Summary
CD Projekt Red’sCyberpunk 2077is widely considered one of the best first-person action games of the last decade. Complete with extensive lore that dates back to the original 1980s board game, there was certainly plenty of material for the company to build on when it came tobringing Night City to life. Along with the ambitious neon city and its various intricacies, it was also be necessary to create unique and memorable characters if the game was to have any chance of succeeding.
Fortunately, the game world is full of interesting characters, each with their own backstories and looks, which help to provide an insight into the life and atmosphere of both Night City and the NUSA in general. Though V’s story actually takes place within a fairly limited circle, all things considered,the characters they meet along the wayare sure to leave a lasting impression because of their great designs.
8Lizzy Wizzy
A Shining Example Of Stardom In Night City
Lizzy Wizzy (played by Grimes) is a celebrity in the world ofCyberpunk 2077just as she is in real life. Decked out head-to-toe in chrome, Lizzy is a prime example of what money can get someone in Night City. As a representative of society’s elite, she provides players with one of the few chances they get to see this level of “chrome” up-close.
In a perfect example of vanity and excess, contrasting that of most other characters in the game, Lizzy displays her wealth inthe form of her synthetic implants, which essentially comprise her entire face and body. Players can encounter Lizzy during the side quest “Violence,” in which she asks V to spy on her boyfriend and later kill him, depending on how player choices work out.
7Songbird
A Cybernetically Enhanced Character With A “Street Kid” Look
For many players, Songbird was one of the highlights of thePhantom LibertyDLC. In many ways a reflection of V, So-Mi is an interesting character who players will find difficult to trust. She is a highly skilled Netrunner for the NUSA, as evidenced by her Militech cyberware implants.
Despite being one of the best Netrunners in the world and a confidante of NUSA President Rosalind Myers herself, Songbird has an unmistakable ‘street kid’ look to her. Players will also see her in more formal attire during the quest “The Killer Moon,” where even more of her cybernetic implants are shown.
6Royce
The Maelstrom Boss Represents The Lowest Rungs Of The Social Ladder
The Maelstrom leader, Simon Randall a.k.a. Royce, is one of the characters first shown inCyberpunk 2077’s E3 reveal trailerback in 2018. He is kitted out with some gnarly body mods, including an LED optical enhancement that has replaced the top half of his face.
Though he only makes a brief appearance during the mission “The Pickup,” in which V and Jackie buy an advanced Militech robot from him, he certainly leaves a lasting impression. Players can kill or spare Royce, and if spared, he will show up again in the mission “Second Conflict”.
5Rita Wheeler
The Mox Door Guard Certainly Leaves A Lasting Impression
Rita Wheeler is a relatively minor character, but she is certainly a memorable one. As the main bouncer forThe Mox’s nightclub “Lizzie’s,“Rita is on the frontlines between the gang’s personal business and the wild streets themselves.
Having lost and replaced both arms with robotic upgrades, Rita’s weapon of choice is the baseball bat, and one cannot help but fear the kind of force she might generate with it. Rita is a character who certainly could’ve played a larger role in the game’s story, but she still makes the most of her brief interjections.
4Goro Takemura
The Arasaka Outcast Has Some Gnarly Body Modifications
The bodyguard of Saburo Arasaka, Takemura is caught up in the events of the game’s story, just as unwillingly as V, and ultimately finds himself in a precarious position on the run from his former employers. Goro is decked out with some pretty high-tier chrome, seemingly covering him from the neck down.
Though Takemura is wrongly blamed for his failings during Saburo’s assassination at the start of the story, he returns to help V for a large part of Act 2 and can even return again in Act 3 if players choose to save him.
3Adam Smasher
The Villainous War Veteran Is More Machine Than Man
Adam Smasher is one of the most intimidating villains in recent memory, at least in terms of appearance. The Corporate War veteran is more cyborg than human by the time ofCyberpunk 2077, though he has a long-standing feud with Johnny Silverhand dating back several decades.
Smasher is something of an experiment, with most ofhis body modifications being cutting-edge or prototype tech. Players will eventually have to face off with Smasher as the game’s final boss, and though he was once considered a push-over, he has since been improved to provide a much stronger challenge.
2Judy Alvarez
A Tortured Soul Who Embodies The Essence Of Night City
Judy Alvarez is the true embodiment of Night City culture. A street kid affiliated with The Mox, Judy is also a high-level netrunner and BD “artist.” Players will first meet her when she is working in a basement beneath Lizzie’s for Evelyn Parker. Players can get to know Judy quite a lot throughout the main story, and she is ultimately one of the most in-depth andwell-written characters in the game.
Just one glance at Judy is enough for players to tell a lot about her. Her tattoos, fashion, and hair all scream ‘cyberpunk,’, and the character design is also backed up by an exceptional acting performance from Carla Tassara.
1Johnny Silverhand
An Archetypal Rocker And Night City Legend
Johnny Silverhand is a true Night City legend. Originally a rockstar in America’s underground music scene, Johnny was also an anarchist and terrorist whotargeted the Arasaka Corporation. When V has the engram of Silverhand’s consciousness lodged inside their head, he quickly becomes central to the game’s story.
Portrayed by Keanu Reeves, Silverhand’s design helps to distinguish him from many of the actor’s other roles. His trademark sunglasses and silver arm, along with his black tank top and combat pants, tell everything about the sort of individual Johnny is at heart.
