Cyberpunk 2077’s first person nature is something that has been a big point of discussion for many, which has also led to comparisons with several other RPGs of the same ilk. Comparisons have been drawn with many of them – such as Deus Ex, for starters. But interestingly enough, as per quest director Mateusz Tomaszkiewicz, many of the games you hear mentioned in such discussions are also the ones that have influenced Cyberpunk 2077’s own development in several ways.
In an interview with Area Jugones, Tomaszkiewicz was asked about the games that Cyberpunk 2077 takes cues from, and there were three names that the CD Projekt RED developer mentioned- Deus Ex, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines, and The Elder Scrolls. While the latter is something Tomaszkiewicz feels might not be as comparable, thanks to its fantasy setting, he feels the first person nature of the other two, as well as the freedom they offered in how to approach various situations and scenarios, is something that has inspired the development of the game, and him personally as well. You can find a rough translation of his quotes below
“For me part, personally, Vampire: The Masquerade,” he said, “in terms of what an RPG is in first person, and the way in which its non-linearity is built into the gameplay and dialogue. We are all gamers, and we enjoy different genres, but personally, I would say Vampire Bloodlines. Specifically because it is the perfect example of a first person game and an RPG that I personally enjoyed.”
“Of course, then there is The Elder Scrolls, although it is more difficult to compare it with the that because it is fantasy,” he added. “And I would also say the Deus Ex franchise, especially the original Deus Ex. That had a great impact on me as a developer and player back when I played it for the first time many years ago. And what I really liked about that game was completing the missions in many ways. It was not only based on dialogue decisions, since you also had the things that were on the map and its different points of entry that allowed you to get into buildings, as well as elements that opened different paths in the story. In short, both Vampire Bloodlines and Deus Ex– they are my two greatest inspirations.”
Comparisons with the Deus Ex games have been exceedingly common ever since gameplay footage for Cyberpunk 2077 was shown off last year, while its focus on non-linearity is also something that does indeed harken back to something like Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines. It’s also fitting, in a way, that the latter’s recently announced sequel is being likened to Cyberpunk 2077 by many.
In the same interview, Tomaszkiewicz also spoke about combat and weapon variety in the upcoming CD Projekt RED RPG, and how much the game has changed since we last saw it. Cyberpunk 2077 is announced for PS4, Xbox One, and PC, but doesn’t currently have release date (barring some retailer leaks). It will be at this year’s E3 show though, so we might get more information then.