Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

I had mixed feelings going into this anime, because of the bitter taste Cyberpunk 2077 had left me with. I liked the game, I was fortunate enough to be able to play the game, but I couldn't help but feel cheated , because the game I played, was not the one I had been promised for 8 years, and definitely not the one I thought I would play.

So I got into this anime with low expectations. I am glad I've been proven wrong.

This anime is almost everything the game should have been, but wasn't.

Striking animation and visuals : check. Compelling story and interesting characters: check. Riveting on-theme music: check. Fast paced and entertaining: check. True to the Cyberpunk sub-genre: check.

It takes place in Nightcity, as envisioned by Mike Pondsmith and CDPR , only without the bugs and crashes hehe. People who have played the game, will undoubtedly recognize many of Nightcity's neighborhoods, streets, bars etc, which is a plus, because regardless of the status of the game, Nightcity was very striking, and in the anime, it is even better.

It is a very well made, entertaining anime, and the best part is that you don't have to be a Cyberpunk fan to enjoy it, I believe it can be enjoyed by everyone, because it is so well made. A solid 8/10 from me.

Basically expected CP: 2077 at its release state, but somehow got one of greatest anime of all time, which, funny enough, is like exact opposite of how CP: 2077 release went.

I originally didn't like the visual style (like vivid version of Cowboy Bebop) but grew fond of it after an episode or two. Because it turns out that over the top colorful visuals and much darker story underneath makes a great combination, reminiscent of the Nigh City itself... with its sins hidden under pretty colorful neon lights. It also got thrilling scores playing non-stop and these were on point making the overall scene better - not a single moment I thought music is off. And characters are also well constructed and believable in the world they reside, with some developments simply poetic. Overall just great... very easy and pleasant to hold suspension of disbelief until the very end.

The only thing I didn't like is the pacing. There were simply too much story and character development clamped into 10 episodes. Things were developing in such a quick pace and I don't think it gave audiences enough time to bond with the characters. With that being said, presentation is still solid in a rushed pacing so had no problem enjoying it... but can't stop thinking how much better the show would've been if it was a 2 season 24 episodes run.

Oh and a side note... there were also tons of source material and game references like Afterlife, Old Net, Basilisk, Adam Smasher, and gangs etc, but these were self contained so people who're not familiar with the game or universe can also enjoy it.

This Series is absolutely Phenomenal, I would put this as one of the very best Animated Series on Netflix, at least at par with "Arcane".

Personally I didn't like the Animation that much, I thought it was too dark and too chaotic at times. However, everything else is great, from the Characterizations, Storylines and Storytelling.

This is truly very Hard Core Science Fiction, they created a World which is beautiful and yet very strange, but also very familiar. You can appreciate the Technology they are using as they are similar to what we have now, but so much more advanced, especially in the field of the Cyberworld.

But I don't think it is for everyone, though. The Action Scenes are great, but they are also a bit too gruesome at times, I think some People will find it that.

Plus the Theme itself is pretty dark, with Crimes, Betrayals, Murders, etc. But if you get past that then you will have one of the most rewarding Series I have ever seen, despite its Bittersweet Ending.

This is one of the Must-See Series for me, if anything it will definitely be a Cult Classic. Yes, another one of those ...

Like the title of my review states, I am not a big anime guy. I loved Cowboy Bebop and Ghost in a Shell during my teen years but never really found anything after that that grabbed my attention. Until a friend told me to watch AoT (Attack on Titan) which becane one of my favorite shows of all time.

I was one of the few people that genuinely enjoyed my time in Night City when Cyberpunk 2077 released. That being said I am sure it helped that I had a PC with the capability to play the game on all of its highest settings.

This show is a wild ride through Night City that never let's up from episode 1 all the way to the final moments of episode 10. I knew that the show was in development but was presently surprised when I turned on Netflix today (my day off) wondering what I was going to watch and it was just waiting there for me. I watched it from begging to end with a small break to cook food somewhere in the middle of the show. I found the story and the characters to be fun and intriguing. I also found it to be a breath of fresh air when it became apparent (very quickly) that this show wasn't going to play it safe or pull its punches.

After finishing my hope is that we will get to go back to Night City and see some more action. Very fun, will watch it again and I hope we get a renewal.

P. S. Yes it's animated, no it's not for kids. It's TV MA and it takes every advantage of that.

I'm keeping this spoiler free and sticking to the Netflix show, you're not here to get a review of the game. I'm a huge lover of the game (pre-ordered it and played it on my Ps4 and once I got a Ps5 played it again with a console that could actually run the game) so if you are like me you will love the show. The show is easily the best anime I've ever seen, the characters are all well written, the original dubbing is good and the animation style is amazing. What grants it a crown, other than the plot, it's how it shows a well know world (the Cyberpunk world) and it managez to introduce people that have never heard of the game to this amazing world. Seen it with my girlfriend that had never seen the game and she loved it aswell. Give it a try, you won't regret it.