve the same functional role as the origins in Dragon Age. They weren't supposed to offer distinct main plotlines, but rather to add some extra variables within the preestablished game narrative common to all three.

 

[Turjan]

3 distinct lifepaths is VERY CLEARLY PROMOTED in the earlier videos.

And game delivered them. You just have problem with them because Cyberpunk is not actually 3 games at once or something like that or more extensive that what you want.

Don't be silly, they're not lifepaths, they're prologues, after those prologues everyone ends up in one path, as a streetkid.

On the other hand, the Nomad ending seems most fleshed out. Granted, you can do this coming from any of the prologues, but it's there.

 

[Perkel]

Don't be silly, they're not lifepaths, they're prologues, after those prologues everyone ends up in one path, as a streetkid.

Semantics. You roleplay whoever you want after prologue and V despite initial backlash for being "streetkid" is actually much more neutral because the slang he uses and type of speech is actually pretty common everywhere from corpos to nomads.

 

[Turjan]

Can we have an analysis of the analysis videos too? I feel like we're not spending enough time watching other people analysing every single thing a million times over.

Two guys with a video channel completely devoted to Skyrim and Fallout 4 don't think Cyberpunk 2077 looks enough like Skyrim and Fallout 4.

 

[Gerrard]

Even steam reviews went from mixed to mostly positive lately (200k reviews+)

The reviews were mostly positive since the 2nd or 3rd day. They actually went down from 79% to 78%.

Don't be silly, they're not lifepaths, they're prologues, after those prologues everyone ends up in one path, as a streetkid.

Semantics. You roleplay whoever you want

There's no roleplaying in this game.

 

[res11]

Can we have an analysis of the analysis videos too? I feel like we're not spending enough time watching other people analysing every single thing a million times over.

Two guys with a video channel completely devoted to Skyrim and Fallout 4 don't think Cyberpunk 2077 looks enough like Skyrim and Fallout 4.

Damn I didn't even notice that, so it's just another manchild youtuber. Explains his retarded praise of Fallout 4 in this video.

 

[Perkel]

There's no roleplaying in this game.

Other than plenty of choices, sidequests that can end differently with different outcomes, different endings there isn't any RPG here. You are completely right.

 

[Druid Ardun]

3 distinct lifepaths is VERY CLEARLY PROMOTED in the earlier videos.

And game delivered them. You just have problem with them because Cyberpunk is not actually 3 games at once or something like that or more extensive that what you want.

Don't be silly, they're not lifepaths, they're prologues, after those prologues everyone ends up in one path, as a streetkid.

They're underdeveloped, but they serve the same functional role as the origins in Dragon Age. They weren't supposed to offer distinct main plotlines, but rather to add some extra variables within the preestablished game narrative common to all three.

I beg your pardon? Origins in Dragon Age affected your playthrough from the start til the end. In DA:O there are many paths unavaliable to other origins. Human noble could even become a king / queen. In Cyberpunk they give you like 15 new dialogue options and thats it.

 

[Heroic Liberator]

3 distinct lifepaths is VERY CLEARLY PROMOTED in the earlier videos.

And game delivered them. You just have problem with them because Cyberpunk is not actually 3 games at once or something like that or more extensive that what you want.

Don't be silly, they're not lifepaths, they're prologues, after those prologues everyone ends up in one path, as a streetkid.

They're underdeveloped, but they serve the same functional role as the origins in Dragon Age. They weren't supposed to offer distinct main plotlines, but rather to add some extra variables within the preestablished game narrative common to all three.

I beg your pardon? Origins in Dragon Age affected your playthrough from the start til the end. In DA:O there are many paths unavaliable to other origins. Human noble could even become a king / queen. In Cyberpunk they give you like 15 new dialogue options and thats it.

Hence my point about them being underdeveloped.

 

[simtam]

Anyone who thought the life paths will be anything like Bachelor/Haruspex/Changeling of the first Pathologic, I have a bridge to sell

 

[gurugeorge]

Don't be silly, they're not lifepaths, they're prologues, after those prologues everyone ends up in one path, as a streetkid.

Semantics. You roleplay whoever you want after prologue and V despite initial backlash for being "streetkid" is actually much more neutral because the slang he uses and type of speech is actually pretty common everywhere from corpos to nomads.

Again, it's impossible to be certain about any of this, but if you look at the weight and tendency of the promotional material up to 2018, the game was meant to be different. Certainly some elements of the story would have been in there from the beginning, but not with Johnny Silverhand playing such a central role, especially considering that he's shown in 2018 as having died in 2076 in one of the promo videos, and considering that screenshot showing him as merely an inspirational figure. Neither of those can be excused as "fluff text" since they're ABSOLUTELY CONTRADICTORY to Johnny Silverhand having the important role in the story he has now.

For example, there's the ending, which obviously has 3 "flavours" (Nomad-ish, Street-kiddish and Corpo-ish), then there's the underdeveloped theme of the AIs and the Blackwall, really only shown in the Voodoo Boys/Netwatch questline, and jammed rather awkwardly into both the Nomad-ish and Street-kiddish endings, but not at all utilized in the corporate-ish ending. But notice how, in one of the promotional vids, Pacifica is shown as a place unto itself with its own particular flavour, not just as a backdrop to one quest in the game and a few side-gigs (as it is now), and how Netwatch figures more prominently in one of the other promo vids. That underdeveloped theme is also hinted at in the Peralez quest - which really looks like it ties into the whole AI thing. There's also the hint that Delamain's schizoid problem is some sort of AI virus.

I think the original intention was for the story to be more general and related to a) Arasaka's pursuit of immortality (so the biochip definitely figured in there), b) the AI/Voodoo Boys/Netwatch theme, and c) probably something related to the Nomads and the theme of ex-military Cyberpsychosis, which is heavily peppered throughout the game (perhaps re. the question of whether cyber-enhancement is worth it or not); the first being more related to the Streetkid V, the second more to the Corpo V, and the third more to the Nomad V.

It's kind of pointless arguing about it. But I do think everyone should look at that video, to remind themselves of exactly what the promotional videos were saying, and how that differs from what we've got.

 

[Rand al'Thor]

Cyberpunk 2077 makes me appreciate other games more.Thank you CD Project Red.

 

[dragonul09]

There's no roleplaying in this game.

Other than plenty of choices, sidequests that can end differently with different outcomes, different endings there isn't any RPG here. You are completely right.

So many choices that it made Fallout 4 look like New Vegas

 

[Perkel]

Again, it's impossible to be certain about any of this, but if you look at the weight and tendency of the promotional material up to 2018, the game was meant to be different. Certainly some elements of the story would have been in there from the beginning, but not with Johnny Silverhand playing such a central role, especially considering that he's shown in 2018 as having died in 2076 in one of the promo videos, and considering that screenshot showing him as merely an inspirational figure. Neither of those can be excused as "fluff text" since they're ABSOLUTELY CONTRADICTORY to Johnny Silverhand having the important role in the story he has now.

For example, there's the ending, which obviously has 3 "flavours" (Nomad-ish, Street-kiddish and Corpo-ish), then there's the underdeveloped theme of the AIs and the Blackwall, really only shown in the Voodoo Boys/Netwatch questline, and jammed rather awkwardly into both the Nomad-ish and Street-kiddish endings, but not at all utilized in the corporate-ish ending. But notice how, in one of the promotional vids, Pacifica is shown as a place unto itself with its own particular flavour, not just as a backdrop to one quest in the game and a few side-gigs (as it is now), and how Netwatch figures more prominently in one of the other promo vids. That underdeveloped theme is also hinted at in the Peralez quest - which really looks like it ties into the whole AI thing. There's also the hint that Delamain's schizoid problem is some sort of AI virus.

I think the original intention was for the story to be more general and related to a) Arasaka's pursuit of immortality (so the biochip definitely figured in there), b) the AI/Voodoo Boys/Netwatch theme, and c) probably something related to the Nomads and the theme of ex-military Cyberpsychosis, which is heavily peppered throughout the game (perhaps re. the question of whether cyber-enhancement is worth it or not); the first being more related to the Streetkid V, the second more to the Corpo V, and the third more to the Nomad V.

It's kind of pointless arguing about it. But I do think everyone should look at that video, to remind themselves of exactly what the promotional videos were saying, and how that differs from what we've got.

dude what you are vaping ? They show one screen of something and you automatically assume whole game will be about it or half of it at least.

Again, it's impossible to be certain about any of this

More like you have some fanboy dreams about game that never existed other than in your mind. They litearlly showed you trailer from main story very early and game delivers all of those bits you saw.

 

[Owlish]

Don't be silly, they're not lifepaths, they're prologues, after those prologues everyone ends up in one path, as a streetkid.

Semantics. You roleplay whoever you want after prologue and V despite initial backlash for being "streetkid" is actually much more neutral because the slang he uses and type of speech is actually pretty common everywhere from corpos to nomads.

Again, it's impossible to be certain about any of this, but if you look at the weight and tendency of the promotional material up to 2018, the game was meant to be different. Certainly some elements of the story would have been in there from the beginning, but not with Johnny Silverhand playing such a central role, especially considering that he's shown in 2018 as having died in 2076 in one of the promo videos, and considering that screenshot showing him as merely an inspirational figure. Neither of those can be excused as "fluff text" since they're ABSOLUTELY CONTRADICTORY to Johnny Silverhand having the important role in the story he has now.

For example, there's the ending, which obviously has 3 "flavours" (Nomad-ish, Street-kiddish and Corpo-ish), then there's the underdeveloped theme of the AIs and the Blackwall, really only shown in the Voodoo Boys/Netwatch questline, and jammed rather awkwardly into both the Nomad-ish and Street-kiddish endings, but not at all utilized in the corporate-ish ending. But notice how, in one of the promotional vids, Pacifica is shown as a place unto itself with its own particular flavour, not just as a backdrop to one quest in the game and a few side-gigs (as it is now), and how Netwatch figures more prominently in one of the other promo vids. That underdeveloped theme is also hinted at in the Peralez quest - which really looks like it ties into the whole AI thing. There's also the hint that Delamain's schizoid problem is some sort of AI virus.

I think the original intention was for the story to be more general and related to a) Arasaka's pursuit of immortality (so the biochip definitely figured in there), b) the AI/Voodoo Boys/Netwatch theme, and c) probably something related to the Nomads and the theme of ex-military Cyberpsychosis, which is heavily peppered throughout the game (perhaps re. the question of whether cyber-enhancement is worth it or not); the first being more related to the Streetkid V, the second more to the Corpo V, and the third more to the Nomad V.

It's kind of pointless arguing about it. But I do think everyone should look at that video, to remind themselves of exactly what the promotional videos were saying, and how that differs from what we've got.

Their marketing was definitely heavily implying an expansive RPG. Then they shifted gears and started quietly calling it a "action adventure story" and dropping mention of "RPG." It's a super streamlined game and you control their "V," explicitly named Vincent so undermining the point of calling him "V" which could have meant anything, you don't roleplay anything after the character creation screen.

Also I think there were different dev teams working on it with layers of lore, art, code and character direction. The Mass Effect Andromeda team they brought in wouldn't ever have made the Animals with big beefy trannies pumped full of testosterone and HGH, looking and sounding disgusting and horrifying.