Highlights
- The Corpo lifepath in Cyberpunk 2077 offers a more satisfying origin story for V, with a fully realized character arc.
- The Corpo world is a contrast to the other lifepath options, with late-stage capitalism and morally abhorrent practices considered acceptable.
- The player's choice between the Corpo, Street Kid, and Nomad paths greatly impacts the endings, and the Corpo path complements the endings better for a more satisfying conclusion.
While the release of Cyberpunk 2077 may have been botched, later patches allowed players to have a more satisfying adventure throughout Night City. The game offers many paths for gamers to take and the amount of content that can be found feels nearly limitless. However, one Cyberpunk 2077 route, in particular, is more satisfying than the others.
Cyberpunk 2077 offers players three different lifepath options which double as origin stories for V. They are the Street Kid, Nomad, and Corpo paths which affect dialog options and side quests. While none of the paths are necessarily bad, the Corpo path is arguably the most satisfying for one main reason. It actually gives V a fully realized arc in one way or another.
Corpo V Starts Out As An Absolute Monster in Cyberpunk 2077
The Corpo world of Cyberpunk 2077 can best be described as late-stage capitalism that went to an extreme and otherwise natural conclusion. Corporations hold far more power than any government, life is cheap, and everyone in these companies is constantly trying to find an edge over one another. Murder, blackmail, and other methods that are morally abhorrent to an otherwise normal person are considered acceptable. This is the world that Corpo V was born into, making them a huge contrast to the majority of the supporting characters they meet throughout the main game.
In this origin, Jackie Wells is already an acquaintance of V, and the implication is that the two had worked together in the past. Their initial meeting highlights the contrast between a Corpo origin to that of the Street Kid, and Jackie almost seems desperate to get V out of that life. V appears somewhat conflicted about the work they have to do in the corporate world but will do what has to be done all the same. The character is soon cast out of that world when a planned hit on an Arasaka rival is stopped before it can begin. V is effectively cast down from their high tower and is forced to build back up, with player choices highlighting the character's personal growth or regression.
How the Corpo Lifepath Perfectly Complements Cyberpunk 2077's Endings For Better Or Worse
Cyberpunk 2077 has 6 separate ending options, but functionally the player makes the same life choice path that they did at the start. Once again it gives gamers the option to choose to go back with the corporations, stick with the street-level people, or ally themselves with the nomads who want to make V part of their family. It's the decision between these three that makes the ending far more satisfying with the Corpo path.
If players choose The Devil, it effectively has V choosing their old Corpo life. Any lessons the character might have learned about how evil they are ultimately amount to nothing in the face of the prestige, comfort, and power the lifestyle brought. The Sun ending effectively has V embrace the lifestyle that they were adopted into when Jackie took them in and realize their dream of becoming living legends. The Star ending has V leave Night City with the Aldecaldos, leaving all the corruption and heartache it brought behind in favor of a reliable family who will always have their back. All of these are made all the more satisfying by the Corpo version of V who was the absolute worse which shows the character growing one way or the other.
Ultimately there is no real right way to play the game. Cyberpunk 2077's Phantom Liberty DLC will also unlock a new ending that may or may not tie itself to the original life paths. At present, however, the Corpo path is one that offers a more complete feeling arc for V regardless of what ending players choose. It is for that main reason that the Corpo path is the most satisfying origin story in Cyberpunk 2077.
Cyberpunk 2077 is out now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.