Easily mistaken for that other cyberpunk adventure launching in the tail-end of 2020, Cloudpunk actually shares more of its DNA with a AAA title from 2019. This is a story that explores what it’s like to be a postwoman of the future, so the premise hews closer to Death Stranding – although, without the foetal lifesacks. Cloudpunk launches today on Xbox One, PS4 and Switch.
Cloudpunk has already seen the light of day on PC, where reviews have been rather great. 94% of players have liked the game on Steam, which bodes well, and we’re eager to get our hands on it for a future review of the Xbox One edition.
For anyone who’s read Neuromancer, watched Blade Runner or played Deus Ex, there will be a lot to recognise in ION LANDS’ world. This is a rain-drenched cyberpunk dystopia. For anyone who’s watched Postman Pat, there will be a lot to recognise in the plot: it’s your first day on the job at a courier service, and – Transporter-like – you’ll be required to make your delivery without checking what’s in the package.
What fascinates is that this isn’t a far-future take on Paperboy or Crazy Taxi; rather than turn this into an arcade game against the clock, it’s a story-based exploration game. This means that everything is a little bit more authored, and there’s plenty of opportunities for the plot to spin wildly out of control. No doubt we will be eyeing the AI, robot and cyborg punters with suspicion as we take their entirely illegal packages on the road.
My my, it all looks gorgeous too. Sure, it’s derivative of all the games and films we’ve already mentioned (minus Postman Pat), but it’s rarely looked this good, with the rain, neon and monolithic structures combining to create some truly screenshottable environments. Premature congratulations go to the artists working on this title: it looks gorgeous.Â
Features include:
- Explore an immense vertical cyberpunk city with your hover car and on foot
- Unravel mysteries in a world of corporate conspiracy, hackers and rogue AI through the eyes of Rania
- Meet a diverse range of characters and immerse yourself in their everyday lives
- Your decisions will have a lasting impact on the inhabitants of Nivalis
- Discover hidden places and items unlocking additional stories
We’re planning to be first in line when this gets handed out for review. If you’re interested, Cloudpunk is out now on Xbox One and will set you back £15.99 (rising to £19.99 after the launch sale period has ended). It’s also out on PS4, Switch and PC via Steam.Â
Game Description:
A neon-noir story in a rain-drenched cyberpunk metropolis. It’s your first night on the job working for the Cloudpunk delivery service. Two rules: Don’t miss a delivery and don’t ask what’s in the package. Your name is Rania. This is your first night working for Cloudpunk, the semi-legal delivery company based in the sprawling city of Nivalis. You go everywhere, from the Marrow below to the spires that pierce the grey clouds high above before scraping the edge of the troposphere. No delivery job is too dangerous, and no one is faster than a Cloudpunk driver. In this story-based exploration game, you will meet a diverse range of characters including androids, AI and unscrupulous humans at every level of society. Everyone has a story, and in the course of one night in Nivalis, everything will change.
