It's 2076, the age of a dystopian future. Governments are no longer in charge; private corporations make all decisions for fragmented societies. They compete against each other for dominance over people by any means possible.
People in society are attempting to survive by any means, including committing crimes, acting as pawns for corporations, being constantly threatened by organised violence, and becoming obsessed with cybernetic implants to gain an advantage in combat. This futuristic capitalist nightmare is the basis of Cyberpunk Edgerunners, the spin-off anime set in the same universe as the most popular game in 2020: Cyberpunk 2077.
The anime's story starts just a year before the original game's story starts. The protagonist is David Martinez, a delinquent living in the corporate-dominated Night City with his mother, Gloria.
Gloria works hard night and day to provide for the family and give David a fighting chance in the city by enrolling him in the elite school, Arasaka Academy, where David is constantly bullied for his plebeian background. However, David's world is turned upside down when his mother dies, getting caught in a gang shootout and forced to pay off her debts.
After a series of events, David earns his way from being a youth delinquent to one of the famed mercenary groups of the Night City, the Edgerunners. He is a symbol of youth rebellion in this anime. He looks forward to becoming a legend of Night City and putting his name in the history books for eternity.
But as cruel as the city is, David has to face rival gangs, powerful corporations like Arasaka and Militech, and betrayals from his own allies.
Moreover, as the newly inserted cybernetic implants corrupt his mind and lead to cyber psychosis, his days are also numbered. Can David write his name in history before his demise? This anime has the answer.
The show consists of 10 episodes of no more than 26 minutes. This sci-fi anime has no shortage of retro visual influence from the '90s anime, blood splatters, and adrenaline-pumped actions. Every episode is captivating and satisfies the needs of an action-loving audience.
The final battle between David and Cyberpunk 2077 's Adam Smasher is the show's most action-packed and poignant scenario.
The original game was heavily criticised for the plethora of bugs it contained. Still, Cyberpunk Edgerunners has no bugs, even surpasses every expectation and can incite the urge of gamers to play the game once again.
The only criticism of the show is rushing the story. Creator Trigger Studio tried to include every character's story in only 10 episodes, which led to poor character development and made it hard for the audience to grow fond of them. But, apart from that, Cyberpunk Edgerunners is a chef's kiss; it perfectly portrays the essence of the futuristic Cyberpunk universe and is a must-watch for anime and video game fans alike.
