The Cyberpunk 2077 Sequel Needs To Take Inspiration From This Major Comic

Cyberpunk 2077's sequel is in the works, so it's only natural that fans begin wildly speculating about what features it may contain or how it may improve upon the original. However, while there is a lot of fun to be had imagining which characters may reappear, there is genuine value in suggesting or even discussing potential ways a sequel could improve the overall experience. It's also important to discuss potential influences that could help make the game's sequel even better, including a major comic book.

This article contains spoilers for the Cyberpunk 2077 comic book Trauma Team.

There are already many ways Cyberpunk 2077's sequel is improving on the first game, but perhaps the most important change it can make is fixing the side quests. To do this, it should look to not only other games - even those made by CD Projekt Red itself - but also other forms of media, including comic books. There are some truly incredible stories that Cyberpunk 2077's sequel could draw from, helping to create memorable and exciting side quests that even rival the main missions.

Cyberpunk 2077 Comic Trauma Team Is Incredible

It's The Best Example Of Storytelling In The Cyberpunk 2077 Universe

The Cyberpunk 2077 comic book Trauma Team is one of the handful of comic books set within the franchise's universe and is easily the best. It's a very short, yet incredibly impactful work of art featuring the talents of writer Cullen Bunn and illustrator Miguel Valderrama that tells the story of one of Cyberpunk 2077's most underutilized factions: Trauma Team. Originally split into four volumes before being collected into one trade paperback, Trauma Team is essentially a bottle episode, focusing on a new protagonist who's a member of Trauma Team named Nadia.

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The story starts with her attempting to save a platinum member before her entire team is wiped out by an assailant, including her romantic partner, Dodds. After the traumatic event, she's believed to be fit for duty and is sent out with another squad to rescue a platinum member hiding out at the top of a 100-floor skyscraper. However, upon arrival, Nadia immediately recognizes the target they're supposed to save as the man who killed her previous squad. Torn between her duty and her lust for revenge, Nadia struggles to guide her target through the building to safety.

It's the perfect pitch, and it makes for an even more compelling narrative, largely thanks to the phenomenal writing by Bunn. Of course, fans of The Raid or Dredd will instantly recognize the story, but Trauma Team puts a fun spin on it, making it feel fresh and unique, especially as Nadia's perspective is so enthralling from start to finish. Trauma Team also makes good use of the Cyberpunk IP both in its gorgeous gore-soaked art and various references, making it a story that feels like it couldn't happen anywhere other than Night City.

What truly sets Trauma Team apart from Cyberpunk 2077 and its other comics is the balance between the tension and the character-driven narrative. It manages to make the claustrophobic setting and being hunted pair perfectly with the personal drama and inner conflict that Nadia is experiencing as it slowly drip-feeds new revelations to the reader. Cyberpunk 2077's sequel needs to learn a lot from this, as while its side quests were great, they weren't a stand-out feature.

Cyberpunk 2077 Sequel Should Include More Stories Like Trauma Team

There Should Be More Tense Action-Packed Claustrophobic Missions

Naturally, there are plenty of perfect storylines that Cyberpunk 2077's sequel should use for its litany of main and side quests, and Trauma Team shouldn't necessarily be one of them. However, it should inspire those that are included, as Cyberpunk 2077's side quests especially, while interesting, lacked that perfect balance between tension and action. They're often too easy to complete when it comes to combat or too brief to really feel a sense of dread. Additionally, they often lack a cohesive narrative that features interesting and memorable characters.

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Cyberpunk 2077 was more interested in the player and their story - largely because V is supposed to die after just a few weeks - so it doesn't spend too much time creating meaningful characters outside the obvious romantic interests. This is a huge shame, as it's clear there are plenty of interesting stories to be told outside the player character within this universe, as evidenced not just by Trauma Team and other comics, but also by the phenomenal Edgerunners. If Cyberpunk 2077 learns anything from Trauma Team, it's that it needs to include better characters within its side content.

It also shouldn't be afraid of more linear storytelling, of creating sequences - for side quests specifically - that take place within one location, like a skyscraper. The reason Trauma Team works so well is that Nadia is trapped and can't hop on her Akira-inspired bike and drive through Night City collecting her thoughts. She's forced to make snap decisions in a high-intensity environment which pushes her psyche to the limit, resulting in the shocking conclusion. Cyberpunk 2077 needs to force the player into more linear sequences within its side stories and stop letting them roam free through Night City.

Cyberpunk 2077 Sequel Just Needs Better Side Quests

Trauma Team Is The Gold Standard

Cyberpunk 2077's side quests are limited by the overarching narrative of V slowly but surely dying, as it prevents the developers from telling stories that evolve over time or bottle episodes that would seem trivial or insignificant to 2077's version of V. Hopefully a sequel fixes this huge Cyberpunk 2077 mistake and allows the side quests to take center stage, as this is the only way that fans can get stories as interesting and dynamic as the Trauma Team comic. However, should it remain shackled by these or similar restraints, it's likely the side quests will suffer a similar fate.

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What new feature should Cyberpunk 2077's sequel include?

CD Projekt Red North America is currently at work on a sequel to Cyberpunk 2077, with Phanton Liberty director Gabe Amatangelo leading the charge on the follow-up. Recent reports have indicated the team is looking to incorporate multiplayer in the sequel, an understandable decision given the popularity of similar open-world sandbox Grand Theft Auto V. Beyond this being a poor choice, as it takes away from the player-driven focus of the campaign, I'd like to see an improvement on the romantic storylines by offering more things to do with these characters than scripted cutscenes.

Trauma Team is absolutely the gold standard when it comes to short and snappy storytelling, and not every Cyberpunk 2077 sequel side quest needs to be of equal quality. However, it should be recognized as a bar to beat, especially when it comes to successfully balancing character-driven storytelling and tense action. Cyberpunk 2077's sequel should replicate the Trauma Team comic book, but it should identify why it is as good as it is, and take those important lessons into the creation of its quests.

Source: Dark LORE Dash/YouTube

Franchise Cyberpunk

Released December 10, 2020