5 Fast Takeaways From Cyberpunk 2077’s Livestream
Fluid Class Design
Unlike Cyberpunk 2077’s pen-and-paper source material, the game will not feature binary class choices. Instead, CD Projekt Red insists on using a “fluid class system” to allow players to modify their character on the fly. Similar to Witcher 3’s branching upgrade trees, Cyberpunk 2077 will likely allow players to acquire skills and upgrades from a selection of disciplines.
The classes seen in Cyberpunk 2020 were numerous, involving original traits such as corporate, tech runner, rocker boy, etc. As the game goes on, a player’s preference for weapons, mods, and upgrades will organically define their class, likely around similar lines of the original RPG.
5 Fast Takeaways From Cyberpunk 2077’s Livestream
DOOM-like Gunplay
When CD Projekt announced that the game would be first-person, gamers everywhere raised their eyebrows. Having become comfortable with the studio’s third-person efforts, one question lingered in the mind: can CD Projekt make good first-person combat? Judging by the livestream, the answer is yes. The fluid gunplay invokes memories of 2016’s DOOM, minus the verticality. Shooting looked weightless, in a good way, propped up by a variety of mods, cooldowns, and melee enhancements.
One such mod was a ricochet enhancement, which allows players to literally bounce bullets off walls. Yeah, it’s as cool as it sounds. Combat didn’t seem to revolve around shooting alone, however, with the demo stressing the advantages of stealth, as well as showing off the inclusion of the Deus Ex: Human Revolution-inspired Mantis Blades.
5 Fast Takeaways From Cyberpunk 2077’s Livestream
Street Cred
Instead of the usual experience points, Cyberpunk 2077 tracks progression through a system known as Street Cred. Street Cred can be increased by completing side quests, missions, objectives, and wearing different types of clothes. Street Cred acts as a time gate between more useful vendors and side quests, as well as changing the way the world interacts and reacts to the player.
Bundled in with this Street Cred reveal was the introduction of armor, which also comes in the form of jackets. Each jacket will have different resistances and stat bonuses. The Samurai jacket, which was shown off in the demo, offered a 5 percent increase to Street Cred leveling, for example.
5 Fast Takeaways From Cyberpunk 2077’s Livestream
Freakin’ Cars
Instead of having a trusty steed like Roach at your side like in The Witcher 3, Cyberpunk 2077 allows players to have their very own car. The demo showed off Jackie’s car, but stated that players will be able to explore Night City in a whole variety of badass cyberpunk wheels. Vehicles are not limited to cars, with motorbikes and “other vehicles” available.
The exciting part about car travel in Cyberpunk 2077 is how it opens up new gameplay avenues, with in-vehicle combat being shown off. One thing players can take away from the title’s vehicle sections is the knowledge that combat can occur anywhere, at any time.
5 Fast Takeaways From Cyberpunk 2077’s Livestream
Responsive Dialogue
Dialogue choices in Cyberpunk 2077 won’t be as simple as choosing option A or B. The dialogue system, according to CD Projekt, is “fully gameplay driven,” with NPCs reacting to how long players take to respond. Interestingly, where players look around can open up new choices. For example, V -the game’s protagonist- gets questioned at gunpoint around halfway through the livestream. Initially, there are three options to respond, but if players look at the gun, a fourth option to grab the gun comes up.
It may be small, but this opens up endless possibilities in terms of how the developer approaches player choice. Not only will players have to be aware of their response, they will need to be aware of where they’re looking and how fast they’re reacting to NPC actions. That’s pressure.
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