Review: Cyberpunk Edgerunners 2 is a masterful follow-up that easily lives up to the extremely high bar set by Season 1. Animation is 10/10, the story is amazing, and the new cast perfectly represents what Night City should be. All of it is backed by an incredible soundtrack composed by Tsuneo Imahori. This is not a rehash of Season 1. Season 2 feels different, yet somehow familiar. It tells a more personal story that deals with themes of revenge, loss, generational trauma, and the heavy toll it can cost you. There are no love stories this time around - just the cold, brutal reality of Night City. While the narrative takes center stage, there are still plenty of hype moments and big action set pieces. Everything is done with the exact same level of quality as the original, and the pacing is flawless from start to finish. The new cast perfectly mirrors Cyberpunk 2077's lifepaths: • D is a Nomad seeking revenge on Arasaka for massacring his clan. • Talia comes from a Corpo background, carrying the physical and mental weight of a heavily modified body. • Roman & Kingsley are both Street Kids taking on grimy jobs for cash, each representing a different generation. These characters are not what I expected. The chaos is grounded by Roman, who acts as the observer, documenting everything through an old school video camera. Roman is the sole voice of reason on the show, and his relationship with D serves as the backbone of the season. They become acquainted by pure chance early on - but of course, things quickly start to go left. The VHS aesthetic plays a huge part in the cinematic direction of the season. Studio Trigger uses VHS filters and scanlines brilliantly, flipping between video recordings and the raw, unfiltered perspective from behind the screen. The entire thing feels much more cinematic, blending 90s anime influences and a variety of different art styles that somehow all still work perfectly together. Rogue AI and cyberpsychosis hang over the entire season. Edgerunners 2 explores the lasting effects of going psycho, and what happens when a giant megacorp experiments with things they can't control. Of course, it wouldn't be Edgerunners without some absolutely crushing moments. Plans fall apart, people are betrayed, and there are some genuinely tragic backstories. Each character deals with their trauma differently - but unlike Season 1, it ends on a slightly more hopeful note that perfectly encapsulates the season's core themes. For fans of the game, there are PLENTY of references to Cyberpunk 2077. I lost count of the amount of locations and easter eggs I recognized. There are entire neighborhoods that I vividly remember exploring in-game, and it's all translates beautifully to animation. Edgerunners remains one of the best video game adaptations of all time. As for connections to Season 1... you'll just have to watch! Cyberpunk Edgerunners 2 is easily one of the best animated series I've seen since the 2022 original. Studio Trigger delivered yet again with next level production value, soundtrack, and animation. It expands on Mike Pondsmith's universe beautifully, with zero drop-off in quality, and a new story that enhances the already excellent worldbuilding. If you're a fan of the game, or the first season, this is an absolute must watch. It explores the effects of body modification, generational trauma, and how a giant megacorp like Arasaka can destroy countless lives. Better yet, Edgerunners 2 leaves the door wide open for future seasons - and maybe even Cyberpunk 2. Final Score: 9.5/10 Release Date: Oct. 20th @ midnight (@Netflix) Thanks to @CDPROJEKTRED for providing review access.