4.5/5 ★ – GoulashDavid's review of Cyberpunk 2077.

What is a “Soul”? Can it be replicated in technology? If so, how authentic is the replica? Is it a real Soul? Does it matter? 75 hours in I finally beat Cyberpunk. My journey as V, though, ended some time before - maybe already 10 hours in. This is an action-game. Not an RPG. V is not a character you craft, she is a soldier you equip. Her “character” arc does not exist - it is a husk from the moment Johnny Silverhand pops into her head and starts telling her what’s what. The player, like Johnny, is forced to suffer a backseat-driver position as V - regardless of your input or desires - follows the pre-defined path of illusory choices that make up the game. Your input is aesthetic: will V be mean, playful, or kind. The differences in outcome are negligible. Indeed, it is not V’s story that matters. A faceless, rankless merc with the empty goal of “becoming a Night City legend”. A blank slate, with nevertheless a predestined journey. A journey in the company of rockerboy-rebel Johnny Silverhand. Where V lacks an ideology, motivation, and emotional depth, Johnny fills the void. He works on both V and the player, drawing them in and making them sympathise with his past, his flaws, and his arch towards redemption. This is where the game’s writing is strongest, and most layered. It is the central point of conflict that drives forward the story. Johnny is an engram - a personality construct on a chip, implanted into a host body with the mission to take over. He is a Soul - drifting past the boundary of Death, stumbled back into Life with an opportunity to start over. He stumbles, at first. Blindly raging against his circumstance, falling into old patterns of violence and rebellion for their own sake. But with the right guidance (the guidance of the player, through V), he embraces his situation. Tries to make amends for his past transgressions. Seeks redemption. It is here, and only here, where V is interesting (if you do a run choosing kindness and justice). V as a Jesus-figure. A self-insert character in a story where her kindness, humility, and solemn acceptance of her fate and that of others around her make the world a better, purer, and more just place. This became especially clear during the mission where a man asks to be crucified. V accepts, because the man truly wants to do it. Misled, perhaps, but earnest in his faith and desire to make a difference. And so V picks up the hammer, and nails him to the cross. In all missions, V sacrifices herself for her companions. She agrees to everything they pose her to do. And they are better for it. Conflicts are resolved, answers are found, and progress is made. Most strikingly with Johnny. Through V’s guidance, Johnny, too, finds redemption. Having made amends and buried their final hatchets after the point of no return, Johnny is ready to go. The restless Soul returns to its slumber. But it doesn’t. He doesn’t. V’s body has been so severely affected by the chip, that it no longer belongs to her. It belongs to the chip. To Johnny. Despite his redemption, he is forced to accept as V makes the ultimate final sacrifice for their friendship: to surrender her body to him. To the engram. The epilogue shows a Johnny in full control of V’s body. He has accepted her lessons, and become himself a kind and humble soul, solemnly accepting his fate. V has died for his sins. But her holy spirit lives on in him. In his Soul. In his engram…