My Journey with Cyberpunk 2077: A 250-Hour Odyssey
I first encountered Cyberpunk 2077 when it was released, a long-anticipated title that had everyone buzzing with excitement. From the very first moment I entered the neon-lit streets of Night City, I could feel something special about it. Over 250 hours later, having achieved 100% of the achievements, completed every side mission, and explored the city in every possible way, I can confidently say that this game is one of the most immersive experiences I’ve ever had.
This is not just a game to me—it’s a world, a living, breathing entity. There’s something about the way Night City feels so alive, so chaotic, yet strangely beautiful, that made me want to dive deeper into its narrative, its side stories, and its dark corners. And I did. I spent hours getting lost in the city, exploring every nook and cranny, finding new ways to interact with the world around me, from hacking into security systems to taking on dangerous corporate missions. Cyberpunk 2077 became more than just a game; it became a world I lived in.
The First Impression: A Future Full of Hope and Despair
When I first started the game, I remember being blown away by the visuals. The cyberpunk aesthetic was everything I hoped it would be—futuristic, neon-drenched, and full of high-tech chaos. It’s not just the city’s skyscrapers or the endless sea of advertisements that make it memorable; it’s the little things that make it feel so real. The hum of the city, the distant chatter of people, the rain-soaked streets reflecting the bright lights. It’s a feeling of being immersed in a world that, while incredibly advanced technologically, is also deeply flawed.
Night City has this sense of desperation and hopelessness that gets under your skin. It’s a city where people are constantly trying to survive, often at the expense of their morals, their humanity, and their futures. The atmosphere is thick with a feeling that everything could go wrong at any moment, and yet, you can’t look away. The stories you uncover are equally tragic and brutal. From the power struggles of mega-corporations to the everyday struggles of ordinary citizens just trying to make it through another day, Cyberpunk 2077 is a city that feels alive, but it’s also a city that feels like it’s slowly decaying.
Storytelling and Narrative: A Web of Choices
The story in Cyberpunk 2077 is one of its most compelling aspects. The narrative is dense, layered with twists and turns that kept me hooked from the moment I first met Johnny Silverhand. The dialogue is sharp and filled with nuance, allowing me to make decisions that would affect not just my character, but the world around me. Every choice I made felt important, whether it was how I approached a mission, whom I trusted, or the alliances I formed.
The way the game blends its main story with countless side missions is something I really appreciate. The main quest, with its focus on V’s struggle against the clock and the looming threat of the Relic in their head, is engaging and emotional. But it’s the side stories—the stories of random citizens, gang members, fixers, and others—that really made Night City feel like a living, breathing place. These side missions don’t just exist as filler; many of them are just as important and well-written as the main storyline. They delve into the lives of characters who feel just as real as V and Johnny, and their personal struggles add layers of depth to the world.
I love the multiple endings that Cyberpunk 2077 offers. Each one felt like a unique culmination of the decisions I made throughout the game. Whether it was siding with the rebels, the corporations, or choosing to go it alone, each ending carried weight. It wasn’t just about the final moment—it was about the journey to get there, the relationships I built, and the choices I made that ultimately led me to that conclusion.
Character Development: From V to the Ghost of Johnny Silverhand
V, the protagonist, is a character I can deeply relate to. The customization options in Cyberpunk 2077 allowed me to create a character that felt like my own, with a backstory and personality that I could shape through my choices. The relationship I developed with Johnny Silverhand, the rebellious rocker and anti-corporate freedom fighter, was one of the most interesting parts of the game. Johnny isn’t just a side character or a voice in your head—he’s a presence, a personality that changes how you see the world. His story, his motivations, and his conflicts are so rich, and the way he evolves alongside V made me feel like we were both on this wild ride together.
Throughout my playthrough, I constantly found myself questioning Johnny’s actions, but also admiring his relentless drive to stick it to the corporations. His deep anger and sense of betrayal were contagious, but what made the relationship compelling was how it evolved over time. He’s not just a digital ghost in your head; he’s a character you grow to understand, even if you don’t always agree with him. The banter between V and Johnny adds so much depth to the experience, making it feel less like a solo journey and more like a partnership—albeit a complicated one.
The World Around Me: A City That Never Sleeps
One of the things that kept me coming back to Cyberpunk 2077 was the world itself. Night City is massive, and it’s filled with people, places, and things to do. It’s not just a city in a game; it’s a living, breathing place. The streets are packed with pedestrians, the roads are filled with vehicles, and everywhere you look, there’s something to interact with. I found myself just walking around, taking in the sights and sounds, even when I wasn’t actively playing through a mission. There’s always something happening, always something to discover, whether it’s a hidden side mission, a secret area, or just a random encounter that leads to something new.
The verticality of Night City is another thing I loved. From the bustling streets to the towering skyscrapers, the game constantly encourages you to look up, down, and all around. There’s always a new perspective to explore, whether it’s climbing to the top of a building to take in the view or jumping into a car and zooming through the streets in a high-speed chase. The city feels alive in a way that few other open-world games manage to capture.
I can’t help but admire how Cyberpunk 2077 embraces its dystopian setting. It doesn’t sugarcoat the reality of living in a world filled with corruption, crime, and decay. Yet, despite all the hopelessness, there’s a strange beauty to it. The towering neon signs, the gritty back alleys, and the never-ending rain—everything feels connected in a way that makes Night City feel like a character itself. It’s both mesmerizing and oppressive, a perfect representation of a future where technology and humanity collide in unpredictable ways.
The Immersive Visuals: A Feast for the Eyes
The visuals in Cyberpunk 2077 are absolutely stunning. From the neon lights that pulse through the streets at night to the sprawling vistas of the city during the day, everything about the game’s visual design contributes to the overall atmosphere. I could spend hours just wandering through the city, admiring the details. The reflections in the rain-soaked streets, the towering billboards flashing ads for all kinds of shady products, the random NPCs going about their business—all of it adds to the immersion.
One of the most powerful aspects of the visuals is the contrast between the bright, neon-soaked areas of the city and the darker, more depressing corners where the lower classes live. It’s a stark reminder of the deep class divide that runs through Night City, and it’s something I felt every time I moved through different districts. The lighting, the architecture, and even the colors used throughout the game all help tell the story of a city that’s on the edge of collapse, yet refuses to give up.
Even the character models are incredibly detailed, and every NPC feels like they have a life of their own. Whether they’re walking down the street, engaging in a heated conversation, or just standing still, each person adds to the sense that Night City is more than just a backdrop for the story—it’s an integral part of the experience.
What I Disliked: Some Missed Opportunities
While I loved so much about Cyberpunk 2077, it wasn’t without its flaws. There were definitely some aspects that kept me from fully embracing the game.
First off, the NPCs in the city felt a bit boring at times. While the world itself felt alive, the people walking the streets often felt like empty shells. They would repeat the same lines, often doing little more than walking in a straight line or standing around. It broke the immersion when I realized that many of the NPCs didn’t have much personality or behavior beyond their scripted actions. There was potential for more dynamic interactions or even just a greater sense of randomness in how the NPCs moved through the city.
Another issue was the clipping and ragdoll problems I encountered. Sometimes characters or objects would behave in ways that were completely unrealistic or jarring, especially when dealing with combat. Bodies would contort in unnatural ways, or items would clip through walls and textures, which broke the realism for me. These glitches were especially noticeable during high-intensity moments or when I had to reload a save file after encountering an issue.
The NCPD crime sites were a good idea but were too easy. I felt like I could breeze through them without much challenge, and there wasn’t enough variety in how these events played out. They became repetitive after a while, which was disappointing considering how much the game focuses on action and combat. More complexity or difficulty could have made these encounters feel more meaningful.
Finally, the scaling in the game felt nonexistent. Once I maxed out my character and equipment, the game became far too easy. The combat, which was once challenging, felt like a cakewalk, and I found myself breezing through missions without breaking a sweat. It took away from the sense of accomplishment and danger that initially made the game so exciting.
The Soundtrack: Edge Runners and the Brutality of the Sound
One of the most important elements of my experience with Cyberpunk 2077 was the soundtrack. The music in this game is absolutely perfect for setting the tone of the world. It’s intense, gritty, and raw, with a mix of electronic, industrial, and rock music that complements the game’s tone. There’s a certain energy to the soundtrack that matches the fast-paced, chaotic world of Night City, and it never lets up.
In addition to the in-game music, I also became a huge fan of the Edge Runners anime soundtrack. The brutality and intensity of the music mirror the world it’s set in, and I found myself constantly coming back to it. It’s a soundtrack that’s as immersive as the game itself, and owning it on LP felt like the perfect way to preserve that connection. The raw, aggressive nature of the music, combined with the emotional highs and lows of the anime, perfectly captured the essence of the cyberpunk world.
