Highlights
The Corpo lifepath in Cyberpunk 2077 offers a more satisfying origin story for V, with a fully realized character arc.
The Corpo world presents a stark contrast to the other lifepath choices, embracing late-stage capitalism and morally questionable practices that are deemed acceptable.
The player's selection among the Corpo, Street Kid, and Nomad paths significantly influences the outcomes, and opting for the Corpo path serves as a better complement to the endings, resulting in a more fulfilling conclusion.
Despite the initial botched release of Cyberpunk 2077, subsequent patches have enhanced the player experience, providing a more enjoyable adventure within Night City. With its plethora of paths to choose from, the game offers a seemingly limitless amount of content. However, among these options, one particular route stands out as the most satisfying.
Cyberpunk 2077 presents players with three distinct lifepaths that also serve as origin stories for the main character, V. These paths, namely Street Kid, Nomad, and Corpo, have significant impacts on dialogue choices and side quests. While all of the paths have their merits, the Corpo path proves to be the most fulfilling for one key reason: it allows for the development of V's character arc in a complete and meaningful manner.
Corpo V Starts Out As An Absolute Monster in Cyberpunk 2077
The Cyberpunk 2077 world of Corpo can be described as an extreme version of late-stage capitalism. Corporations hold immense power, life has little value, and employees constantly strive to outdo one another. Unethical tactics like murder and blackmail are deemed acceptable. This starkly contrasts with Corpo V, who was born into this world but stands apart from other characters in the game.
Jackie Wells, already acquainted with V in this origin story, seems eager to rescue V from the Corpo lifestyle, implying their past collaboration. Their initial meeting emphasizes the difference between a Corpo background and that of a Street Kid, with Jackie displaying a desperation to help V escape. While V may be conflicted about their involvement in the corporate world, they still carry out the necessary tasks. However, their expulsion from this world comes abruptly when a planned assassination of an Arasaka rival is foiled. V is figuratively knocked off their pedestal and must rebuild, with player choices guiding their personal growth or regression.
How the Corpo Lifepath Perfectly Complements Cyberpunk 2077's Endings For Better Or Worse
In Cyberpunk 2077, players have the option to choose from six different endings. However, no matter which ending is chosen, the player ultimately follows the same life path they started with. They can decide to align with the powerful corporations, remain loyal to the street-level individuals, or join the nomads who consider V as part of their family. The choice between these three paths greatly impacts the satisfaction of the ending, particularly with the Corpo option.
If players choose "The Devil," V essentially reverts back to their former Corpo lifestyle. Any realizations about their own wickedness become inconsequential when faced with the allure of prestige, comfort, and power that this lifestyle brings. On the other hand, the "Sun" ending sees V embracing the lifestyle they were adopted into when Jackie took them in, fulfilling their dream of becoming legendary figures. The "Star" ending involves V leaving Night City with the Aldecaldos, leaving behind all the corruption and heartache in favor of a dependable family who will always support them. All of these endings become even more satisfying when compared to the Corpo version of V, who represented the worst qualities of the character and showcases their growth in one way or another.
There is no definitive correct way to play the game. The Phantom Liberty DLC for Cyberpunk 2077 introduces a new ending that may or may not connect to the original life paths. Currently, the Corpo path stands out as it provides a more fulfilling character arc for V, regardless of the ending chosen. This is why the Corpo path is considered the most satisfying origin story in Cyberpunk 2077. The game is available for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.