Cyberpunk 2077’s sequel is in the works, so it’s only natural that fans begin wildly speculating about what features it may contain or how it may improve upon the original. However, while there is a lot of fun to be had imagining which characters may reappear,there is genuine value in suggesting or even discussing potential ways a sequel could improve the overall experience. It’s also important to discuss potential influences that could help make the game’s sequel even better, including a major comic book.
This article contains spoilers for the Cyberpunk 2077 comic book Trauma Team.
There are already manywaysCyberpunk 2077’ssequel is improvingon the first game, but perhaps the most important change it can make is fixing the side quests. To do this, it should look to not only other games - even those made by CD Projekt Red itself - but also other forms of media, including comic books.There are some truly incredible stories thatCyberpunk 2077’s sequel could draw from, helping to create memorable and exciting side quests that even rival the main missions.
Cyberpunk 2077 Comic Trauma Team Is Incredible
It’s The Best Example Of Storytelling In The Cyberpunk 2077 Universe
TheCyberpunk 2077comic bookTrauma Teamis one of the handful of comic books set within the franchise’s universe and is easily the best. It’s a very short, yet incredibly impactful work of art featuring the talents of writer Cullen Bunn and illustrator Miguel Valderrama that tells the story of one ofCyberpunk 2077’s most underutilized factions: Trauma Team. Originally split into four volumes before being collected into one trade paperback,Trauma Teamis essentially a bottle episode, focusing on a new protagonist who’s a member of Trauma Team named Nadia.
Cyberpunk 2077 Surprise Update Makes The Game Even More Immersive Without Mods
Cyberpunk 2077 is already an incredibly engrossing game but CD Projekt Red just made it even more immersive with this surprise patch.
The story starts with her attempting to save a platinum member before her entire team is wiped out by an assailant, including her romantic partner, Dodds. After the traumatic event, she’s believed to be fit for duty and is sent out with another squad to rescue a platinum member hiding out at the top of a 100-floor skyscraper. However, upon arrival, Nadia immediately recognizes the target they’re supposed to save asthe man who killed her previous squad. Torn between her duty and her lust for revenge, Nadia struggles to guide her target through the building to safety.
It’s the perfect pitch, and it makes for an even more compelling narrative, largely thanks to the phenomenal writing by Bunn. Of course, fans ofThe RaidorDreddwill instantly recognize the story, butTrauma Teamputs a fun spin on it, making it feel fresh and unique, especially as Nadia’s perspective is so enthralling from start to finish.Trauma Teamalso makes good use of theCyberpunkIP both in its gorgeous gore-soaked art and various references, making it a story that feels like it couldn’t happen anywhere other than Night City.
What truly setsTrauma Teamapart fromCyberpunk 2077and its other comics is the balance between the tension and the character-driven narrative.It manages to make the claustrophobic setting and being hunted pair perfectly with the personal drama and inner conflict that Nadia is experiencingas it slowly drip-feeds new revelations to the reader.Cyberpunk 2077’s sequel needs to learn a lot from this, as while its side quests were great, they weren’t a stand-out feature.
Cyberpunk 2077 Sequel Should Include More Stories Like Trauma Team
There Should Be More Tense Action-Packed Claustrophobic Missions
Naturally, there are plenty of perfectstorylines thatCyberpunk 2077’s sequel should usefor its litany of main and side quests, andTrauma Teamshouldn’t necessarily be one of them. However, it should inspire those that are included, asCyberpunk 2077’sside quests especially, while interesting, lacked that perfect balance between tension and action. They’re often too easy to complete when it comes to combat or too brief to really feel a sense of dread. Additionally, they often lack a cohesive narrative that features interesting and memorable characters.
One Cyberpunk 2077 Theory May Explain The Game’s Most Mysterious Character
A theory surrounding one of Cyberpunk 2077’s most mysterious characters may have revealed his true identity, shedding light on this unanswered puzzle.
Cyberpunk 2077was more interested in the player and their story - largely because V is supposed to die after just a few weeks - so it doesn’t spend too much time creating meaningful characters outside the obvious romantic interests. This is a huge shame, asit’s clear there are plenty of interesting stories to be told outside the player character within this universe, as evidenced not just byTrauma Teamand other comics, but also by the phenomenalEdgerunners. IfCyberpunk 2077learns anything fromTrauma Team, it’s that it needs to include better characters within its side content.
It also shouldn’t be afraid of more linear storytelling, of creating sequences - for side quests specifically - that take place within one location, like a skyscraper. The reasonTrauma Teamworks so well is that Nadia is trapped and can’t hop on herAkira-inspired bike and drive through Night City collecting her thoughts. She’s forced to make snap decisions in a high-intensity environment which pushes her psyche to the limit, resulting in the shocking conclusion.Cyberpunk 2077needs to force the player into more linear sequences within its side storiesand stop letting them roam free through Night City.
Cyberpunk 2077 Sequel Just Needs Better Side Quests
Trauma Team Is The Gold Standard
Cyberpunk 2077’s side quests are limited by the overarching narrative of V slowly but surely dying, as it prevents the developers from telling stories that evolve over time or bottle episodes that would seem trivial or insignificant to2077’s version of V. Hopefully a sequelfixes this hugeCyberpunk 2077mistakeand allows the side quests to take center stage, as this is the only way that fans can get stories as interesting and dynamic as theTrauma Teamcomic. However, should it remain shackled by these or similar restraints, it’s likely the side quests will suffer a similar fate.
What new feature should Cyberpunk 2077’s sequel include?
CD Projekt Red North America is currently at work on a sequel toCyberpunk 2077, withPhanton Libertydirector Gabe Amatangelo leading the charge on the follow-up. Recent reports have indicated the team is looking to incorporate multiplayer in the sequel, an understandable decision given the popularity of similar open-world sandboxGrand Theft Auto V. Beyond this being a poor choice, as it takes away from the player-driven focus of the campaign, I’d like to see an improvement on the romantic storylines by offering more things to do with these characters than scripted cutscenes.
Trauma Teamis absolutely the gold standard when it comes to short and snappy storytelling, and not everyCyberpunk 2077sequel side quest needs to be of equal quality. However, it should be recognized as a bar to beat, especially when it comes to successfully balancing character-driven storytelling and tense action.Cyberpunk 2077’s sequel should replicate theTrauma Teamcomic book, but it should identify why it is as good as it is, and take those important lessons into the creation of its quests.
