Cyberpunk: The Connection Between RPG, Game and Anime!

The Cyberpunk genre, from its literary origins to its more recent manifestations in video games and anime, continues to be an inexhaustible source of inspiration and exploration.

In this article, we'll delve even deeper into Cyberpunk's roots, explore its movie ramifications, highlight crucial information about the tabletop RPG "Cyberpunk 2020," and provide additional details about CD Projekt RED's "Cyberpunk 2077" game. In addition to delving into the details of the Netflix anime "Cyberpunk: Edgerunners".

Origin and Evolution

Cyberpunk is not just a genre, it is an expression of the intersection between humans and technology.

Its trajectory began with names like William Gibson, who brought "Neuromancer" to the world in 1984, a work that defined the fundamental elements of the genre, such as megacorporations, hackers and a dystopian vision of the future. Other authors, such as Bruce Sterling, contributed to the expansion of this universe.

Cinema played a crucial role in the spread of Cyberpunk. The classic "Blade Runner" (1982), based on the work of Philip Kindred, projected memorable visions of futuristic cities and questions about human nature and its influence on technology. "Ghost in the Shell" (1995), a cyberpunk anime, also impacted the genre by exploring the relationship between humans and artificial intelligence.

The Tabletop RPG

The tabletop RPG "Cyberpunk 2020" transports players to the year 2020, immersed in the pulsating, decadent atmosphere of Night City. This metropolis, controlled by megacorporations, becomes the perfect setting to explore deep social and political issues. Players take on the role of edgerunners, urban mercenaries involved in risky missions.

The game's mechanics provide a unique experience for players. From customizing cybernetic implants to delving into corporate plots, RPG allows every choice to have significant consequences. The mechanics of Netrunning, which simulates virtual hacking, adds another layer of complexity and strategy.

Classes in this game model play a crucial role in defining characters' skills, personality, and play style. This dystopian setting, set in a cyberpunk future filled with megacorporations, advanced technology and social contrasts, offers various classes that reflect the different facets of this complex world. Here are some common classes:

1. Solo

Solos are combat specialists, trained in various forms of armed and unarmed combat. They are the warriors of the cyberpunk world, skilled in firearms, hand-to-hand combat and survival tactics.

2. Netrunner

Netrunners are experts at entering and manipulating cyberspace. They use their skills to hack into security systems, steal information, and sometimes even control electronic devices remotely.

3. Techie

Techies are masters of technology and engineering. They can build and repair cybernetic devices, vehicles, and implants. Their ability to deal with technology is vital in the high-tech world of Cyberpunk.

4. Nomad

Nomads are experts in vehicles and urban wilderness travel. They live in nomadic clans, traveling in adapted vehicles and surviving on the dangerous roads that connect megacities.

5. Fixer

Fixers are the connectors, intermediaries and negotiators of the cyberpunk world. They have contacts everywhere, know the dirty dealings of megacorporations, and can obtain anything from information to illegal goods.

6. Media

The Media are the manipulators of information and images. They work in news, entertainment and advertising, using their communication skills to influence public opinion and gain power.

7. Rockergirl/Rockerboy

This class is more focused on artistic expression and music. They can influence the masses through pop culture, becoming rebel icons or symbols of resistance.

8. Corporates

Executives are corporate leaders, powerful and cunning. They know the ins and outs of the business world and have access to significant resources.

Unlike digital computer games, where there are no pre-defined classes, tabletop RPGs focus on focusing on a path for the character. In this way, players can develop their biography, personality and performance in an authorial way during the game, making each session always a unique and memorable experience.

Cyberpunk 2077

CD Projekt RED's highly anticipated "Cyberpunk 2077" has a fascinating development story. Announced in 2012 and released in 2020, the game went through extensive creative periods to ensure fidelity to the vision of the tabletop RPG's creator, Mike Pondsmith. Attention to detail, from urban architecture to non-linear storytelling, reflects a dedication to quality.

The connection between the game and the tabletop RPG goes beyond the shared setting in Night City. The moral choice system, a cornerstone of the tabletop RPG, is central to "Cyberpunk 2077." The adaptation of mechanics, such as character customization and cybernetic implants, provides an authentic experience for fans of the tabletop universe.

Those who played the traditional RPG can see in flesh and machine one of the most striking figures in its plot: Johnny Silverhand.

Johnny Silverhand, played by well-known actor Keanu Reeves (John Wick and The Matrix), is one of the main characters in the game's plot. This rockerboy will accompany the player who controls V throughout their entire journey.

To experience the game so close to an extremely striking character from the original RPG book, where we can know his origin and now see his actions with our own eyes, an influence on the Night City, which becomes beyond stage of our journey, a character of the plot, being absolutely alive and full of content for us to explore.

"Cyberpunk 2077" inherits and expands on the innovative mechanics of the tabletop RPG. Personalization is the watchword, from the choice of backstories to the decisions that shape V's story. Elements like hacking and combat reflect the intricacies of the tabletop RPG, allowing players to immerse themselves in Night City in never-before-seen ways.

Mike Pondsmith's direct involvement in the game's development is a notable curiosity. Their active collaboration ensured that Cyberpunk's essence was preserved. Post-launch updates, seeking to enhance the player experience, reflect the ongoing commitment to quality.

Night City, the game's epicenter, is a detailed reproduction of its tabletop counterpart. Familiar places like the Afterlife bar are carefully replicated, providing a sense of continuity for Cyberpunk 2020 fans. Easter eggs scattered throughout the city pay homage to iconic elements of the tabletop game, and with the updates, even events that occurred before the game, portrayed in the Netflix anime, Edgerunners.

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

"Cyberpunk: Edgerunners" takes a deeper dive into the universe of this RPG, and expands its narrative.

With a plot set in Night City one year before the story portrayed in the game, the Netflix adaptation follows a young man looking to become an "edgerunner". The collaboration created a stunning and narratively rich visual experience.

The connection between the anime and the game is a planned synergy. Night City, featured in the anime, offers a unique perspective, while Easter eggs and references intertwine the two media. Exploring familiar locations from the game in a different format adds depth to the Cyberpunk world.

During the anime, we can dive into well-known places from the game, such as the Arasaka tower, the subway system, called NCART, are shown in detail, as well as the gigantic holographic panels, which all together demonstrate and make us experience the day-to-day life in this city full of life and people living on the extreme, both from poverty, wealth, power, rebellion and even as nomads.

In the anime, we can see in more detail how implants are made and the consequences they can cause to their users when used excessively or without a prepared body, causing Cyberpsychosis.

The Cyberpunk universe transcends the pages, reaching cinema, video games and animations. "Cyberpunk 2077" and the anime "Cyberpunk: Edgerunners" are testaments to the versatility of the genre, providing immersive and captivating experiences.

As we continue to explore these narratives, it becomes clear that Cyberpunk remains a driving force in speculative fiction, challenging and inspiring our understanding of the future and technology. This is an invitation to dive into the cyber shadows, where the line between the organic and the technological dissolves.

Also check out our analyses of other universes like all the magic at Final Fantasy and which game to start your adventure with or even the wonderful and melancholic universe of Elden Ring.