The follow-up to Cyberpunk 2077 might enhance one widely discussed RPG system from the first game, according to comments made by CD Projekt Red developers. While there are several aspects of the first game that a Cyberpunk 2077 sequel might have a hard time topping, this feature isn't one of them, and improving it would go a long way toward making the next release more immersive and impressive.
Gaming audiences and games media honed in on the life path system in the leadup to Cyberpunk 2077's release, with plenty of ink being spilled regarding the feature's potential to facilitate diverse role-playing experiences and elevate replay value. When the game was finally launched, though, these life paths turned out to be superficial elements of a given playthrough, such as the brief opening of the game and a few small, mostly inconsequential, dialog options and NPC interactions. To some, the lackluster implementation of life paths is representative of the game's broader failures, as the feature was initially marketed as being more advanced and sophisticated than it actually is.
The Next Cyberpunk 2077 Could Offer New and Improved Life Paths
While the current state of life paths in Cyberpunk 2077 is a matter of opinion, it's clear that they don't have much of an impact on the moment-to-moment experience of playing the game. CD Projekt Red developers seem to agree as, when discussing the in-development Cyberpunk 2077 sequel, the studio's narrative director Philipp Weber commented on the life path feature, stating that it doesn't fully fulfill its role-playing promise and that the team would like to improve this sort of feature in the future.
How Improved Life Paths Could Benefit Cyberpunk 2077's Sequel
Though it's positioned as an RPG, Cyberpunk 2077 is more like an action game most of the time. Players can influence the story to some degree and they can steer V's personality ever so slightly, but the character they inhabit and the story they participate in is mostly the same across any playthrough. This isn't terrible, as the Cyberpunk 2077 narrative is strong and engaging, but there is definitely some unrealized potential when it comes to the game's RPG mechanics.
By fleshing out life paths, Cyberpunk 2077's sequel could offer far more player agency. If, for example, the chosen life path could dramatically alter the main narrative or grant access to exclusive skill trees, the feature would be more interesting and rewarding, encouraging players to fully embrace the role of a Corpo, Street Kid, Nomad, or other archetype. Cyberpunk 2077's narrative can only be slightly altered by player choice, and none of the most impactful choices have much, if anything, to do with the chosen life path, so this would be a massive improvement.
Cyberpunk 2077's Phantom Liberty DLC may be indicative of CDPR's desire to grow life paths into something greater, as the expansion includes more relevant, meaningful NPC interactions built around each life path.
Life paths, as they exist in Cyberpunk 2077, may become completely unrecognizable in future entries. CDPR may choose to evolve the system into something that is more ongoing and dynamic, letting players define their backstory throughout the early hours of the game rather than choosing a bespoke background before the first mission. Regardless of how life paths function in Cyberpunk 2077's sequel, CD Projekt Red could deliver on the initial promise of letting players shape their own character and adventure by taking a more radical, expansive, and interactive approach to this facet of its RPG design.
Cyberpunk 2077
- Released
- December 10, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
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?
- 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
- Engine
- REDengine 4
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, PC
- How Long To Beat
- 25 Hours
