Cyberpunk 2077 - What to expect?
 

Farflame spotted this long Cyberpunk 2077 article:

More information.

I've owned a copy of 1st edition boxed Cyberpunk rpg since it first came out. One thing I really want to try is proper smart gun links. You don't need to pull the trigger, just wave the gun at the baddies, so no point and click, just aim and gun will fire automatically when there's an optimal firing solution. That might be sweet to mess around with.

I'm probably in the minority but TBH I would kind of prefer Shadowrun tbh. I know many think it's kind of naff but magic adds another raft of gaming opportunities. Back in the day I had hoped Bethesda would mix FalloutNV and Oblivion to achieve it. Be that as it may I still have high hopes for this one. I'm interested to see if/how they integrate netrunning.

But… we have Shadowrun. Pretty good games, too - especially Dragonfall and Hong Kong. So, thanks to that, we can have both.

This is very likely a day-one purchase for me. Maybe I will even pre-order. I like the company and their attitude. Also, with Witcher 3 they already prooved they can pull off massive projects.
If the multiplayer part is unintrusive or even adds to the experience of the single-player world I'm all for it. Otherwise I hope it's optional.

Compared to Witcher? Crazy amount of customization, plenty of weapon types, and play styles, different ways to approach the mission…combat is very lethal and (usually) your last resort. Probably will have version of Power Armor called "ACPA". With art/visual design, Blade runner influence all over the place, new build over the old. No "levels" or scaling. "Cyberpsychosis" as limitation to augmentation..something similar to "Humanity" in Bloodlines( though no idea how they'll properly implement it).
Ton of lore, technology transforming world in different directions. Factions probably in form of mega corporations like Arasaka, Millitech, etc.
I'm thinking something of a mix of Deus Ex+Fallout+Blade Runner+GTA.
Only thing Witcher has over it, are main characters perhaps.
They pull this off, this may as well be the last game I need to play. ;)

I'm hoping they've invented some new tech for generating a proper future city. Perhaps something a bit like Speedtree, that makes it feasible to generate whole blocks really quickly. I know some people don't like too much empty space, but I really like a sprawling open-world, even if the quest content has to be spread thinner.

And I'm hoping for hairworks/tressFX on everything not just fur.
I mean… Everyone has a nextgen GPU now. It'd be a shame if CDpr can't beat TR2/DXMD hair, they've proved being competent in that department unlike Ubi.

I personally hope that all that Bobo writes will be in there, and that most of what the author of the article speculates isn't. Set protagonist, no stats and multiplayer? God please no. I do believe multiplayer in some form is confirmed though, but the rest I hope will not come to be.

Co-op multiplayer could be ok…. Especially if one person is netrunning whilst the other guys are in the corporate headquarters. But still it'd be towards the bottom of my wishlist. I really hope it's not a set protagonist.

I just want sex cards. But all cyber-punky n'stuff. ;)

So the most important features for future RPGs are…
- cute super realistic hair
- generated city
- sex cards
- cyber sex…

Anything else? :p

Don't know enough about it to make a purchase decision. The Witcher series wasn't a homerun for me like it was for many here so it won't factor in my decision at all.

I was watching again the cinematic trailer from 3 years ago. It's a very hyping (is it a word?) trailer, an excellent piece of propaganda/advertisement. I expect the final product is a damn good game. Please CDPR, don't do like the Dead Island's devs, who also made a hell of a trailer and delivered a forgettable game.

I don't really expect much to be honest. The Witcher games seem alright but not really my thing (Witcher 1 is, maybe, but 2 and 3 didn't really attract me because they didn't really seem like the style of RPG that I care for). So, I expect Cyberpunk 2077 to be this company's "big hit". Tons of marketing, bigger budget and likely more streamlining, simplification, etc. I could be wrong, but I basically expect a typical big-budget AAA game in the vein of Assassin's Creed, GTA or something like that (obviously more of an RPG, though, but in terms of overall "direction" and the crowd they are aiming for).

Fluent,

I have this expectation because IMHO CDPR have no fear to cross some lines in order to make an outstanding product. They have more money and skills than an indie studio, yet they aren't the typical AAA studio "sold to the system" (*).
Of course, they may deliver a so-so game, though I don't believe this. But even so, this forgettable game would be miles ahead of "another Assassin's Creed".

(*) I don't know if this expression does exist in English language. I'm translating it literally, from an expression used in my language.

I understand what you're saying. It can go either way. People said the same about Bethesda, BioWare, etc. at one point until they reached the "tipping point" of popularity/fame/money/etc. Same thing will likely happen to CDPR at some point. But really, even though Bethesda publishes their own games, some people still have the perception that they "sold out". It happens in every creative industry since time immemorial.

But enough of that. I'm quite sure CDPR will deliver a game that is going to be popular. I don't see Cyberpunk being a "flop" or anything. Even if they stick to the current way they've been making games they will be fine, IMO.

Well on the plus side, Marcin and the "core" staff are said to be big fans of CP2020. And Mike Pondsmith creator of original pnp game is active and behind the project as well…he waited a long time for this, probably would not agree to sell it to someone who would simply turn into shallow blockbuster AAA title.

His words: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYxt7cwDk4E

And CP2020 rules and mechanics are incredibly in depth…even if a lot of it is simplified to modern standards, it would likely still have more complexity than most crpg's.

https://xarxasuportmutueixdreta.file…nd-edition.pdf

Pretty damn odd that some Bethesda fans here aren't more enthusiastic about this…if done right, this would bring back actual strong role playing and mechanics that older Bethesda games had, along with production and technical values they always lacked.

Fully agreed! If there is a studio which can make a great game out of CP2020 ruleset, this studio is CDPR. I think the franchise lies in very capable hands.

That's great and all but the Elder Scrolls games were also based on in-depth rules (the original games were D&D campaigns, so I'd say that's quite in-depth). I just think this game is more likely to be their big AAA smash, their home-run swing, basically.

Do you really think this game is going to bring back RPG elements and complexity like D&D, etc., or go for a more accessible, "cinematic experience"? If it is some crazy RPG with all the pnp-style elements you could ever want that will be great and I'll check it out then.

Nothing wrong with game having "cinematic" dialogue…it immensely adds to the flow and immersion when executed right.
Fallout IV going for it was a mistake for different reasons: animations, camera and direction, voice work, dialogue writing…these things are simply there done not well.

Take a more thorough look at what's behind it…honestly, simply saying it will be just another AAA blockbuster is, to be blunt, basically ignoring it's entire core foundation.
Witcher coming from directly books, was stylized more for adventure game with set protagonist and playstyle than crpg.
Even in basic thematic run this is an opposite from typical player super empowerment , so I think there would be a lot more "gravitas" to player choices and style of roleplaying than even coming from games like Daggerfall and Morrowind.

I don't think "cinematic" dialogue adds to immersion or "flow" at all. It kind of does the opposite, IMO. That's one reason I like how TES games have done "cutscenes". The "cutscenes" that do occur happen directly in the game and stay in first-person, thus keeping you "in the game" the whole time and not making it feel like you're watching a movie.

As for your analysis, we'll see. I know the Cyberpunk world has deep pen and paper rules, etc. I'm just guesstimating that in CDPR's position currently,, this is going to be their big swing. If I'm proven wrong and it's got dice-rolls for combat, deep/complex stats, etc., I'll be happy to be proven wrong.

Ironic that you talk about wanting more stats and "depth" yet you use TES as an example. Those games haven't had anything close to complexity since Morrowind. :)

Seems you kind of misread that. Bobo mentioned Cyberpunk bringing back "strong RPG mechanics" from earlier TES games like Daggerfall and Morrowind. That is his quote, and that is also what I'm skeptical of.

You don't have to tell me about the streamlining in TES games, I'm well aware of it. :)

Well having strong mechanics doesn't mean needing dice rolls for combat. I'd rather not have that in a first/third person game, and I don't think it would end up being a popular choice.

Also, TES was never designed from any PnP game. Maybe you're confusing it with something else. In fact, TES 1 originally wasn't even going to be an RPG.

I didn't say strong mechanics = dice-rolls for combat. I was again specifically talking about Morrowind and Daggerfall, which Bobo brought up. Of course it wouldn't be a popular choice to include dice-rolls for much of anything anymore, just like heavy stat implementation probably wouldn't be a popular choice, either (hence my skepticism that the game is going to be that type of complex RPG).

I don't think TES was "designed" from a PnP game, but I thought I remembered Todd Howard saying that the original setting was heavily influenced by D&D and Ultima.

Regardless, Morrowind had complex rules and stat interactions that resembled more of a D&D-style pnp game. A lot of that has obviously been streamlined now with the later TES games (which is what I suspect Cyberpunk will look like).

You said the original TES games were D&D campaigns which they weren't. No need to backpeddle, just admit your mistake. The devs were indeed big fans of PnP RPGs though, and they've also said that Ultima Underworld was the primary influence for Arena.

As far as streamlining goes, it's far too early to say anything about Cyberpunk yet. I expect it to be a pretty complex game overall though.

I just find it interesting that you gush about TES, but you claim Cyberpunk needs to have complex PnP style elements in order for you to check it out.

You're assuming things again and putting words in my mouth (which you always do, by the way). I don't care for the futuristic/cyberpunk setting, and that's more of a turn-off than anything to me.

And yeah, others have said TES was originally built in a D&D campaign, but I can't find any info on that online except some other people on forums repeating it. So if that's incorrect then yes I was wrong. :)

Ok Fluent. :)

It's understandable if you simply don't like that setting, but that's what you should have said to begin with. It wasn't.

I didnt mind KotOR I-II style of dialogue…. also the first Dragon Age and Mass Effect

and Ofc CD RED.


it can be cool


on a sidenote , the trailer for Ghost in the shell live action is out so get your cyberpunk fix

I'm more of an orcs and goblins kind of RPG guy, but if the game has a bunch of cool RPG elements that I enjoy I'll play it and "put up with" the setting. :)

Yeah, it is neat in those games. I generally prefer the first-person "in-game/in-engine" style of TES, though. If TES were to switch up I would be disappointed.

As for "cinematic experience", Cyberpunk will likely have CGI-style cutscenes, etc. Which are fine for some games, I just don't know the last RPG I played that had those. I think in-game cinematics can be taken too far, but if the gameplay is right that's what matters to me.

Why would you assume Cyberpunk is going to have CGI cutscenes?

The last 2 Witcher games had them. Is Cyberpunk going some different route? Or do you think they will double down on the style of RPG they've already made?

Almost all of the cutscenes in the Witcher games use the in-game engine. The only cutscenes that I can think of that were CGI were the intros and endings. You do understand what CGI is right?

CGI was the wrong word. I just meant it would likely have a cinematic cutscene style.

Ah ok. You said "in-game/in-engine" style which is exactly what those games use.

*Edit* I know you prefer first-person, but you obviously can't have first-person cutscenes if the character's view isn't first-person to begin with.

Last I heard, Cyberpunk was going toward twitch shooter mechanics with multiplayer (and from the grant request, not limited to the co-op kind). While I've seen lots of Bethesda's fan request these things in TES games on the Internet, I don't think the ones who do hang around RPGWatch.

I totally expect the Cyberpunk ruleset to be watered down a lot as well, nothing CDR have said suggest they care one bit about the D&D-like gameplay of the ruleset (with permadeath, a very brutal combat system with its very unique damage system….Cyberpunk is not what anyone be it action dudebros or D&D grognards are used to). It's all about ambiance and story.

"Last I heard"? Ready to back up your claims with some sources? What does your "deep throat" in CDPR HQ says?

"Last I read" might be more accurate than "last I heard"…and by that I mean all the little info I could find about the game compiled by the various CDPR interviews since 2012 (they always call this an action game), their lead gameplay designer job opening asking for action/RPG and/or shooter experience (they hired this guy for that job) and their grants request a few months go (which mention seamless multiplayer).

Then you add Mike Pondsmith (the Cyberpunk creator who is rather involved in 2077 development) who said "And Grand Theft Auto 3 is basically cyberpunk minus the hardware" and how it's more about the right atmosphere in this interview.

In all honesty, all I want from that game is not to be MMO.
Lately seems I can't get a title without multiplayer rubbish at all and I don't want to pay for that thing included any more as I never use it.