Cyberpunk 2077 is going to dominate headlines this week as reviewers give their takes, and players dive in and uncover all the secrets of Night City. Reviews of Cyberpunk 2077 are trickling in as the embargo has lifted, with the game receiving high marks from most outlets. With so much to explore in game, there are plenty of things to discuss, but an interesting cameo from Metal Gear creator, Hideo Kojima, is making the rounds.
While Kojima is best known for his Metal Gear franchise, the auteur has enjoyed a great deal of recent success with Death Stranding, the post-apocalyptic adventure starring Norman Reedus. That game really struck a chord with fans, with rumors of a Death Stranding sequel generating buzz. Kojima has built a following over the years, fans who love the director's convoluted plots and cinematic style, making him a pop culture icon. As such, Kojima tends to pop up in unusual places.
Cyberpunk's Night City is filled with interesting characters, like Keanu Reeves' Johnny Silverhand, but if fans are looking for the Kojima, they can find him early on in the game, in a hotel bar. When players first visit Konpeki Plaza, in the lead up to the mission "The Heist," the player's partner, Jackie, wants to check in to a hotel room immediately, but if players decide to explore a bit before retiring to the room, they can find the Metal Gear creator.
From the lobby of the hotel, players need to head towards the back of the building to find the restaurant & bar. Towards the back of the establishment, Kojima sits at a booth with a few fans. The in-game character goes by the name Oshima (a clever pun on Kojima's name - kojima meaning "small island" and oshima meaning "big island" in Japanese). Oshima is listening to movie pitches, something the real world Kojima can relate to, and has a bit more dialogue explaining why he exists in Cyberpunk's world.
Cyberpunk 2077 is filled with these little moments, easter eggs, and cameos blending all kinds of pop culture references into its world. 90s anime Sailor Moon even gets a nod in the game. Including referential points like this help connect players to this world, making it feel real, despite it being a purely fictional creation.
Kojima seems to fit right in to the hustle and bustle of Cyberpunk 2077's Night City. One of the most stylistic visionaries of the medium appearing in one of the most ambitious and atmospheric games of the year just makes sense.
Cyberpunk 2077 will be released December 10th on PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
Source: Game Informer