Cyberpunk 2077's Cyberware Falls into a Classic RPG Trap
Cyberware is a unique part of Cyberpunk's universe, but in Cyberpunk 2077, cybernetic body modifications turned out to be somewhat underwhelming. While they do enhance V's abilities in the ways of hacking, resistance, and types of damage dealt to enemies, many fans were disappointed by the fact that most cyberware doesn't change V's appearance in Cyberpunk 2077.
Lack of options in the way of character customization or otherwise tailoring looks with armor or body equipment is regularly seen in JRPGs and other genres where characters often have specified, stagnant designs. For example, Persona 5 allows players to change out and upgrade armor, but it won't change Joker's or his teammate's appearances. Genshin Impact is an RPG with an array of equipment called Artifacts, but none actually show on the characters' bodies and the designs stay the same.
But when it comes to open-world games, changing the protagonist's appearance, especially when they're fully customizable, is an expectation. And with cyberware being such a large part of the Cyberpunk franchise, many players were expecting the body modifications to be more visual and play a larger role.
Cyberware has become an important part of everyday life in Cyberpunk's lore, for those who can afford it. It is technology permanently installed into the body, typically to interact with the nervous system and provide abilities that would otherwise not be possible. If a cyberware's purpose isn't meant to enhance abilities, it's meant to enhance appearance. But there are many non-violent practical uses for cyberware mods, such as recording conversations.
However, cyberware has its risks, which are also an important part of the Cyberpunk tabletops games and Cyberpunk 2077. Overuse of cyberware or installing too many cybernetic body modifications can lead to the cyberpsychosis and loss of humanity. Lizzy Wizzy and Adam Smasher are examples of this seen in Cyberpunk 2077. Adam Smasher, though he had little human compassion to begin with, lost any leftover ability to feel human empathy after Arasaka made him more machine than man.
Lizzy Wizzy's story is more tragic. After committing suicide in the middle of a concert, a trauma team replaced her entire body with chrome cyberware to save her. During the events of Cyberpunk 2077 and the Violence quest, V can observe Lizzy becoming dangerously violent in fits of rage.
But despite how important cyberware is to the Cyberpunk universe, unlike Lizzy Wizzy, Adam Smasher, and members of the Maelstrom gang, V's cyberware can only change their appearance a small amount, typically only if the mods can be seen in first-person mode.
Firstly, there are cyberware mods such as Mantis Blades and Gorilla Arms that can change the look of V's arms drastically. With the Mantis Blades, large blades will stick out of each arm, however, they will only show up in first-person mode and won't show up during photo mode. Some other mods can add some small bits of metal to V's arms which will show up in photo mode.
But even though V can mod most parts of their body, including their eyes, skin, and feet, other than a select few, cyberware won't change V's visual appearance to the degree that it changes Lizzy's or Adam Smasher's. It operates almost more like a skill tree than changing out equipment, and being a large open-world game, many fans felt let down by its limited visual changes.
There are tattoos in Cyberpunk 2077, which were also disappointing to fans. Interestingly, tattoos occupy cyberware slots and there a handful V can get during the game. However, in the case of the Chippin' In side quest and either of the tattoos Johnny Silverhand can pick from, they don't add any enhancements and are a waste of a mod slot.
It's possible that cyberware was meant to impact V's visual appearance back when Cyberpunk 2077 planned to include third-person scenes and a third-person mode. If that's the case, it's likely that, along with many other elements seen in the controversial Cyberpunk 2077 E3 2018 demo, it was deemed unnecessary in a game with a first-person-only perspective.
Cyberpunk 2077 is available on PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One, with PS5 and Xbox Series X|S versions in development.
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