Cyberpunk 2077 was so highly anticipated for so long that it almost seemed as if the game itself couldn’t live up to the hype. Yet, it has taken the video game world by storm, with its endless interconnecting story thrilling casual and hardcore gamers alike.
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The aesthetic, visual, and tonal design of the game fall into the cyberpunk genre. There’s a long list of movies and TV shows which also follow a similar style , many of which likely went on to influence the development of this game. So many of these productions are considered to be classics within the science fiction genre and there are definitely elements of each which are visible within Cyberpunk 2077.
Blade Runner (1982)
The original Blade Runner is a real heavy hitter in the cyberpunk genre. It was completely ground-breaking in its representation of Earth’s future. The cityscape, with its grungy streets and neon lighting, seemed like a realistic possibility for where humanity was heading.
While the movie follows a number of tropes from both the film noir and science fiction genres , it twists them in a way that feels fresh. From the dystopian representation of where Earth could go to the larger questions originally asked in Philip K. Dick’s work, Blade Runner is such a big influence on the game that fans have been finding easter eggs for the movie in Cyberpunk 2077 .
Blade Runner: 2049 (2017)
While Blade Runner would have been the largest influence on Cyberpunk 2077, it is difficult to ignore the impact that Blade Runner: 2049 would have had on the game. In fact, the titles alone bears a similarity in the use of the date.
It’s important to see how these same concepts can be delivered to a modern audience. 2049, therefore, updated the world created in Blade Runner and made sure it was still relatable to what Earth has today in terms of development and technology. These are lessons that Cyberpunk could have taken from the film.
Ghost In The Shell (1995)
One of the most influential cyberpunk movies of the ’90s , Ghost In The Shell may have gotten a controversial live-action update in 2017, but the original 1995 classic still powerfully resonates with audiences today, despite being set in the year 2029.
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Beautifully animated, with rich visuals and a complex plot, it wasn’t just the cinematic style that would have had an effect on Cyberpunk 2077. The international and cultural impact of the movie has been phenomenal and the film has created the sort of rich tapestry that anyone could draw inspiration from.
Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)
For those who originally witnessed the birth of Star Wars on the big screen, they will admit that there really wasn’t another cinematic universe like it. While the movie wouldn’t be traditionally seen as part of the cyberpunk genre, it has gone on to impact much of today’s science fiction.
The feel of the galaxy far far away is something that has continued to define the franchise. While the designs of this fictional world contained some goofs and mistakes , the hand made nature of everything made it feel authentic. This place had been genuinely lived in; it’s a huge contrast to the shiny surfaces and squeaky clean design usually seen in sci-fi.
Electric Dreams (2017-)
Philip K. Dick’s work has been such a huge factor in much of the cyberpunk genre today, but outside of the Blade Runner franchise, there have been few attempts to really bring his vision to life. Electric Dreams sought to tackle that task head on.
With a series of brilliant scripts brought to life by a memorable cast, Electric Dreams looked to portray some of Dick’s largest moral questions on the small screen. Visuals aside, the themes of the show perfectly encapsulate what the genre is all about: what is the role of the human when societal development has seemingly surpassed them?
Akira (1988)
Akira is another giant of the cyberpunk and Testifix.Com anime world. Thanks to its popularity it is also facing the possibility of a live-action remake , which is currently being developed by Taika Waititi. The reason for this is clear; Akira still carries the same cultural impact as it did when it was released.
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Beautifully animated, this post-apocalyptic landscape was the perfect setting for the medium to really push the limits of what it was capable of. Akira is known for many of its industry-defining techniques, all of which allow this story to be told in the best way possible.
Altered Carbon (2018-2020)
The fascinating thing about Altered Carbon is it is so heavily influenced by many of the other movies and TV shows in its genre that it’s actually especially interesting to study, from both a visual and a narrative standpoint.
The Netflix show has taken the themes of the genre and elements from multiple projects from both science fiction and cyberpunk history and repackaged them in a way that will appeal to a modern audience. One can only imagine that this would therefore be vital for the developers of Cyberpunk 2077 news 2077.
The Fifth Element (1997)
The Fifth Element is a cult hit, but nothing has influenced the genre in the same way as this production. Visually it is astounding, although that isn’t the standout lesson from this movie. The filmmakers were completely willing to take huge risks.
Barely any of the decisions made on this film were safe in any way. The over the top performances, the strange costume designs, and yet the way in which such a bizarre cinematic experience didn’t talk down to the audience, are all displays of the amount of nuance that can actually be found in The Fifth Element. Cyberpunk 2077 would have had to take some of these same risks.
Tron (1982)
It’s quite natural to assume that Tron: Legacy easily surpassed Tron , just by simply __ doing things better than the original ever could . Sure, the time period that Tron was created in meant that were a number of visual setbacks.
This is a piece of cinematic history though. No one had achieved anything quite like Disney’s first attempt at this technological world. The neon designs have remained a large part of the cyberpunk visual palette to this day. In terms of the industry itself though, there’s no doubt that when it comes to technological breakthroughs Cyberpunk 2077 probably wouldn’t exist without Tron.
The Matrix (1999)
The Matrix was really quite revolutionary at a time when it seemed as if film was starting to become stagnant. There’s no denying the huge shift that the movie has had on the entertainment industry. The cinematography of the picture alone is staggering.
Someone behind the development of Cyberpunk 2077 must have been a fan of the film, considering the casting of Keanu Reeves as Johnny Silverhand. Reeves fits right into this kind of world though, as The Matrix revitalized the cyberpunk genre and started creating new puzzles regarding consciousness and choice in a cyber age.
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