Summary
It will likely be quite a while before anyone gets their hands onProject Orion, CD Projekt Red’s follow-up toCyberpunk 2077. Still, hopes are high for the sequel since, even if it’s amajor departure fromCyberpunk 2077, it will surely build upon the storied, complicated foundation laid by the 2020 release.
Some of this foundation is composed of satisfying and well-honed features—the masterfully written story and gripping environmental design, for instance—while other bricks are formed from shakier clay. Much ink has been spilled regardingCyberpunk 2077’s lackluster state at launch, but the game has its fair share of missed opportunities and unfulfilled potential, regardless of technical performance. Nevertheless, many ofCyberpunk 2077’s best ideas feel like they are still gestating, andProject Orioncan bring them to fruition.
Project Orion Needs to Learn from Cyberpunk 2077’s Pyramid Song Gig
Pyramid Song is remembered as one ofCyberpunk 2077’s best side missions, and not just because it’s theculmination of Judy’s romance arc. The Gig has V don a wetsuit and full scuba gear, delving into the depths of Night City’s decrepit, foul waters to survey the abandoned streets, buildings, and other detritus of years past, drowned by the ever-rising sea levels. The mission is one of the game’s best, as its underwater backdrop provides mechanical novelty that helps draw players' attention to its narrative meat.
The Pyramid Song quest is a good example ofCyberpunk 2077’s musical references, as its title is most likely a reference to the Radiohead song of the same name.
More Underwater Content Is a Must In Project Orion
Underwater gameplay inCyberpunk 2077is a strange dichotomy. The game allows for submersion and full, three-dimensional movement underwater, and there is even an Oxy Booster consumable that allows for temporary underwater breathing. This suggests that there will be some incentive to explore the sprawling bodies of water in the game, but that isn’t really the case. Beyond the Pyramid Song mission, there are only a few pieces of loot and Easter eggs underwater, and certainly no other chance to explore with scuba gear. This feels like one ofCyberpunk 2077’s biggest missed opportunities.
ButProject Orioncan double down on underwater content, giving players more reason to explore this rather sizable portion of Night City’s map. There could be more missions and gigs like Pyramid Song, where players are tasked with in-depth exploration of mysterious, haunting underwater areas. Beyond missions, more underwater events, side activities, and exploration opportunities seem like a must.Cyberpunk 2077could elevate its environmental storytellingby fleshing out these watery depths, giving players a new perspective on its near-future, possibly prophetic setting.
Underwater content in gaming, generally speaking, can feel a bit lackluster. A lot of open-world games let players dive underwater and swim around, but precious few actually offer good reasons for doing so.Cyberpunk 2077is unique in this regard, as its world is one of a slow, flashy apocalypse, and its bodies of water aren’t mere rivers, lakes, or ocean shallows: they hide long-forgotten schools, homes, and communities. By building off the Pyramid Song quest,Project Orioncan better highlight the dystopiathat is Night City, reminding players, in a new way, of the cost of progress.
Cyberpunk 2077
WHERE TO PLAY
Cyberpunk 2077 is an open-world action-adventure from the creators of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, CD Projekt Red.Set in Night City, a megalopolis obsessed with power, glamour and body modification, you play as V, a mercenary outlaw going after a one-of-a-kind implant that is the key to immortality.Upgraded with next-gen in mind and featuring free additional content, customize your character and playstyle as you take on jobs, build a reputation, and unlock upgrades.The relationships you forge and the choices you make will shape the story and the world around you. Legends are made here. What will yours be?
