Two Mercs Walk Into A Den Of Scavs

"The Rescue" Mission. Picture from Cyberpunk 2077, CD Projekt Red.

So this is it—my first time writing a blog post for our podcast, and fittingly, it’s about Cyberpunk 2077’s first proper gig: The Rescue. If you're new here, Liz and I are breaking down this game piece by piece, and in this episode, we dive headfirst into the mission that sets the tone for the whole damn game.

Sandra Dorsett’s rescue is brutal, chaotic, and soaked in the dystopia that defines Night City. From the second you and Jackie roll out of that garage, the game makes it clear: you’re in a world where clean lines and dirty deeds coexist.

We talked a lot about censorship in this episode—nudity, post-launch ad edits, and the double standards that came with it. As a dude who’s seen his fair share, I couldn’t help but notice how the game walked back some of its more honest portrayals. Nudity was there at launch; then, suddenly, male characters were censored in weird ways. It raised questions about what we’re “allowed” to see in games versus what we’re used to seeing—and who that decision serves.

From there, we got into the deets of The Rescue. You get your training shard, run a short combat sim with T-Bug, and then it’s off to your first merc job—diving into a Scav den to save a VIP. And let me say: Scavs are nightmare fuel. No nuance. No grey area. It’s just pure evil wrapped in chrome and gore.

I also got into the way Jackie’s character comes into focus here. He’s your ride-or-die, funny one minute, all business the next. You really feel the camaraderie, and that makes his presence throughout the mission feel grounded—even when you’re dodging bullets and hacking doors.

Oh, and Trauma Team? Terrifying. Paramedics with weapons are showing up like a military strike force. That was my “oh, this ain’t just a game” moment. This world is harsh, unforgiving, and always watching.

We wrapped up by settling into V’s apartment—an oasis of noise and neon—and that’s where the wheels start to come off. Night City’s got a way of grabbing hold and not letting go.

Next episode: we wake up and see what’s next. Things only get darker from here.