Johnny Silverhand ruins the entire plot. A boring character that just tell lies.

[Leon96]

*fixed paragraph #1*
I'm writing this hoping CD Projekt red doesnt appeal to a famous (and overrated - not bad - but overrated) actor to play VOICE ACTING anymore (the face is amazing tho').

Cyberpunk 2077's Johnny Silverhand... who doesn't love a narcissistic, self-absorbed rocker who just can't stop spinning his tales of grandeur? It's almost as if the entire game was designed to revolve around his outlandish ego, leaving the actual plot to wither away in the background like a neglected houseplant.

From his constant ranting about the good ol' days to his insistence that he's the only one who can save the world, Johnny takes narcissism to a whole new level. It's almost comical how he sees himself as the messiah of Night City, even when all he does is disrupt the already shaky plot.

In a game that had so much potential, Johnny Silverhand stands as a stark reminder of how a single character's overbearing presence can overshadow everything else. His relentless ego and penchant for deceit ultimately undermine the game's storytelling, leaving players wondering if there was ever a coherent narrative to begin with. Thanks to Johnny, Cyberpunk 2077 becomes less of a cyberpunk masterpiece and more of a cautionary tale about the perils of letting one character steal the show, leaving a trail of broken plotlines in his wake that are much more interesting than his own.

To wrap it all up: it's a lying character that adds nothing to the plot since most of the things he tells is fake, breaking the story's immersion and showing the basic writing of Cyberpunk's central plot. It's like tolkien ended up lord of the rings with a "it was just a dream" line, making the ENTIRE PLOT lost it's meaning.

[EJR]

I agree and disagree. Personally I enjoy Johnny Silverhand's character to a certain degree; passionate and was willing to actually fight for a "better life," both to a fault as he was willing to do so violently. But considering the world of Cyberpunk, this is abnormal for Night City if not common (High risk for high reward, only to die young). From a narrative perspective, he was an interesting use for a plot device and I enjoyed the moments when the game let me play the flashbacks via his memories. IMO the concept of the Relic and Johnny being in your head is a great personal motivator for V - AKA the player - to do the MSQ and find a way to get it out.

That said, I also have my own issues with Johnny Silverhand's character, both directly and indirectly.

1.Again, from a narrative POV, I didn't like how he could actively appear and talk to you before disappearing for the next scene he appears in. I would have enjoyed the story more if it gradually showed Johnny consuming or influencing V's personality and behavior as you saw more of his memories. For example, after the failed heist when Johnny asks where you placed your stash of smokes V responds that s/he doesn't have any only to be met with Johnny telling him/her to go get some. Notice how later in the story, after dealing with the Voodoo Boys, V takes out a cig and smokes while talking to Johnny. This is brilliant. It shows that Johnny isn't taking over V's body like a form of spiritual possession, he is slowly overwriting all of V's personal behaviors. It is a shame they did not just forgo the Mr. Hyde-Dr. Jekyll route completely and do the gradual overwrite process instead, such as showing it through dialogue after going through enough memories.

2. As for Johnny Silverhand himself, I felt like Keanu wasn't really into it when voicing lines. The only times I felt Keanu, and ultimately Johnny, was an actual and real character was during the flashbacks; that's probably why I like going through his memories so much. I thought it was because Keanu was just not a good VA, but after watching the Matrix again I have to assume he simply plays as a stoic, and sometimes monotone, character all the time. I might be wrong of course, the Matrix and 74 Ronin were the only films I recall seeing with him in it.

3. This reason isn't related to Johnny but to Keanu himself: I am convinced that CDPR had a different story in mind way different to the one we have in-game. Considering the delays they had and how Keanu became involved before release, I believe that the execs forced CDPR to change the story and center it around Johnny because, "celebrity guest, it makes us money!" Like I said, I enjoyed what we got, I just feel like it was forced.

If I had to rate Johnny Silverhand, I'd give him a 7/10 at best, but I wouldn't exactly say he ruined the entire plot.

[☻]

The way I see it. Keanu isn't acting, he is playing himself so it's hard to criticize his voice acting because he isn't acting that is Just how he actually sounds. You might not like the character and what he has to say but that is by design. People come off as cringy all day every day in the real world. Just look at random you-tubers trying to use the latest slang and verbal trends. If you were handed a script and told to act like yourself but play the role of an edgelord punkrocker that was crazy enough to nuke a skyscraper then you would probably sound pretty dumb right? I wouldn't even blame it on the script or the story, people come off like that in the real world all the time.

They could write a character that artfully portrays the character type with less cringe but then they would have to tell Keanu to play someone that comes off less silly than himself in such a situation. They modeled the character after him and told him to be keanu reeves. Is he not corny in John wick as well? I think so. Of course Wick is also an odd mixture of edgy and comedy so once again he fits the bill by being himself. I can see why people would prefer they stuck closer to the image and personality of Silverhand from the tabletop but thats not what they chose to do and interpretations of table top characters change from person to person.

I guess what I'm saying is if you don't like his character or the way he sounds that is fine but it was meant to be that way in the video game version. They can't satisfy everyone. I would say the voice acting in general is much better than most games I've seen this year. In fact, it blows them all away. Not liking CD Projects decision to turn silverhand into Keanu is understandable but his look and vocal performance are by design. Nobody can play Keanu better than Keanu because he doesn't need to act in order to be himself.

[Leon96]

Originally posted by Redstar964:

Kenu sounds like he is bored of his own voice the entire time. He can not voice act.

i agree. i love the actor and he is such a good person, but Jesus Christ, his character doesn't fit johnny's writing.
his face fits perfectly tho'.

[Rei Johannes]

I hate Johnny. He kinda ruins the game and the mood.

[Redstar9645]

Originally posted by Sam:

Originally posted by Leon96:

i agree. i love the actor and he is such a good person, but Jesus Christ, his character doesn't fit johnny's writing.
his face fits perfectly tho'.

hard disagree, he sounds like someone who has been through so much crap, his personality has become desensitized to everything, and all thats left is a bitter and sarcastic burned out rock star who sees the world for what it is.

Cept there are far better voice actors is my point, they paid all this money for him and his performance sucks. There are probably more than 50 male voice actors who could do the exact thing you are describing but way better and half the cost as well. Maybe all that money should have gone to the game.

[AdorableSparrow]

when it comes to cyberpunk the meant to be RPG, it failed alot in story and characters with the most interesting part being the start of the game, and the lack of being able to make your own path, u have drive to be someone in night city but why there is no actual opening to this
no matter what start you pick its shallow and meaningless you can't do anything in the path you pick at all, the game is restrictive and pointless in alot of areas like why Johnny Silverhand attacks the corps no proper answer just some anarchist they made him strange too all over the place in personality just pains me this game and i hate being forced to take a path i hate like with Evelyn Parker. hell starfield has more choice and freedom compared to cyberpunk.

[a sentient mcnugget]

Johnny Silverhand was a great character.
I just wish they had given Jackie a bigger role in the game because he was great too.

[AdorableSparrow]

Originally posted by put dispenser here:

Johnny Silverhand was a great character.
I just wish they had given Jackie a bigger role in the game because he was great too.

he was good in parts but yeah. and yeah i would of liked more Jackie he could of been a companion.

[Leon96]

Originally posted by Voodoojedizin:

I don't think you guys followed the silverhand story very well because if you did you would have noticed that he changes throughout the game and becomes less of a **** hole and actually starts to care about V. Another indication you're not paying attention is the fact that silverhands was forced into V and he has just as hard a time dealing with it as V does.

As for Jackie if he would have been a companion I would have uninstalled and deleted the game I couldn't stand the SOB He was incapable of doing anything on his own and was obviously using V. Him dying was the highlight of the whole heist, I just wanted to throw him in a dumpster.

the problem is the fact that JS is a delusional character. most of his memories are fake so it doesnt matter what he thinks in the end.

that and keanu's performance.

wish jackie had became a villain of some sorts.
it would be cool as well.
just like a Dutch from RDR2.

[TMAC Blade]

Originally posted by Leon96:

*fixed paragraph #1*
I'm writing this hoping CD Projekt red doesnt appeal to a famous (and overrated - not bad - but overrated) actor to play VOICE ACTING anymore (the face is amazing tho').

Cyberpunk 2077's Johnny Silverhand... who doesn't love a narcissistic, self-absorbed rocker who just can't stop spinning his tales of grandeur? It's almost as if the entire game was designed to revolve around his outlandish ego, leaving the actual plot to wither away in the background like a neglected houseplant.

From his constant ranting about the good ol' days to his insistence that he's the only one who can save the world, Johnny takes narcissism to a whole new level. It's almost comical how he sees himself as the messiah of Night City, even when all he does is disrupt the already shaky plot.

In a game that had so much potential, Johnny Silverhand stands as a stark reminder of how a single character's overbearing presence can overshadow everything else. His relentless ego and penchant for deceit ultimately undermine the game's storytelling, leaving players wondering if there was ever a coherent narrative to begin with. Thanks to Johnny, Cyberpunk 2077 becomes less of a cyberpunk masterpiece and more of a cautionary tale about the perils of letting one character steal the show, leaving a trail of broken plotlines in his wake that are much more interesting than his own.

To wrap it all up: it's a lying character that adds nothing to the plot since most of the things he tells is fake, breaking the story's immersion and showing the basic writing of Cyberpunk's central plot. It's like tolkien ended up lord of the rings with a "it was just a dream" line, making the ENTIRE PLOT lost it's meaning.

If you read the books or played the table role playing game you would figure out Johnny was a significant part of the story there. It makes sense to involve him albeit a not so accurate version as the version in the books and the table top game show him as far worse and bigger ass than he is in 2077. Possible explanation for this and one that appears to be the case is his memories were fiddled with as an engram and as a result he doesn't remember everything as they happened. In the books and table top it was Morgan Blackhand who fought Adam Smasher on the roof of Arasaka not Johnny which indicates everything Silverhand says in 2077 are lies implanted in his mind as an engram by Arasaka or perhaps the engram process messed with his memories. What I'm saying is he is an important part of Cyberpunk however his character has been brought down several notches.

[Leon96]

Originally posted by TMAC Blade:

Originally posted by Leon96:

*fixed paragraph #1*
I'm writing this hoping CD Projekt red doesnt appeal to a famous (and overrated - not bad - but overrated) actor to play VOICE ACTING anymore (the face is amazing tho').

Cyberpunk 2077's Johnny Silverhand... who doesn't love a narcissistic, self-absorbed rocker who just can't stop spinning his tales of grandeur? It's almost as if the entire game was designed to revolve around his outlandish ego, leaving the actual plot to wither away in the background like a neglected houseplant.

From his constant ranting about the good ol' days to his insistence that he's the only one who can save the world, Johnny takes narcissism to a whole new level. It's almost comical how he sees himself as the messiah of Night City, even when all he does is disrupt the already shaky plot.

In a game that had so much potential, Johnny Silverhand stands as a stark reminder of how a single character's overbearing presence can overshadow everything else. His relentless ego and penchant for deceit ultimately undermine the game's storytelling, leaving players wondering if there was ever a coherent narrative to begin with. Thanks to Johnny, Cyberpunk 2077 becomes less of a cyberpunk masterpiece and more of a cautionary tale about the perils of letting one character steal the show, leaving a trail of broken plotlines in his wake that are much more interesting than his own.

To wrap it all up: it's a lying character that adds nothing to the plot since most of the things he tells is fake, breaking the story's immersion and showing the basic writing of Cyberpunk's central plot. It's like tolkien ended up lord of the rings with a "it was just a dream" line, making the ENTIRE PLOT lost it's meaning.

If you read the books or played the table role playing game you would figure out Johnny was a significant part of the story there. It makes sense to involve him albeit a not so accurate version as the version in the books and the table top game show him as far worse and bigger ass than he is in 2077. Possible explanation for this and one that appears to be the case is his memories were fiddled with as an engram and as a result he doesn't remember everything as they happened. In the books and table top it was Morgan Blackhand who fought Adam Smasher on the roof of Arasaka not Johnny which indicates everything Silverhand says in 2077 are lies implanted in his mind as an engram by Arasaka or perhaps the engram process messed with his memories. What I'm saying is he is an important part of Cyberpunk however his character has been brought down several notches.

it seems much more interesting. i'm not into fiction books but i can imagine how much they had to cut from him. unfortunately in the game he looks like a revolted teenager with power just like the kid liquid snake on metal gear solid V.
an annoying character even though he is important. if johnny was a kid that would make more sense for him to behave like that. this whole "rock singer against the world" is a teenage feeling. adults don't really act like that in reall life. it feels off.

[Triplenator🔻]

It should't be a famous person IRL, not excited for Idriss as well. Im playing games to not see these people.

[V Knives]

"The primary story character other than the player ruins the story"
lol
I like him, he's cool.

[Okihara Jones]

Originally posted by Leon96:

who doesn't love a narcissistic, self-absorbed rocker

odd coincidence, this is exactly why I read these forum opinions

[sfebtyler]

Horrible human being and horrible character are not synonymous.