Current Events > I keep wanting to like Cyberpunk but I cant

(+) Yeah! (+)

Like on paper the genre sounds like something Id enjoy

But almost every cyberpunk story is so bleak and grossly nihilistic in its world and culture that I cant enjoy it.

There are exceptions, but they dont tend to be pure cyberpunk. Shadowrun mixes in fantasy elements, and Ghost in the Shell is apparently post cyber punk which I only tenuously understand as cyberpunk, but for hipsters

Idk. Is there something wrong with me or have I just not found the right story lol
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Usually I agree and it sucks because the idea sounds cool. But Katana Zero is a good cyberpunk game with a good story imo.
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But the bleak, grossly nihilistic bits are the best bits
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Godnorgosh posted...

AlisLandale posted...

But almost every cyberpunk story is so bleak and grossly nihilistic in its world and culture that I cant enjoy it.

Art imitates life.

Lmao. Please talk to a professional ffs.
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AlisLandale posted...

But almost every cyberpunk story is so bleak and grossly nihilistic in its world and culture that I cant enjoy it.

There's a reason for this. You might want to look into it sometime.
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I went through a cyberpunk phase and all I have from it is vague memories of books that aren't precise enough to find them again.
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Banana_Cyanide posted...

AlisLandale posted...

But almost every cyberpunk story is so bleak and grossly nihilistic in its world and culture that I cant enjoy it.

There's a reason for this. You might want to look into it sometime.

I mean if I wanted to read about how corporations and governments were fucking over society and all the horrible ways late stage capitalism integrates with emergent technology, exerting disproportionate control over the masses that trickles down into a degenerate, miserable condition for lower class people I can just read the news

:P

But only sort of :P
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I'm no expert on cyberpunk, but I rather enjoyed Neuromancer.
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I made it halfway through Neuromancer. It was actually my first deliberate dip into the genre since most places cite it and Blade Runner as basically creating it.

It basically sums up my conflict lol. The writing and story is interesting, but seeing the way it all unfolds is pretty painful for me at times.

I should probably finish it though just to say I did.

I also tried to get into Snow Crash but after the first chapter I knew it wasnt going to be for me lol.
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AlisLandale posted...

I made it halfway through Neuromancer. It was actually my first deliberate dip into the genre since most places cite it and Blade Runner as basically creating it.

It basically sums up my conflict lol. The writing and story is interesting, but seeing the way it all unfolds is pretty painful for me at times.

I should probably finish it though just to say I did.

I also tried to get into Snow Crash but after the first chapter I knew it wasnt going to be for me lol.

That book has space Rastas. Space. Rastas. How is that not one the most awesome things you've ever read?
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My first experience with cyberpunk was an old DOS game called Circuit's Edge which then led me to the book When Gravity Fails and then I was hooked on the genre. Can't wait for CP2077.
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cyberpunk has the stereotypical atmosphere of a noir novel, but the new Cyberpunk 2077 game seems to not be that
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SSJKirby posted...

cyberpunk has the stereotypical atmosphere of a noir novel, but the new Cyberpunk 2077 game seems to not be that

I don't know if this is the case here because I haven't played that particular game, but it seems to me that a lot of what's currently being made is all Cyber and no Punk. there's a fascination with the gritty aesthetic and cool cyborg humans, but less in the way of social commentary
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averagejoel posted...

SSJKirby posted...

cyberpunk has the stereotypical atmosphere of a noir novel, but the new Cyberpunk 2077 game seems to not be that

I don't know if this is the case here because I haven't played that particular game, but it seems to me that a lot of what's currently being made is all Cyber and no Punk. there's a fascination with the gritty aesthetic and cool cyborg humans, but less in the way of social commentary

Hard to say what kind of social commentary can be made just based on the 45 minutes we've seen, but certain kinds of people have immediate access to ambulances that act almost like a SWAT team so that's something
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If you don't like the traditional cyberpunk setting you're essentially saying you don't respect women
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Have you seen the movie Hackers? Lol theres nothing bleak about it
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My first foray into cyberpunk is playing Shadowrun Returns.
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YookaLaylee posted...

Have you seen the movie Hackers? Lol theres nothing bleak about it

I just read a synopsis so I might be missing something, but it doesn't really seem like a cyberpunk story to me.

the synopsis doesn't make it seem like a hyper-capitalist dystopia, there's no mention of cybernetic implants, and the characters aren't really rebelling against the system
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AlisLandale posted...

But almost every cyberpunk story is so bleak and grossly nihilistic in its world and culture that I cant enjoy it.

It's kind of what defines the genre, along with cyborgs and stuff.
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averagejoel posted...

YookaLaylee posted...

Have you seen the movie Hackers? Lol theres nothing bleak about it

I just read a synopsis so I might be missing something, but it doesn't really seem like a cyberpunk story to me.

the synopsis doesn't make it seem like a hyper-capitalist dystopia, there's no mention of cybernetic implants, and the characters aren't really rebelling against the system

It doesnt need to be a dystopia to be cyberpunk. It doesnt need characters with cybernetic implants either. Those are common in cyberpunk stories, but that isnt what makes them cyberpunk. If theres a strong emphasis on technology and the characters rebel against a system hellbent on keeping them down then its cyberpunk. That movie has both of those elements. Its a very cheesy movie but its still enjoyable. You should also read the novel Little Brother by Cory Doctorow if you want another cyberpunk story thats not that bleak. Its set in modern times but its undeniabley cyberpunk and one of my favorite novels lol
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AlisLandale posted...

and Ghost in the Shell is apparently post cyber punk which I only tenuously understand as cyberpunk, but for hipsters

Cyberpunk is inherently about "corporatist apocalypse" type scenarios, so GitS would be post- in the sense that society has moved past this scenario.