A Look at Cyberpunk 2077's Trailer in E3 2018

CD Projekt Red has finally revealed more of Cyberpunk 2077 in the recent E3 show. What an amazing trailer! There's much to be said about it. I've never been a fan of magical and medieval-like settings, but CD Projekt's work on The Witcher 3 was truly one-of-a-kind and exceeded all of my expectations, from writing to gameplay. So I'm really excited about this cyberpunk-inspired project they're trying to pull off.

Here's the introduction found in cyberpunk.net:-

You are V, a cyberpunk. In a world of cyberenhanced street warriors, tech-savvy netrunners and corporate life-hackers, today is your first step to becoming an urban legend.

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Unlike the monotonous overarching themes usually found in cyberpunk genres like Deus Ex and Blade Runner, Cyberpunk 2077 feels refreshingly vibrant and lively. There's a diversity of elements going on for it from classic to nouveau cyberpunk.

Other than Mike Pondsmith's tabletop game Cyberpunk 2020, the trailer is reminiscent of some design vocabularies found in the likes of Cowboy Bebop, Akira, and Ghost in the Shell. These works of art could've all influenced each other over the span of three decades, so CD Projekt Red definitely has a lot of inspirations to draw from and develop in their own ways.

The game takes place in Night City, a sprawling metropolis that looks like it's about to get blown over by the melting-pot of megacorporations and street factions. It is said to be the worst place to live in Cyberpunk 2077's version of America with its skyrocketing rates of violence and extreme inequality. But the city still draws people in like flies to flame, although not in the usual post-apocalyptic fashion. Daylight, blue skies, and recycling bins in a cyberpunk setting? Maybe there's still some hope in this universe.

Cybernetic implants seem to be what makes the world go round in the world of Cyberpunk 2077, and the technological stratification evident in the teaser makes for a good backstory for a complex society. Even some of Night City's inhabitants still rely on smartphones as seen in some of the shots in the trailer. Not everyone's into cybernetics after all. Or perhaps the megacorporations are manipulating the prices of both legal and illegal markets for implants?

There are cowboy vibes going on in Night City as well, which is a good addition to the various punk aesthetics sported all around town. It would seem that violence is so rampant that people just walk around flashing their guns with nobody batting an eye. It's the wild wild west all over again.

Speaking of aesthetics, there's some synthwave mood going on in the scene above, presumably taking place in the hoodlums. Love the combination of pink, cyan, and palm trees here. Also note the presence of advertisements plastered all over in just about every scene. That's cyberpunk for you.

Here's an interesting shot: I'm assuming that these fully-cybernetic gun-slingers are taking their cab ride as usual. It looks like there's a special compartment just for weapons. It's somewhat a charming lens into the world of tomorrow, as it seems like it's still stuck in the past with the orange taxi and a driver of Sikh descent who looks like he's free of cybernetics. What happened to the driverless cars in this universe anyway? Too easy to get hijacked?

A breathtaking shot. Oh I meant the car that looks like a giant Atari. Also note that if Cyberpunk 2077 draws heavily on the premise of Cyberpunk 2020, animals will mostly be extinct in this universe, besides the synthetic ones. This is why players probably won't be riding horses around in this game. Such a cool-looking badass car is more than fine though!

Here's a typical cyberpunk scene with multiple screens and a reclining seat for "jacking into the matrix".

Another classic cyberpunk shot. This might be the main character as well because they're wearing the same Samurai jackets with flat-studs for shoulders. Or maybe they're from the same faction. Anyway, cybernetics in this game makes it more believable when it comes to facial and character customisation.

There's just mayhem going on in just about every scene in the trailer, building with the intensity of a crescendo, as highlighted by the electronic track in the background.

It all looks very interesting and I can't wait to get lost in it like how I spent about 120 hours in The Witcher 3! But we're probably looking at a 2019 or 2020 launch date here. Good things always take time. In the meantime, check out CD Projekt's stock performance. They're doing really well. If you have not checked them out before, I'd highly recommend taking a look at what they're all about.

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_{All images are screenshots of the official trailer.}