History Awesome / CyberpunkEdgerunners

* The first thing David does with his newly installed Sandevistan? Beating up the student who'd been bullying him non-stop, going so far as to beat David up while badmouthing his mother, first by casually walking up to him in class and ''kicking him'' out of his seat.

[[caption-width-right:350:[[Film/{{Friday}} You got knocked the fuck out!]]]]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/david_punches_tanaka.png]]

[[caption-width-right:350:[[Film/{{Friday}} You got knocked the fugg out!]]]]

** By extension, this make's V's solo defeat of Smasher during the "[[OneManArmy (Don't) Fear the Reaper]]" ending ''that'' much more awesome. Adam Smasher is by all intents and purposes Arasaka's ''[[TheJuggernaut juggernaut]]'', the weapon they deploy when the GodzillaThreshold has been passed and it's time to simply cut their losses and LeaveNoSurvivors. For most Edgerunners, Smasher is nigh ''unstoppable'', and the prospect of surviving his wrath, let alone ''killing'' the borg psycho, is an idea bordering on insanity. And V, all the while ''slowly dying'' due to the Relic malfunction, not only slaughters their way through a building full of Arasaka goons while spitting up blood, but ''also'' ultimately takes down ''Adam Smasher himself.'' '''''Alone.''''' It's no wonder that the battle has the prospect of catapulting V into Night City legend practically overnight.
* A meta example: the fact that Edgerunners itself was such a massive hit that it gave ''VideoGame/Cyberpunk2077'' a just as massive second wind (to the point where it helped make ''Cyberpunk 2077'' CD Projekt Red's most played game ever at one point, besting out '''''VideoGame/TheWitcher3''''' for that mark) after controversies surrounding its initial release stopped its high momentum years earlier makes it awesome for the strength of the anime's quality at hand, regardless of it being a spinoff story.
* Another meta example: thanks to how the series reimagined the context for the song as a LoveTheme for David and Lucy, "I Really Want to Stay at Your House" has broken through the mainstream charts. In addition to topping [[https://www.reddit.com/r/cyberpunkgame/comments/xrfn32/i_really_want_to_stay_at_your_house_is_1_on/ Spotify's Global Viral Songs chart]], the song has gone on to reach [[https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20220930/7501/ #68 on UK's Official Singles Chart,]] [[https://www.billboard.com/charts/canadian-hot-100/2022-10-12/ #79 in the Canadian Hot 100,]] and #86 in Australia's ARIA charts. This level of success the song is enjoying since the series' release is unheard-of, especially when one considers how anime in general is traditionally seen as a niche genre in the Western markets.

* Another meta example: thanks to how the series reimagined the context for the song as a LoveTheme for David and Lucy, "I Really Want to Stay at Your House" has broken through the mainstream charts. In addition to topping [[https://www.reddit.com/r/cyberpunkgame/comments/xrfn32/i_really_want_to_stay_at_your_house_is_1_on/ Spotify's Global Viral Songs chart]], the song has gone on to reach [[https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20220930/7501/ #68 on UK's Official Singles Chart,]] [[https://www.billboard.com/charts/canadian-hot-100/2022-10-08/ #81 in the Canadian Hot 100,]] and #86 in Australia's ARIA charts. This level of success the song is enjoying since the series' release is unheard-of, especially when one considers how anime in general is traditionally seen as a niche genre in the Western markets.

* Another meta example: thanks to how the series reimagined the context for the song as a LoveTheme for David and Lucy, "I Really Want to Stay at Your House" has broken through the mainstream charts. In addition to topping [[https://www.reddit.com/r/cyberpunkgame/comments/xrfn32/i_really_want_to_stay_at_your_house_is_1_on/ Spotify's Global Viral Songs chart]], the song has gone on to reach [[https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20220930/7501/ #68 on UK's Official Singles Chart,]] [[https://www.billboard.com/charts/canadian-hot-100/2022-10-08/ #81 in the Canadian Hot 100,]] and #86 in Australia's ARIA charts. This level of success the song is enjoying since the series' release is unheard-of, especially when one considers how anime in general traditionally tends to be more of a niche genre in the Western markets.

* A meta example: the fact that Edgerunners itself was such a massive hit that it gave ''VideoGame/Cyberpunk2077'' a just as massive second wind (to the point where it helped make ''Cyberpunk 2077'' CD Projekt Red's most played game ever at one point, besting out '''VideoGame/TheWitcher3''' for that mark) after controversies surrounding its initial release stopped its high momentum years earlier makes it awesome for the strength of the anime's quality at hand, regardless of it being a spinoff story.

* Another meta example: thanks to how the series reimagined the context for the song as a LoveTheme for David and Lucy, "I Really Want to Stay at Your House" has broke through the mainstream charts. In addition to topping [[https://www.reddit.com/r/cyberpunkgame/comments/xrfn32/i_really_want_to_stay_at_your_house_is_1_on/ Spotify's Global Viral Songs chart]], the song has gone on to reach [[https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20220930/7501/ #68 on UK's Official Singles Chart,]] [[https://www.billboard.com/charts/canadian-hot-100/2022-10-08/ #81 in the Canadian Hot 100,]] and #86 in Australia's ARIA charts. This level of success the song is enjoying since the series' release is unheard-of, especially when one considers how anime in general traditionally tends to be more of a niche genre in the Western markets.

* Another meta example: thanks to how the series reimagined the context for the song as a LoveTheme for David and Lucy, "I Really Want to Stay at Your House" has broke through the mainstream charts. In addition to topping [[https://www.reddit.com/r/cyberpunkgame/comments/xrfn32/i_really_want_to_stay_at_your_house_is_1_on/ Spotify's Global Viral Songs chart]], the song has gone on to reach [[https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20220930/7501/ #68 on UK's Official Singles Chart]], [[https://www.billboard.com/charts/canadian-hot-100/2022-10-08/ #81 in the Canadian Hot 100]], and #86 in Australia's ARIA charts. This level of success the song is enjoying since the series' release is unheard-of, especially when one considers how anime in general traditionally tends to be more of a niche genre in the Western markets.

* For one last meta example in mind, the fact that Edgerunners itself was such a massive hit that it gave VideoGame/Cyberpunk2077 a just as massive second wind (to the point where it helped make Cyberpunk 2077 CD Projekt Red's most played game ever at one point, besting out '''VideoGame/TheWitcher3''' for that mark) after controversies surrounding its initial release stopped its high momentum years earlier makes it awesome for the strength of the anime's quality at hand, regardless of it being a spinoff story.

** By extension, this make's V's defeating Smasher during the "[[OneManArmy (Don't) Fear the Reaper]]" ending ''that'' much more awesome. Adam Smasher is by all intents and purposes Arasaka's ''[[TheJuggernaut juggernaut]]'', the weapon they deploy when the GodzillaThreshold has been passed and it's time to simply cut their losses and LeaveNoSurvivors. For most Edgerunners, Smasher is nigh ''unstoppable'', and the prospect of surviving his wrath, let alone ''killing'' the borg psycho, is an idea bordering on insanity. And V, all the while ''slowly dying'' due to the Relic malfunction, not only slaughters their way through a building full of Arasaka goons while spitting up blood, but ''also'' ultimately takes down ''Adam Smasher himself.'' '''''Alone.''''' It's no wonder that the battle has the prospect of catapulting V into Night City legend practically overnight.

** By extension, this make's V's defeating Smasher during the "[[OneManArmy (Don't) Fear the Reaper]]" ending ''that'' much more awesome. Adam Smasher is by all intents and purposes Arasaka's ''[[TheJuggernaut juggernaut]]'', the weapon they deploy when the GodzillaThreshold has been passed and it's time to simply cut their losses and LeaveNoSurvivors. For most Edgerunners, Smasher is nigh ''unstoppable'', and the prospect of surviving his wrath, let alone ''killing'' the borg psycho, is an idea bordering on insanity. And V, all the while ''slowly dying'' due to the Relic malfunction, not only slaughters their way through a building full of Arasaka goons while spitting up blood, but ''also'' ultimately takes down ''Adam Smasher himself.'' '''''Alone.''''' It's no wonder that the battle has the prospect of catapulting V into Night City legend practically overnight.

** By extension, this make's V's defeating Smasher during the "[[OneManArmy (Don't) Fear the Reaper]]" ending ''that'' much more awesome. Adam Smasher is by all intents and purposes Arasaka's ''[[TheJuggernaut juggernaut]]'', the weapon they deploy when the GodzillaThreshold has been passed and it's time to simply cut their losses and LeaveNoSurvivors. For most Edgerunners, Smasher is nigh ''unstoppable'', and the prospect of surviving his wrath, let alone ''killing'' the borg psycho, is an idea bordering on insanity. And V, all the while ''slowly dying'' due to the Relic malfunction, not only takes on a building full of Arasaka goons while spitting up blood, but ''also'' takes down ''Adam Smasher himself.'' It's no wonder that the battle has the prospect of catapulting V into Night City legend practically overnight.

* From a villainous perspective: '''[[TheDreaded Adam Smasher]]''', having prior been portrayed as an AntiClimaxBoss in the game's finale, is in full form here and is quick to properly introduce ''why'' he's the WorldsStrongestMan as he squares up David after he attacks Arasaka's headquarters. [[AnyoneCanDie Horrific and tragic as it is]], his whole showing in the finale really presents him in the same light of Darth Vader appearing at the end of ''Film/RogueOne'' as there isn't [[HopelessBossFight a chance for anyone to do anything meaningful]] to the guy, even Lucy (who ''has'' the best chance by going for his AchillesHeel by hacking him) is {{No Sell}}ed [[DuelingHackers and nearly fried herself]] for the attempt despite formerly being [[ChildSoldier one of the most gifted Arasaka netrunners]], and by end, all anyone can do is jump ship and get as far away as humanly possible from him before he has a chance to kill them too.

* David's HeroicSacrifice—despite having no chance in trying to legitimately square up with Adam Smasher in [[HeroicRRoD his state]]—is nonetheless ballsy as hell to send [[TheDreaded Adam Smasher]] past his RageBreakingPoint to allow Lucy and Falco to escape the bloodbath by having him go to town on David instead. Even though it was an absolutely ''brutal'' [[CurbstompBattle stomp]] on David, he doesn't care as he's beaten to death as, in his own eyes, David already ''[[DeterminedDefeatist won]]'' and fulfilled everything he set out to accomplish at that moment, including allowing Lucy to fulfill her dream of escaping to the Moon, and Adam Smasher killing him accomplishes absolutely nothing. Even [[VillainRespect Adam Smasher acknowledges this]] before his CoupDeGrace, recognizing he's had fun with killing the kid despite earlier attesting it wouldn't be thrilling beforehand just because of how ballsy it was.

* David's HeroicSacrifice—despite having no chance in trying to legitimately square up with Adam Smasher in [[HeroicRRoD his state]]—is nonetheless ballsy as hell to send [[TheDreaded Adam Smasher]] past his RageBreakingPoint to allow Lucy and Falco to escape the bloodbath by having him go to town on David instead. Even though it was an absolutely ''brutal'' [[CurbstompBattle stomp]] on David, he doesn't care as he's beaten to death as, in his own eyes, David already ''[[DeterminedDefeatist won]]'' and fulfilled everything he set out to accomplish at that moment, including allowing Lucy to fulfill her dream of escaping to the Moon, and Adam Smasher killing him accomplishes absolutely nothing. Even [[VillainRespect Adam Smasher acknowledges this]] before his CoupDeGrace, recognizing he's had fun with killing the kid despite earlier attesting it wouldn't be thrilling beforehand just because of how ballsy it was.

* David's HeroicSacrifice—despite having no chance in trying to legitimately square up with Adam Smasher in [[HeroicRRoD his state]]—is nonetheless ballsy as hell to send [[TheDreaded Adam Smasher]] past his RageBreakingPoint to allow Lucy and Falco to escape the bloodbath by having him go to town on David instead. Even though it was an absolutely ''brutal'' [[CurbstompBattle stomp]] on David, he doesn't care as he's beaten to death as, in his own eyes, David already ''[[DeterminedDefeatist won]]'' and fulfilled everything he set out to accomplish at that moment, including allowing Lucy to fulfill her dream of escaping to the Moon, and Adam Smasher killing him accomplishes absolutely nothing. Even [[VillainRespectAdam Smasher acknowledges this]] before his CoupDeGrace, recognizing he's had fun with killing the kid despite earlier attesting it wouldn't be thrilling beforehand just because of how ballsy it was.

--> '''Rebecca''': We’re having a moment here! [[DefiantToTheEnd FUCK YOU!]]

** Which, in turn, puts Adam Smasher's complete squash of him in its own jaw-dropping context. One [=MaxTac=] team can completely shut out a cyberpsycho, even with military-grade cyberware. David was able to rip through three of them, and Smasher ''still'' absolutely curbstomped David.

** The 1.6 update for ''VideoGame/Cyberpunk2077'' reveals that David eventually had a drink order named for him at the Afterlife, an honor given exclusively to edgerunners that [[DyingMomentOfAwesome went out in a blaze of glory]].

** The 1.6 update for ''VideoGame/Cyberpunk2077'' reveals that David eventually had a drink named for him at the Afterlife, an honor given exclusively to edgerunners that [[DyingMomentOfAwesome went out in a blaze of glory]].