Cyberpunk 2077 Sequel: Mass Effect’s Secret Weapon?!

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One factor contributing significantly to the immense popularity of Mass Effect was its effective use of characters like Garrus, Liara, Tali, and others to anchor the narrative and infuse it with a personal touch. By weaving these companions into the gameplay experience as party members, developers at Bioware have consistently made their storylines impactful. Given that CD Projekt Red is reportedly developing the sequel to Cyberpunk 2077, dubbed Project Orion, they could capitalize on the idea of companion squad members, as they already have a strong foundation for engaging characters from Cyberpunk 2077.

Characters such as Judy Alvarez, Panam Palmer, Johnny Silverhand, Jackie, and Adam Smasher are already iconic figures on their own without needing to be constant companions. It’s intriguing to ponder how much more impactful their narratives might become if they were part of the same group as V in Cyberpunk 2077. The game excels at creating memorable characters, and a sequel could greatly enhance this by expanding upon these existing character dynamics.

Companions Made Mass Effect Great, They Could Do The Same For Cyberpunk

Squads in Cyberpunk 2077’s Would Make Companion Stories More Impactful

Contemplate the impact on Mordin Solus’s tale and finale in Mass Effect 3 if he had merely been a background character like the Normandy engineers. The opportunity to depend on Mordin during battles, determining his weapon choices and unlocking his abilities, significantly amplified the sorrow when he confronted the Genophage’s repercussions across the Krogan race. Similarly, in Cyberpunk 2077, players would likely feel more involved and invested in Panam’s missions if she remained a constant companion following her initial recruitment mission.

In a fight, teammates bring an extra dimension of intricacy and tactical depth that wouldn’t exist without them. What’s more, they allow players to delve into various aspects of the skill trees—parts they might not be able to access due to their character build. For instance, in Cyberpunk 2077, if your character, V, chooses to specialize as a netrunner, there’s a subtle feeling of missing out on other combat styles. This is particularly noticeable when players come across an exceptional iconic weapon like Skippy, but since their character only uses Mantis Blades, they can’t wield it. However, when you have teammates with diverse playstyles joining the fray, this problem disappears.

Cyberpunk 2077 Already Has the Blueprint Ready

In the game, post the introduction, my first major mission with Jackie as my ally is ‘The Rescue.’ Our objective here is locating and saving Sandra Dorsett, a high-profile individual whose life signs have mysteriously gone silent. Throughout this operation, Jackie serves as an auxiliary team member, assisting me in stealth takedowns and providing backup firepower should things escalate. Interestingly enough, this isn’t the only instance where I find myself relying on a helpful companion during gunfights. If Cyberpunk 2077’s potential sequel expands upon this foundation, it wouldn’t be far-fetched to imagine it maturing into a fully-fledged squad system similar to Mass Effect.

In this open-world game, a character could casually explore Night City, accompanied by Judy, who shares her insights about the city and its workings, making it feel like an immersive learning experience for a nomadic character. This interaction would resemble the van conversation in “Disasterpiece,” but extend throughout the entire game instead of being limited to a single quest. The result might more closely resemble the follower system found in Skyrim rather than the squad members in Mass Effect, although both types can be well-executed. Just as Serana serves as an excellent example of a companion done right in Skyrim, so too can open-world games create compelling companions.

Project Orion Should Put Its Own Spin on Squad Combat

Transforming the Mass Effect squad system directly into Cyberpunk 2077 wouldn’t be feasible due to their inherent differences. If CD Projekt Red were to adopt it without modification, they might disrupt the game’s equilibrium. To elaborate, Cyberpunk 2077 is an open-world first-person shooter contrasting with Mass Effect‘s third-person shooter format that leans more toward arcade-style gameplay and isn’t open-world. This distinction impacts how the squad members’ abilities are employed effectively in combat, as they work well in Mass Effect due to its linear nature and reliance on strategic cover use to progress gradually towards objectives.

In terms of strategic combat, it could be more beneficial for Project Orion to learn from the AI teammates in Ghost Recon Wildlands, often referred to as the Ghost Squad. Both games are open-world first-person shooters, and although Wildlands lacks standout squad members, this is a design choice that the sequel of Cyberpunk 2077 should have no trouble avoiding, given the memorable characters in its predecessor.

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2025-05-28 01:11