For all its strengths and weaknesses, one element ofCyberpunk 2077stands the best chance of weathering the test of time: its narrative. The world-building, character writing, andunpredictable plot ofCyberpunk 2077help make it a consistently engaging, blockbuster storytelling experience, reaching and even surpassing the quality bar that audiences have come to expect from CD Projekt Red in the wake of theWitcherseries. Hopefully, the same can be said aboutProject Orion,Cyberpunk’s in-development, mysterious sequel.
Major spoilers ahead forCyberpunk 2077.
Cyberpunk 2077kicks off with an emotional gut-punch. After becoming acquainted with Jackie Welles, a happy-go-lucky Heywood merc with surprising depth, players embark on an ambitious mission to retrieve an enigmatic artifact from Yorinobu Arasaka, the wayward son of megacorp leader Saburo Arasaka. Naturally, the heist goes pear-shaped, and Jackie is unfortunately killed during the escape. This sequence highlights the unforgiving nature of Night City, and does a good job of establishing the stakes of the narrative early on, but it’s ever so slightly undermined by one creative decision, which ultimately has a negative impact on the game’s pacing, at least in those opening hours.
Project Orion’s Intro Shouldn’t Have a Time Skip Like Cyberpunk 2077’s
V’s Early Criminal Life Is Detailed In a Short Montage
Though the opening moments ofCyberpunkare defined by the underdeveloped lifepath feature, the prologue essentially becomes standardized after a certain point. Something will happen that disrupts V’s daily life, and a montage will ensue, showing their budding friendship with Jackie and their climb through the lower ranks of Night City’s criminal underworld. This storytelling device is certainly efficient, conveying how V came into possession of their iconic apartment and why they already have a relationship with various fixers, but it falls short at evoking emotion.
To be fair,Cyberpunk2077had the monumental task of establishing its version of Night City, introducing players to a whole new world with countless key players, so it makes sense to try and streamline the introduction of various fixers, factions, and other characters. But still, speedrunning this first look at so many important aspects of the game, both on the broad scale with major fixers and on the more intimate side of things with the Jackie-V connection, can make this intro feel rushed. Maybe this can be chalked up to the mismanaged lifepath system, which required CD Projekt Red to make a one-size-fits-all prologue, or maybe it was just a creative misfire, butProject Orionshouldn’t repeat history in this regard.
The Case for Project Orion’s Intro to Take Its Time
While it’s not clear whetherProject Orionwill take place in Night City or elsewhere, there’s a solid chance that it will need to establish a new protagonist in the context of theCyberpunkuniverse; V’s story is wrapped up fairly definitively by the end ofCyberpunk 2077, not leaving much room for another story with them at the helm. AssumingProject Orionheralds the arrival of V’s replacement, it should pump the brakes in its opening hours, letting players grow attached to the game world and its relationship to the new protagonist in a more organic and detailed way.
This would likely mean steering clear of any montages in the opening hours: any friends, enemies, or acquaintances of the protagonist should be introduced naturally and progressively, letting the player grow accustomed to them alongside the protagonist, or at least learn about them through dialog or more traditional cutscenes. In this way,Project Orioncan tell a more emotionally impactful story, building on the intimate, strong character-and world-building of its predecessor through more effective presentation and pacing.
Cyberpunk 2077
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Cyberpunk 2077 is an open-world action-adventure from the creators of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, CD Projekt Red.Set in Night City, a megalopolis obsessed with power, glamour and body modification, you play as V, a mercenary outlaw going after a one-of-a-kind implant that is the key to immortality.Upgraded with next-gen in mind and featuring free additional content, customize your character and playstyle as you take on jobs, build a reputation, and unlock upgrades.The relationships you forge and the choices you make will shape the story and the world around you. Legends are made here. What will yours be?
