Gaming News•27.10.2026, 17:00•Push Square
Огляд серіалу: Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 — стильний сиквел про Найт-Сіті намагається наздогнати попередника
AI Summary
Вийшов другий сезон анімаційного серіалу Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, проте критики зазначають, що йому важко передати емоційну глибину попередника. Попри візуальну привабливість, серіал стикається з викликами при продовженні історії, яка була цілком завершеною після першого сезону.
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Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 doesn't really need to exist, but I'm ultimately glad that it does.
Season 1 told a perfectly self-contained story — complete with a brutally definitive ending — and so a follow-up was always going to seem somewhat unnecessary.
But instead of dragging out old characters and forcing the kind of depleted narrative arcs that direct sequels often stumble between, season 2 introduces a totally new cast, strung along a totally new plot. It's just another Night City story.
This was absolutely the right call, but comparisons rightfully remain; the new season still struggles to escape the shadow of its incredible predecessor.
Right off the bat, Edgerunners 2 obviously doesn't possess the freshness that made season 1 feel so electric. The art direction is still insane — it's somehow even more unhinged than ever before — but it's impossible to recreate the initial sense of style that propelled season 1. It's already been established.
And so season 2 comes off as an exercise in more, rather than an evolution or even a refinement. But that in itself is compelling; the Edgerunners blueprint is repeatable — just give us a bunch of new characters to fall in love with before tearing them away in the most violent series of events imaginable. Easy.
Fortunately, the personalities are on point from the first episode. Edgerunners 2 quickly casts a wider net than its predecessor, introducing a broad range of key characters who, at least initially, have very little to do with one another.
This is the second season's biggest sidestep. There isn't a clear focal point like David Martinez here; protagonist duties are shared across several distinct characters, each with their own motivations and perspectives.
And it's these unique perspectives that make the cast compelling. King is probably the strongest example of this — a big-shot merc who loses the cyberware that made him such a threat. Through him, we get to experience Night City from the viewpoint of someone who's physically incapable of living up to his own reputation.
In stark contrast is Talia, a chrome-obsessed teen who's only just starting to realise the potential of her borged-out body. And then there's D, a deeply troubled and talented netrunner, utterly stuck in a seemingly pathetic revenge rut.
The connective tissue between these wonderfully varied characters is a kid called Roman, who brings a weird sort of innocence to proceedings. Yet to be corrupted by the city, Roman tries to see the best — the humanity — in his friends.
The personalities end up bouncing off one another well, even if it means that season 2 spends a lot of its runtime actually establishing its fragmented cast. Indeed, the first four or five episodes can be a slow burn, but as narrative threads begin to join, the groundwork makes more and more sense.
However, because its storytelling jumps between characters so often, and because the overarching plot only truly begins to take shape in the later episodes, Edgerunners 2 never quite hits the emotional highs and lows of season 1. By design, it just doesn't have the same momentum.
There's an argument to be made that the second season is more of a character study than a typically structured tale — and that's certainly true of its first half or so. Having said that, I do think the way in which everything comes together is impressive; a total of ten episodes feels just right when all's said and done.
So while Edgerunners 2 lacks the overall impact and eventual tension of season 1, I reckon it'll age rather well, perceived as a more subtle (but still unapologetically chaotic) adaptation of the Cyberpunk universe.
It feels like one-upping its predecessor was never the intention. If anything, season 2 is like a companion piece; a follow-up that continues to explore Edgerunners' themes without pushing to be something greater.
And if you approach these episodes with that in mind, there's still a brilliantly manic time to be had here — just don't expect it to be as memorable a fever dream as season 1.
Have you watched Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2? What's your take on it? Have your own say in our poll, and then resist cyberpsychosis in the comments section below.
Season 1 told a perfectly self-contained story — complete with a brutally definitive ending — and so a follow-up was always going to seem somewhat unnecessary.
But instead of dragging out old characters and forcing the kind of depleted narrative arcs that direct sequels often stumble between, season 2 introduces a totally new cast, strung along a totally new plot. It's just another Night City story.
This was absolutely the right call, but comparisons rightfully remain; the new season still struggles to escape the shadow of its incredible predecessor.
Right off the bat, Edgerunners 2 obviously doesn't possess the freshness that made season 1 feel so electric. The art direction is still insane — it's somehow even more unhinged than ever before — but it's impossible to recreate the initial sense of style that propelled season 1. It's already been established.
And so season 2 comes off as an exercise in more, rather than an evolution or even a refinement. But that in itself is compelling; the Edgerunners blueprint is repeatable — just give us a bunch of new characters to fall in love with before tearing them away in the most violent series of events imaginable. Easy.
Fortunately, the personalities are on point from the first episode. Edgerunners 2 quickly casts a wider net than its predecessor, introducing a broad range of key characters who, at least initially, have very little to do with one another.
This is the second season's biggest sidestep. There isn't a clear focal point like David Martinez here; protagonist duties are shared across several distinct characters, each with their own motivations and perspectives.
And it's these unique perspectives that make the cast compelling. King is probably the strongest example of this — a big-shot merc who loses the cyberware that made him such a threat. Through him, we get to experience Night City from the viewpoint of someone who's physically incapable of living up to his own reputation.
In stark contrast is Talia, a chrome-obsessed teen who's only just starting to realise the potential of her borged-out body. And then there's D, a deeply troubled and talented netrunner, utterly stuck in a seemingly pathetic revenge rut.
The connective tissue between these wonderfully varied characters is a kid called Roman, who brings a weird sort of innocence to proceedings. Yet to be corrupted by the city, Roman tries to see the best — the humanity — in his friends.
The personalities end up bouncing off one another well, even if it means that season 2 spends a lot of its runtime actually establishing its fragmented cast. Indeed, the first four or five episodes can be a slow burn, but as narrative threads begin to join, the groundwork makes more and more sense.
However, because its storytelling jumps between characters so often, and because the overarching plot only truly begins to take shape in the later episodes, Edgerunners 2 never quite hits the emotional highs and lows of season 1. By design, it just doesn't have the same momentum.
There's an argument to be made that the second season is more of a character study than a typically structured tale — and that's certainly true of its first half or so. Having said that, I do think the way in which everything comes together is impressive; a total of ten episodes feels just right when all's said and done.
So while Edgerunners 2 lacks the overall impact and eventual tension of season 1, I reckon it'll age rather well, perceived as a more subtle (but still unapologetically chaotic) adaptation of the Cyberpunk universe.
It feels like one-upping its predecessor was never the intention. If anything, season 2 is like a companion piece; a follow-up that continues to explore Edgerunners' themes without pushing to be something greater.
And if you approach these episodes with that in mind, there's still a brilliantly manic time to be had here — just don't expect it to be as memorable a fever dream as season 1.
Have you watched Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2? What's your take on it? Have your own say in our poll, and then resist cyberpsychosis in the comments section below.