[Rewrite] PlayStation 5 Review of Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector

Alright, here we go, diving into the mess of thoughts rolling around in my head about this game. It’s like, Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector—yeah, that’s a mouthful—is this wild cyberpunk adventure on the PS5, crafted by Guys-That-Brought-You Cool-Stuff-Before (aka Fellow Traveler and Jump Over The Age). It hooked me right from the start. You’re thrown in as a sleeper—think like a mind copied onto a robot bod. I mean, how sci-fi can you get, right? And you’re running from this Essen-Arp Corporation. The evil-sounding name totally fits, huh? Plus, there’s a gang too. Drama!

I remember playing some Citizen Sleeper on my Switch a while back. Not this one though, something else, but whatever—it was great. Rings in my ears like those old Saturday morning cartoons I ate cereal with. Anyway, back on track (or not). You don’t need to know much from the first game. It’s like watching a sequel where all the cool stuff happens again but different, especially since it’s set in this Helion System. Never heard of it? Didn’t think so. Just roll with it.

Choosing a class is a thing here. Want to be an Operator, Extractor, or Machinist? Sounds like picking careers—that always stressed me out. Each has these quirky special moves. I’m more of an Operator—I see drones and machines and think, “Yeah, I could pretend to be a hacker for a while.” But then there’s this whole ‘stress grows’ mechanic that feels too much like real life sometimes, you know?

Now, speaking of life, the difficulty levels—Safe, Risky, Dangerous—perfect metaphors for my life choices depending on the day of the week. Safe when I’m adulting correctly, Dangerous when I’m like, “Let’s try making dinner without any recipes. What could go wrong?”

Oh, and the story? Your choices totally skew the path, dice and stuff decide if you’re in luck or stuck. The dice rolling made me nostalgic for my D&D days. Sometimes, it messes with your stress levels and glitches your dice, so there’s always that “what happens if…” vibe. Very life imitates game.

Character upgrades, a bit RPG-esque, they’re crucial. Like planning your next moves IRL when everything’s going wild. Minor and Major Drives—a fancified way to say tasks with rewards. Anyway, I advance my skills by completing objectives, just like leveling up in life, I guess.

Trophies? Yep, you’ve got a full set to achieve, and they’re not just for show. It’s fun to collect them, a weird satisfaction—a digital applause from your console. It’s a thing for some people, okay?

And if you’re wondering about vibes, the game threw me back to Cowboy Bebop days. Spaceships, crews, space punches. Yet, this isn’t just a game, it’s a ticket to chaos-town with a side of strategy and existential pondering.

At a price, it’s pretty reasonable for what you get. Oh, and they have a bundle if you missed the first ride—you get a deal. Because who doesn’t love extra bang for their bucks?

Disclaimer bit: Fellow Traveler sent me a copy for PS5 to ramble about. Okay, did I cover everything? Probably not. But hey, now you know a little something. Or maybe not.