Fieldnotes is a weekly column where I drop into a new (or old) game and report back with raw notes, sharp takes, unfiltered, and sometimes unhinged thoughts. This week, I start a new journey in Cyberpunk 2077 on the Switch 2.
Cyberpunk 2077? I hear you ask. Didn’t that game come out like five years ago with a ton of bugs and glitches and was not, indeed, the next-gen gaming experience we were all hoping for from CD Projekt Red? Why yes, yes indeed. Except, it also got a major update via its 2.0 release and the Phantom Liberty expansion which has, apparently, turned this into an incredible game.
When Phantom Liberty first dropped, I was still with Twinfinite, slaving away at several projects at once, which meant I had no time to go back to a 2020 game to see what had changed. Things are different now, though. I’m no longer working full-time in the games industry. I have a Switch 2, which Cyberpunk 2077 is available on. And I’m also working a rather soulless corpo job (which I love, by the way!), which somehow seems appropriate for my second go-around with this game. So let’s get into it.
Corpo V Is Canon V
Prior to this, I’ve started two playthroughs of Cyberpunk 2077. I always picked the Nomad Lifepath because it just seemed cool and made the most sense from a story perspective. You start from a little area just outside of Night City, and you get a unique car as a bonus. I always steered clear of Street Kid because it felt like the most cliched possible start, and I never, ever even considered Corpo because that just made no sense to me.
This time, however, I went with Corpo. Mostly because, as I alluded to previously, I’ve also just entered a new phase of my life where I’m now mostly riding a desk in a very corporate office setting. Now don’t get me wrong. I don’t hate it. In fact, I embrace it. After spending a decade in the games media industry and dealing with C-suites who don’t get the business and the terrifying instability that comes with it, spending my days in a boring office doing a boring, but stable, job is such a welcome change.
I’m pretty much a Corpo now, so why not start V off on that Lifepath?
As it turns out, V’s Corpo life is a lot different from mine. Whereas mine is boring and soulless, his is full of corporate espionage and backstabbery. The game opens with him stressing out in front of a bathroom mirror, washing his face, exhausted. It doesn’t take long before his boss screws him over and gets him fired from Arasaka, leaving V with pretty much nothing at all. But hey, at least V has Jackie. And so begins the Street Kid life.
Corpo V Is Best V
What struck me the most was just how many cool dialogue options you get in Cyberpunk 2077 if you go with the Corpo Lifepath. Within the game’s first act, I was presented with so many opportunities for V to question other characters based on his own knowledge and experience within the corporate sphere.
He immediately turns the tables on Meredith Stout, for instance, by challenging her and telling her he knows exactly how much trouble she’s in for losing her transport cargo. Later on, he shuts down a hotel receptionist by telling her to only do what she’s told, and not to try to go the extra mile. Corpo V comes off as incredibly smart and savvy, and I particularly enjoyed feeling like I was always one step ahead of most people and being able to read someone’s intentions almost immediately.
V’s inside knowledge of how most corporations work makes him a much more compelling character in ways I never expected. The idea of playing as an ex-Corpo who got unfairly gutted and is now coming back to basically take revenge is a really fun one, and it also creates a more interesting dynamic with Johnny Silverhand once he comes into the picture. It’s definitely way more unique than your typical “rags-to-riches” shonen-style Street Kid story. Give me a disgruntled ex-employee. Make him angry. I love that shit. Throw in Jackie’s death at the end of the first act and you’ve got an even angrier ex-Corpo V who just wants to take down Arasaka, and we’re rolling.
I, for one, am absolutely looking forward to even more Corpo-specific dialogue options as I get further into the game.
Comfy Cozy Corpo Life on the Switch 2
So one of the big reasons why I’m jumping back into Cyberpunk 2077 yet again is because it’s gotten a Switch 2 port. From everything I’ve heard so far, the Switch 2 version of the game has been a bit of a technical marvel. And look, being able to play this game portably is going to go a long way towards me actually finally finishing it. Plus, I’ve still got all the Phantom Liberty stuff to work through, which will be exciting.
I’ve finished the first act of Cyberpunk 2077, and for the most part, the game runs like a dream on the Switch 2. I’ve got it in Performance Mode on handheld, and while the drop in NPC density is noticeable, it’s been a blast. The Joy-Cons feel good to hold, though I’m still waiting on my grips to come in so it’ll be even comfier. I’ve heard that the Dogtown performance is terrible though, so we’ll see what happens when I get there.
In terms of battery life, the reports are accurate. You’ll get about two hours of playtime in handheld mode before you need to plug it in, which isn’t great, but it’s not like, terrible either.
NPC Watch
This week, my NPC to look out for is my girl, Wakako. I’m going for a netrunner katana build (how original, I know) and I’m hoping to nab myself a sweet katana before moving on with the story.
I never did any of Wakako’s gigs during my first two playthroughs of the game so this is all new for me. She might seem like a sweet ol’ biddy on the outside, but she’s a stone cold killer. She loves it when V follows instructions without asking any questions and you know what? That suits me just fine, especially with my new Corpo identity.
I’ve found myself more than happy to just go with the flow without questioning instructions handed down from my boss. It makes life simpler, helps me compartmentalize better, and also lets me strike a better work-life balance. In the world of Cyberpunk 2077, that’s probably a recipe for disaster, but maybe it’ll work to my benefit in other areas…
