It's not yet clear what CD Projekt Red wants to achieve with Project Orion, the mysterious sequel to Cyberpunk 2077, but one can only assume that it will be an ambitious project. Not only will it follow a critically acclaimed, one-of-a-kind action-RPG, but it will also be something of a possible redemption for CDPR, which lost so much of its goodwill in the wake of Cyberpunk 2077's historically disastrous launch.
Untethered from the myriad technical and PR issues of the first Cyberpunk 2077, Project Orion has a chance to better realize the IP's potential. Much like The Witcher games before it, Cyberpunk 2077 excels at storytelling, but it perhaps could have benefited from a firmer focus in some areas. For instance, the Lifepath feature, which was heavily touted as an ambitious, replay-value-enhancing mechanic ahead of launch, wound up being a bit underbaked and ineffectual, ultimately having very little impact on a given playthrough. This is something that Project Orion could improve, but whatever changes the sequel makes to Lifepaths, it ought to hone in on at least one from its predecessor.
Project Orion: Why the Corpo Lifepath Might Be the Most Important One to Get Right
The Corpo Lifepath Is Cyberpunk 2077's Most Unique and Interesting
Cyberpunk 2077 has three Lifepaths: Nomad, Streetkid, and Corpo. Streetkid plants V's roots in the seedy underbelly of Night City; this is fitting, considering V's demeanor, personality, and street smarts. Nomad makes a lot of sense too, especially for those role-playing as a more rebellious, subversive V. By comparison, the Corpo Lifepath doesn't smoothly slot into the rest of the Cyberpunk 2077 story, but it's arguably the most fascinating place to start.
In both Night City and Cyberpunk 2077's broader world, corporations are king. The likes of Arasaka and Militech have far more power and influence than any politician or governing body, and with virtually no oversight, this power has gone unchecked for years. In other words, the United States of Cyberpunk 2077 is a corporatocracy, a society crafted by corporations, for corporations. Since these corporate entities are essentially Cyberpunk 2077's main antagonists, there's not much opportunity to see behind their multi-story, chrome-plated walls. This is where an improved Corpo Lifepath could come into play in Project Orion.
Cyberpunk 2077's Corpo Lifepath arguably features the best prologue, letting players explore the interior of a corporate building—a space they can't access again for the rest of the game.
How Project Orion Could Offer a Better, More Poignant Corpo Lifepath
Much of Cyberpunk's most relevant and powerful social commentary is delivered through the lens of its in-universe corporations, but the fact that it's a video game means that a lot of this commentary is either replaced or drowned out by high-octane action. It's much more fun to shoot down Arasaka drones than to listen to thinly veiled post-mortems on the American Dream. But linking Project Orion's protagonist to one such company, even if it's only through an optional feature like a Lifepath, could open the door to more nuanced storytelling in this regard.
Maybe selecting the Corpo Lifepath in Project Orion could draw back the curtain on corporations' legislative powers, better explaining how they maintain their independence from and dominance over the NUSA. Project Orion's protagonist, if they start as a Corpo, could even have a hand in shaping some of this legislation, or engaging in some underhanded, cutthroat corporate politics. Getting a better look at the day-to-day operations of these sinister corporations is the best part of the Corpo Lifepath in Cyberpunk, so Project Orion shouldn't be shy about the same subject matter.
Cyberpunk 2077
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 76 /100 Critics Rec: 66%
- Released
- December 10, 2020
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- CD Projekt Red
- Publisher(s)
- CD Projekt Red
