CD Projekt Red has released their second episode of Cyberpunk 2077‘s Night City Wire, showcasing even more gameplay footage on top of its previews and new gameplay mechanics. Though brief, the latest reveal was focused on character creation choices, guns and a Keanu Reeves living in your console.
At the start of the game, players will be logging into the Night City Resident Database to create their custom character. They will also have to choose a Lifepath for themselves. As a Nomad, Street Kid or Corpo, each option will decide how the rest of CyberPunk 2077 plays out with its story. The “classes” also come with their own perks and abilities according to V’s upbringing.
While the Street Kid is well-connected to Night City’s underworld, they will also be less hostile to members while under a close eye by police. They are also able to get help from gangs as they assign jobs against rivals. Nomads are independent citizens living in deserts outside of Night City and are focused on a family-driven narrative. Players in this path enter Night City in order to make a name for themselves and support fellow Nomads by doing jobs. Corpo V’s will be working for the game’s corrupt company Arasaka as they protect their secrets and silence anyone who tries to bring them down. They also face their own conflicts by being with the company as players learn more about their jobs. For Corpos, they also face less resistance from fellow employees and police officers while getting more hostilities from citizens and gang members across Night City.
As an RPG, players would also be sticking to their roles from start to end. This would give Cyberpunk 2077 triple replayability as they could experience the game as completely different characters and lifepath-exclusive missions. Being under one faction also allows you to learn their strategies, which can help players combat them as other factions. The same information can also apply for future playthroughs while NPCs would be surprised or impressed at the player’s meta-knowledge. Regardless of choice, players can also access parts not shown in other campaigns. Characters might be welcomed in Nomad settlements at the desert, but could be shot on sight if they come back as a Corpo or Street Kid. The new location also features an open-ended environment that sits on the outskirts of Night City.
Each lifepath also connects with all of the other characters. Mentors for one type of character could either be rivals or support for other players. But connecting all players are Keanu Reeves, who plays Johnny Silverhand and is connected into their UIs. A new snippet of Silverhand reveals he was a typical rockstar living in Night City, while his music is featured prominently across the game’s soundtrack. As the band Samurai, CD Projekt Red collaborated with different musicians for some lead vocals in Cyberpunk 2077. Players will also be playing as Silverhand at some point, to play in front of audiences in front of concerts and learn more about his fate (again, you will become Keanu Reeves). They will also be meeting rival bands in less violent conflicts as they battle with metal and electric guitars.
Jobs in Cyberpunk 2077 will also need solving with guns (lots of guns). Customizable weapons will be featured prominently with their own attachments and cosmetics while some can even be overupgraded for one-hit kills. A crief snippet of the weapons menu showed eight accessible option, including: Cyberware, Melee Weapons, Smart Weapons, Power Weapons, Tech Weapons, Throwables, Weapon Mods and Attachments. Power weapons represent the game’s close-quarter ones including shotguns which offer devastating punches for enemies. Many of these weapons can also be found off enemies and loot caches, as suggested by CD Projekt Red. Special enemies can also carry special weapons, which can be taken through mini boss battles or even as a token of gratitude if players spare them.
Some ammo types can also send bullets through cover and ricochet off walls to pick enemies off from distances. Others including double-barrels and a selection of LMGs can even make vehicles explode. Smart weapons can track enemy movement through scopes and give unique seeker rounds, include tracking sniper bullets and bouncing 9mm projectiles. Players looking for something more elegant can even wield blades, including hammers, spiked bats and a heated katana that can slice through enemies and block melee attacks. Cyberwares are essentially hidden arm weapons which can activate the game’s notable Mantis Blades, grappling wires and even gorilla arms that can tear through walls and even dismount turrets for use.
Cyberpunk 2077 will be releasing on November 19, 2020 for PC, PS4, Xbox One, Google Stadia and Next-Gen Consoles with free upgrades. You can also rewatch the second Night City Wire episode here.
