If upon hearing the word cyberpunk A robotic crested punkarra comes to mind, then you are probably in the wrong place (or not). If, on the other hand, the first thing you think of are futuristic dystopias whose technological advances pose philosophical dilemmas ... Welcome to the world of tomorrow! 2018 has started very strong, and we have already attended (or we will attend in the coming months) the launch of several works belonging to this genre that owes so much to Philip K. Dick , author of Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? novel that inspired, among other things, Blade Runner.
From Altered Carbon, the new Netflix series based on the novel by Richard K. Morgan, to The Red Strings Club, the new game from the Valencian studio Deconstructeam. Without forgetting Mute, the new film by Duncan Jones (Moon, Warcraft) that will be released (also on Netflix) at the end of February, or the confirmation that CD Projekt Red will be at E3 2018 ... which augurs new news about the highly anticipated Cyberpunk 2077.
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Ghost in the Shell and the best cyberpunk scenarios
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Cyberpunk is a subgenre of science fiction literature coined in the 80s. Authors such as William Gibson, who we will talk about later, began to make a new series of science fiction stories diametrically opposed to the space and utopian science fiction that precognized a better future for the human race. In fact, cyberpunk precisely seeks social criticism of the system, warning of the dangers of this future society. In the stories of the future of cyberpunk worlds, the human species does not experience a great spatial expansion throughout the cosmos. In general, they are stories that show how humanity is still anchored on our planet Earth, which is crowded with a huge overpopulation, Large corporations dominate all political and social spectra and there is extensive use of cyborogy, applied to a large part of the population. These environments, usually located in the not too distant future, but also have another very recurring ingredient: Artificial Intelligence and virtual reality environments, in which hackers live immersed in constant struggles against megacorporations, but at their salary. . In addition, narratively there tends to be another factor (not always recurring, but common), the idea of the lonely hero against the government and / or companies. This individual may be someone on the fringes of the institutions, rejected by them or simply who has abandoned them, who confronts them alone with his abilities. Now let's talk about gunmen or hackers, if not both, we see how these individuals end up having to fight the war on their own, with very little chances of success. In fact, one of the foundations of his narratives is that the protagonist, somehow, loses more than he gains at the end of the story.
We start with one of the best examples of cyberpunk and also one of the most popular. Masamune Shirow created this manga in 1989, featuring one of the most brilliant futuristic works of the ninth art. Later, he would make two more sequels: Human Error Processor and Manmachine Interface. The original story would be adapted into a Mamoru Oshii film in 1995 as well as an animated series in 2002. In addition, there are other continuations and sequels that we will skip so as not to confuse you. The world of Ghost in the Shell takes place in Japan in an advanced 9st century. Cyber technology and computing have reached heights of excellence never before thought. But with this technological leap, the criminal threat is also greater. Hence, the Japanese government enables the so-called Public Security Police Section 9, or Section 9, to combat technological crimes: hackers, cyberactivists, traffickers of dangerous technological material, etc ... Within this security group, Motoko stands out. Kusanagi, who not only has a completely cybernetic body, but has also replaced parts of his brain to be able to carry out his job much better. Section 1995 and Kusanagi herself will find the fit of their shoe when they have to face a dangerous and mysterious cyber-terrorist who responds only to the name of the Master of the Puppets. If you want to know more, the original Ghost in the Shell manga can still be found in some second-hand stores. But be prepared to leave you a paste. If you prefer, the XNUMX Ghost in the Shell movie and series, subtitled Stand Alone Complex, can be found much more easily on DVD and Blu-Ray.
Ghost in the Shell isn't the only cyberpunk manganime. Ergo Proxy also falls into this category. It is an anime created by Dai Sato, set in the perhaps not too distant future. Earth has been devastated for the most part by conflict on a planetary scale. This has forced the population to take refuge in a dome-shaped city that responds to the name of Romdou, which serves as a refuge for humanity. In Romdou, humans coexist with androids called AutoRaves, under the supervision of a bureaucratic and administrative system. Everything goes peacefully until some uncontrolled AutoRaves commit several murders, moved by a computer virus called Cogito. With the population in an attack of hysteria, the relationship of the virus with artificial entities called Proxy, with which the government has been experimenting, will be discovered. If you want to see the entire series, which looks pretty good, we inform you that there is a chest that contains the 23 episodes of Ergo Proxy.
So we have proposed to review the best cyberpunk games: titles that have made use of this subgenre of science fiction, which has among its best-known representatives films such as Akira, Ghost in the Shell, The Matrix or its own Blade Runner. Also, last year we enjoyed Ghost in the Shell: The Soul of the Machine and Blade Runner 2049, a sequel to the original directed by Dennis Villeneuve (The Arrival). So all the more reason to get on the first aero-taxi that passes.
In the case of stories in which cybernetic beings of all kinds, highly advanced technology, hackers addicted to stimulants and everything that has a circuit integrated, works with electricity or is prone to rebel against humanity, it is not surprising that video games also have jumped on the cyber bandwagon more than once and twice, especially in the past.
For this reason, and because today we got up thinking about Roy Batty's final monologue, we offer you the best cyberpunk video games. It's time to read.
- Cyberpunk: much more than a fad
- Sci-Fi Cinema: Blade Runner Review
- Review of Ghost in the Shell: The Soul of the Machine
- Blade Runner 2049 Review
- Critique of Altered Carbon
Invisible, Inc.
Klei Entertainment (creators of Shank, Don't Starve and the magnificent Mark of the Ninja) surprised us with this mix between infiltration and strategy that, at times, was reminiscent of the magnificent X-COM saga. And it is that in Invisible, Inc. the strategy has an enormous weight, having to carefully plan each mission taking into account aspects such as the time it takes to move between destinations, collect information that facilitates the fulfillment of the objectives or "sign" new agents for our cause, which aims to take down a megacorporation with the help of an AI. Invisible, Inc. also has a roguelike component, which means that dying and starting over is something natural in development, but as we move forward we will gain better equipment and skills that will gradually facilitate the following games. Invisible, Inc. is not only one of the best cyberpunk games, it is also one of the best infiltration games.
Neuromancer
Neuromancer may be somewhat archaic nowadays, but we are talking about a game based on one of the first and most famous novels of the cyberpunk genre (Neuromancer, by William Gibson) so, for that alone, it has more than deserved its entry on the list.
hard Reset
Before enjoying the fantastic reboot of Shadow Warrior (and its sequel), Flying Wild Hog left us this first-person action game for PC, which years later would also come to PS4 and Xbox One. Hard Reset is a shooter that imitates the style of the old guard (Quake, Doom, etc.), but whose setting and plot are inspired by the works of greats of the genre such as Philip K. Dick, William Gibson or Neal Stephenson. Come on, if what you are looking for is to hit shots in a cyberpunk world (and nothing else), this is your game.
Shadowrun
Shadowrun is a board game that mixes elements of cyberpunk with magic and fantasy. Come on, it's possible to hack an orc's brain or use an ice spell to stop a killer robot. It featured two very different adaptations, one for the Super Nintendo and one for the Mega Drive. And while both are great in their own way, we stick with the Sega console for offering astonishing freedom for the time and because it was so much more faithful to the original board game.
Anachronox
After performing what is widely regarded as the best cyberpunk game of all time (and which we will talk about a few posts later), Ion Storm gave us another gem of the genre ... although this is not, by far, so remembered. We are talking about Anachronox, a game launched for PC in 2001 and that proposed a similar approach and at the same time very different from Deus Ex. Because the cyberpunk setting is there, just like the RPG elements, but the development resembles that of a JRPG. That is, turn-based combat (Final Fantasy style, to name one example). On the other hand, the story has a lot more humor ... black. And its cast of protagonists remains, without a doubt, its brightest section: from a private detective accompanied by his digitized assistant (to save her from death), to an alcoholic ex-superhero. If that hasn't sold you, nothing will.
Syndicate
Syndicate invites us to enjoy cyberpunk in its most strategic aspect, fulfilling action-packed missions with a group of cyborgs that we can improve and equip with weapons of all kinds, from a simple pistol to a device that bends the will of the enemy.
Syndicate
We have not been wrong to include Syndicate a second time (now we talk about its remake / reimagining, released in 2012 for PS3, Xbox 360 and PC). Although many will think that it is still a mistake to include it, since the game was not very well received at the time. However, we believe that it deserves a place among the best cyberpunk games because, once the shock that it is a very different product from the original Syndicate is overcome, the truth is that it is not so bad. His representation of a dystopian future (setting, weapons, characters ...) is magnificent. And this is mainly due to the fact that Richard K. Morgan, author of Altered Carbon (the novel that has inspired the Netflix series), was in charge of the script. Playable is not bad either (entertaining, which is what matters), and nowadays it is easy to find it at a low price, so if it attracts you, do not hesitate to give it a try.
- Syndicate review for PS3, Xbox 360 and PC
Dreamweb
Dreamweb is one of those games that was harshly criticized when it was launched, and that little by little has been acquiring a whole legion of followers. It is a graphic adventure with unconventional and to a certain extent incomprehensible ideas (it is constantly developed with an aerial perspective, for example), but its disturbing plot, full of bloody scenes and the occasional sexual controversy, manages to keep us in suspense until the surprising ending. The best of all? A few years ago it became abandonware and you can download it for free from here. If you have not tried it, you no longer have an excuse.
>OBSERVER_
If you like cyberpunk and being scared, then Observer is your game. In the shoes of an Observer (a kind of detective) and from a first-person perspective, our mission is to hack into the memories of certain individuals using a device called 'dream eater'. And its setting is magnificent; It may be the game that has generated the greatest sense of immersion in a cyberpunk reality. Will we ever see a version for virtual reality (official)?
Beneath a Steel Sky
We continue with the point-and-click adventures, this time with the wonderful Beneath a Steel Sky. In this title we put ourselves in the shoes of Robert Foster, a young man who grew up free, far from corruption and technological advances. But how could it be otherwise, Robert ends up in the nearest futuristic city and we will have to help him solve its mysteries using his head. As in the case of Dreamweb, you can get it for free here.
Remember me
The first game from Dontnod Entertainment (today especially known for Life is Strange and for the future Vampyr) took us to Neo-Paris, a city where memories are a bargaining chip between megacorporations. Although lazy in some aspects of design, its story and versatile combat system make it an interesting game for fans of the genre.
- Remember Me analysis
DEX
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DEX Enhanced Edition PS4
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DEX is a 2D action role-playing game with cyberpunk aesthetics, which arrived on PS4 and Xbox One after its time on PC. It has a catchy story to the end and a varied and quite affordable development even for the less "role-playing" audience.
- DEX Enhanced Edition review
Blade Runner
With a story that runs parallel to the action of the film, this graphic adventure managed to make us fall in love in the same way that Blade Runner did in its day. And it is that it even had the same actors of the film to put their voices to their virtual homonyms (except Harrison Ford, since Deckard does not let himself fall for this virtual Los Angeles 2019). A true marvel in graphic adventures and one of the best cyberpunk games that no fan should miss.
2064: Read Only Memories
A point n 'click style graphic adventure, inspired by the greats of the genre, and whose main attractions are its history and its protagonists. As a journalist from the year 2064, in the city of Neo-San Francisco, our task is to investigate the disappearance of a close friend with the help of a robot capable of learning and growing emotionally. In addition to being available for PS4, Xbox One, and PC, 2064: Read Only Memories is coming to Nintendo Switch throughout 2018.
Flashback
Flashback, the masterpiece of Paul Cuisset, is not just a brilliant platformer with animated sequences that even today manage to remove the hiccups. It is also a magnificent adventure with a cyberpunk aesthetic that immerses us fully in the history of Conrad and his search for identity. Tip: stay away from the 2013 remake, play the original.
- Flashback remake analysis
Gemini Rue
A point n 'click graphic adventure (it seems to be the genre for cyberpunk developments), with slight hints of action. Its setting and its history are simply magnificent, being the kind of games manufactured imitating the style of the past, but so well made that it has little to envy the classics from which it is inspired. As soon as the genre attracts you, do not hesitate to give it a try.
Snatcher
Hideo Kojima this, Hideo Kojima the other ... This man is up to the ramen! But it is no wonder: the good Hideo has shown that his is science fiction stories, and if Hideo wants to make a Blade Runner video game and call it Snatcher ... What can go wrong? Well, absolutely NOTHING. Snatcher is an adventure that enjoys all the charm of the cyberpunk aesthetic, mixed with the great references and Kojima brand humor (winks to Metal Gear included). Absolutely a must.
VA-11 HALL-A
With a marked anime aesthetic and a development that its creators describe as a "cyberpunk bartender simulator", VA-11 HLL-A invites us to prepare and serve drinks in a bar that attracts the most diverse customers from all over the city, while we listen their peculiar stories. The most interesting thing, and what makes it worth your attention, is that its history does not have a linear development: depending on the drinks we prepare, it can move in very different directions. If you like the "visual novels" give it a try; you will not be disappointed.
System Shock 2
An abandoned spaceship. A crew victim of a grotesque infection. A lone hero with supernatural abilities and extensive computer skills. And an AI capable of making us tremble with terror. System Shock 2 is one of the best games ever, and thanks to its cyberpunk style it shines far above other classics of the genre. A masterpiece that should not be missing in any collection worth its salt.
The Red Strings Club
The Red Strings Club, a game developed by the Valencians Deconstructeam, is a sensational proposal that addresses social problems from a cyberpunk perspective, and making use of a game system that invites us to mix drinks to influence the mood of our customers and thus obtain valuable information. One of those adventures that must be lived, since it puts our morality and ethics to the test, making its message sink deep into us.
- The Red Strings Club review
Deus Ex
This top spot should come as no surprise, unlike its occupant: Deus Ex. Warren Spector gave us one of those experiences that you have to try at least once in your life: a master lesson in how to offer full freedom to the player without neglecting other aspects as important as the story or the gameplay. And that's not forgetting the weapons, the implants, the conspiracies, the aliens ... Damn, we're running to install it again.
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Deus Ex had a sequel, nicknamed Invisible War, that although it was not as horrible as it is painted, it did not manage to reach the lofty level of the original. After years and years of silence, the saga returned to the fore with Deus Ex: Human Revolution, recovering the glory of bygone times and raising Adam Jensen like Icarus to the Olympus of video game characters.
- Deus Analysis Ex: Human Revolution
- Analysis of God Ex: Human Revolution Dirctor's Cut
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
As its name suggests, Deus Ex: Manind Divided has been divisive among fans, but it still deserves a position among the best cyberpunk games. What is clear is that if you liked Human Revolution (or the first Deus Ex), it is very likely that you will not be disappointed. In addition, it perfectly serves to alleviate our cyberpunk needs.
- Analysis of Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
Bonus: the future
cyberpunk 2077 it does not need any introduction; The hype for CD Projekt RED's new game is reaching highs after the studio reactivated social media accounts and details about its appearance at the next E3 begin to surface. It is not unreasonable to think that it could be among the top of our list (if not the first) when it goes on sale. But we also don't want to forget about The Last Night, the indie game announced during the Microsoft conference at E3 2017 that looks great. If everything goes according to plan, we will also see it in 2018 on Xbox one and PC.
And now, as always, it's your turn. Tell us which are the best cyberpunk video games for you or the ones that have marked you the most. Of course, treat your keyboard and mouse with respect: you never know when they might turn against you ...
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