It’s a shame that CD Projekt Red’s latest RPG has been marred by such justifiable controversy, because underneath the severe performance issues genuinely are the bones of a great game. Barring any technical flops along the way, Cyberpunk 2077 opens with quite the bang in the Arasaka heist. After the game sets up the crux of V’s conflict for the rest of the game, players are set free to explore the world of Night City at their leisure. Cyberpunk 2077‘s main quest is certainly compelling enough to keep players on track, but being the massive open world that it is, players don’t necessarily have to follow the pre-determined track once they’re effectively let loose in Night City.
Much like The Witcher, some of CD Projekt Red’s best writing and character work comes from the side quests in Cyberpunk 2077. Being the massive RPG that it is, players get introduced to a litany of side quests and characters that they can choose to assist or ignore throughout each playthrough. Some are random new characters with no connections to V at all, while others are tied to the massive heist undertaking that V goes through at the beginning of the game. One of the best characters in the latter category is Judy Alvarez, a techie and braindance scroller that players meet alongside Evelyn Parker, who has one of the best questlines (and romances) in the game.
Regardless of which lifepath players choose at the beginning of the game, every player will eventually meet Judy Alvarez. She’s the braindance editor who assists V and Evelyn Parker with scouting Yorinobu Arasaka’s penthouse for the shard heist. From a strictly gameplay point of view, this moment is meant to serve as the braindance editor tutorial, but players can also take time to get to know Judy and her role with the Moxes. Players with enough Technical Ability points will be able to talk shop with Judy about assorted cyberpunk techno-babble, but other than that, Judy doesn’t stick around for long before players meet Johnny Silverhand and the main quest begins.
It’s a brief moment in the game’s prologue, but players get a really good sense not only of Judy’s personality, but her relationship with Evelyn Parker. The two are endlessly loyal to another, and despite Evelyn’s ambitions and Judy’s apprehension, players get a sense of the strong bond between the two of them. Judy knows all to well what Evelyn and V are planning to do, and the risk involved. While V and Evelyn eventually move on to the events of the heist itself, that’s not the last time they get to meet Judy. Shortly after the heist in the prologue goes horribly wrong, players eventually link up with Judy once more to find Evelyn, leading to Judy’s side quest.
Judy’s introduction is handled interestingly in Cyberpunk 2077; at first Judy is very much an integral portion of the main story, attempting to learn more about the biochip and finding a way to separate Johnny and V. However, as that main quest heads elsewhere, a pretty significant change occurs in Judy’s life that introduces her standalone side quest during the main quest. Players then have the option of chasing a new lead for the main quest, or sticking with Judy to support her endeavors in the wake of devastating news in her life. This is where her side quest (and romance route) truly begin, which in turn introduces players to one of Cyberpunk 2077‘s best characters.
Note: Specific spoilers for Judy’s side quest and romance ahead.
Assuming players stick with Judy, in the wake of Evelyn’s death, Judy and V will eventually decide to enact revenge by taking back Clouds. Being the prostitution organization that Evelyn used to work at, where the manager very clearly is mistreating the “dolls” that work there, Judy wants to enact revenge. After attempting to enlist Maiko and the Tyger Claws, the eventual takeover of Clouds proceeds based on the decisions players take. Things could end badly, with the Tyger Claws and Maiko killed, or players betray the deal and Maiko walks away. Either way, V and Judy get revenge on the Tyger Claws and Clouds for causing Evelyn’s suffering and eventual death.
Depending on the choices made during the “Pisces” mission, players can then romance Judy. V gets to learn about Judy’s backstory, about the sunken town of Laguna Bend, and what happens to Clouds in the wake of Judy’s revolution. Judy wanted to do right by Evelyn, and even though her plans didn’t exactly liberate Clouds or make her feel any better, her struggle is one of the better character stories in Cyberpunk 2077. Struggling with the death of her best friend, looking for answers where there aren’t any, she looks to V for answers when there aren’t any. It hammers home the vulnerability of life in Night City, and why having someone close is essential.
Cyberpunk 2077 is available now on PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One, with PS5 and Xbox Series X versions in development.
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