No Law Developers Were Aware That it Would Draw Comparisons With Cyberpunk 2077

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Neon Giant recently revealed their new RPG, No Law, and it shares some visual similarities with Cyberpunk 2077. The studio anticipated these comparisons. In a recent IGN interview, creative directors Tor Frick and Arcade Berg discussed No Law, including why they chose to create a new game instead of a sequel to The Ascent, and addressed the comparisons to Cyberpunk 2077.

When asked why they decided to make a first-person RPG after creating the twin-stick shooter The Ascent, Frick explained that No Law felt like a return to their original strengths. He added that the first-person viewpoint lets players become more immersed in the game and opens up new ways to tell a story, something that wasn’t as easily done with The Ascent‘s top-down perspective.

Frick explained that the team chose a first-person perspective to really emphasize the world-building, lore, and atmosphere they created for the game. They enjoy making immersive experiences, and this perspective allows players to fully appreciate the details and stories within the game world. They felt The Ascent didn’t quite achieve that level of intimacy, and they wanted to create a more personal and detailed experience this time around. Focusing on first-person allowed them to tell more stories through environmental details and create a stronger connection with the game’s world.

Regarding comparisons to Cyberpunk 2077, the developers of No Law emphasize that their game will be very different. These differences extend to the overall atmosphere, story, and how the game is played, offering a more personal narrative. No Law will also feature unique gameplay mechanics, where the game world dynamically responds to the player’s decisions and actions.

The overall feeling and atmosphere are key differences. Cyberpunk 2077 is a massive, expansive game – a huge city. Our game, however, is much more focused and personal, both in how you play and the world itself. I think that will become clearer as people see more of it. It’s difficult to convey that in a short trailer; you really need to experience the game to understand it. It’s a deeper, but not as overwhelmingly large, experience. This applies to the gameplay, the story, and everything else. It’s very personal and responds directly to your actions as a player, instead of feeling like it’s happening against a huge, fixed backdrop.

According to Berg, the development team for No Law carefully considered its inspirations. Because cyberpunk is such a broad genre, they monitored the market and ultimately decided to draw a lot of influence from Hong Kong action films. He also mentioned that No Law will have a lighter, more humorous tone than many players might anticipate from the genre.

We definitely know what other games are doing, and we pay attention to the competition,” Berg explained. “But when it comes to creative inspiration, we’re really drawing from action movies of the eighties and nineties, especially their overall feel. We’re studying Hong Kong action sequences, and looking to comic books – both American and manga – for ideas. Anime is also a big influence. Basically, we’re pulling from a lot of different fictional sources and trying to incorporate all of that into our work.

You also noticed a bit of playful humor in The Ascent, right? As developers, we intentionally avoid overly dark and depressing themes. We want the violence to be exciting and visually impressive, and most importantly, we want players to enjoy themselves. Creating a fun experience is crucial for us. We’re aiming for a similar atmosphere and feeling in this game that fans of The Ascent might recognize, even though the way you play is completely different.

The cyberpunk action RPG No Law is coming to PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S in 2026. While you wait, you can read our review of the developers’ previous game, The Ascent.

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2025-12-12 19:42