To be fair to the setting, “scary 80s Pajan” is a core part of the 1980s conception of what Cyberpunk was, and this is an adaptation of a specific setting first created in the 1980s. I also don’t think the main plot does a good job of really getting the setting across at all, as it’s pretty laser-focused on V and Johnny. It’s laden with side content and lore that paints a much more fleshed-out picture of the world.

I will admit the plot is kinda meh. They made a serious error having V be an apolitical dickbag for the entire plot. He’s supposed to be just some average Night City low-life player stand-in, and it’s entirely appropriate that you eat shit and die going up against a giant corporation, but it means that V can’t properly engage with anything that Johnny is saying. Not like there are any factions to engage with anyway.

If nothing else, remember this: Yorinobu Arasaka did nothing wrong