You know I just noticed, for the Strength card, that you could almost view Panam working the car engine as the image of her "wrestling with the lion's jaws" It's got the same silhouette as the woman/lion shadow in the tarot glyph itself. I'm curious of the car model is a feline inspired name, or if it's got any lion based decals on it.
There's a theory that the tarot visions are actually Jackie trying to communicate with you in death, given how Jackie set up Misty's mandala before leaving for the heist, and how he slotted in the chip first
So like a fragment of his psyche like a lighter version of what happens if you don't send his body straight to his family? That would be cool! Maybe it's resonating with what happens to v during the story as well as the things v learns. The empress card could appear based on what v hears about rogue, what v experiences talking to her, and/or Johnny's knowledge of her bleeding thru.
I don’t see a shattered sword in the Empress, I think it’s a bloodied katana. Matched with her sorrowful expression, it all seems to point to the theory that Rouge sold out Johnny in some way.
She probably feels guilty for leaving him to die to adam smasher. She tries to hide it but ya can tell she regrets not helping him out even if johnny only has his self to blame for it
yesssss talking about 2077's tarot murals if I wasn't such a weenie about it, I'd get one of them tattooed on my back like one of those giant yakuza tats. They're so incredible in terms of raw art and I love the symbolic meanings of the major arcana AND and the story of 2077 is whatever the adult version of a core memory is to me.
Professional tarot reader here, over 20 years. For context here is some back story about the tarot; -Debate on origins of the word “Tarot” either Italian or Arabic based -First mention of Tarot as a card game in the 14th century, Believed entered Europe via Egypt -First documents mentioning tarot is a ban in Switzerland in 1367 -Started out as art/education and card games most notable in and around Italy. -First recorded use of tarot as divination in a book was 1540 with no meaning in of themselves -First noted card associations in 1735 in the book “The Square of Sevens” -Carl Jung (father of modern psych) first psychologist to attach importance of symbolism as it represented human archetypes -Timothy Leary (another noted psychologist) also suggests major arcana represents via archetypes human development/journey from birth (Fool) to death (Death) to ones final spiritual journey (The World) The Fool - yes you are correct it represents Vincent/Valerie. However is also represents the ultimate “Greater Fool”; perfect blend of self delusion and ego to think he can succeed where others have failed. This sums up V's goals, motivations at the start. The Magician - Yes again represents Evie. Core symbolism of the card is skill, diplomacy, confidence, deceit, mental illness (suicide) and false knowledge. All traits Evie has or displays, related to. The HP - A card of Secrets, matters fully unrevealed, tenacity, physical/moral failure and ignoring intuition or facts. The last one being by the end V knows if he takes Hano's deal they are getting screwed on some level. So going down that road tracks. It's also fairly clear shes not telling you everything when you agree to her plan... and becomes crystal clear she wasn't by the time you are in the space station. The moral failure and deceit on her part of screwing V while technically holding up her end of the bargain. The empress - Certainly Rogues card. A card traditionally having the symbolism of fruitfulness, being overbearing, doubt, sexuality, motherhood, matters coming to light, plans unraveling. All aspects of Rogue we see depending on the choices we make with her. Traditionally the card shows the empress holding a scepter, which symbolizes taking control of her power. You're reading into the sword she holds but this is a reinterpretation of the card so nothing wrong with that. The emperor - traditional meanings Stability, protection, conviction, ambition, aggression, person in power, confusion of enemies, obstruction, fatherhood. All traits he has or shows. The traditional card has the emperor holding a Crux ansata (cross with handle); which is symbolically life and the key to life. Which is really what he wants above all else, hence the relic. The Hierphant is goro to a T as you state. Symbolically means servitude, tradition, institutions, outward wisdom, blind devotion, poor advice, dogma. Hierophant comes from Greek “revealer of the sacred”. Again him to a T. Lovers - Yes a card of union, but also union for the wrong reasons, failure, unbalanced relationship, foolish ideas. Sums of Silverhands and Rogues relationship. I can go on if you'd like more. None the less good 101 overview of the cards. Well done :)
@@snowinouterspace1883 It's the most on the nose card in the whole game. Being at the location where JS nuked a actual tower. And the ruin that followed such. Symbolically speaking the tower means; Misery, distress, calamity, ruin, disgrace, depression, upheaval, liberated also imprisonment (literal or figurative). Again all things that happened to Saboru, saka as a company and JS. Hope that's helpful :)
Man I don't think I properly appreciated how gorgeous the tarot card art is until now. I really love the big blocks of color and shadow and the sort of marker-y washed out style. I wanna try making some cyberpunk tarot card art now...
The fun thing about Tarot these days is that there's a deck out there for anyone's tastes when it comes to art. We've come a long way from the garish primary colours of the original Rider Waite deck from the 1900's. You've got a couple of Tarot "schools" to pick from, as the symbolism used in Cyberpunk 2077 relies heavily on Rider Waite, and rightfully so since it's the most popular and structured of the forms of Tarot.
The Sun also reminds me of a classic Western, particularly The Man With No Name trilogy. There’s an ambivalence or bittersweet vibe, a closing for good and ill. It’s definitively an end, but also incomplete, like the journey didn’t lead to the treasure one wished for, or the treasure itself wasn’t one expected.
@@lydiscott This might be stretching it, but the character on the card even looks like Blondie, Clint Eastwood’s character from the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly-he seems to be wearing that…poncho? Shawl? Don’t know the right name for it 😂
What I found interesting when I originally played is that there isn't a World card attributed to any space. And why would there be? There's no completion, no true closure. Night City doesn't let you have that. So you can fight, or run, or acquiesce, or just stand still, but you'll never be fulfilled. You'll never be whole. True happiness, true harmony, will never happen. Not physically, not materialistically, not spiritually, not mentally. And I think that there's a poignancy to that being wholly unwritten within the game.
At first, tarot seemed like an odd addition to Cyberpunk. Like it seemed too on-the-nose for each plot point but I grew to love them. Especially the PL tarot! Looking forward to your videos on each of them!
Love those tarot cards in the game, their design and meaning behind them (my favourite one is Tower, also LOVE how you can come to Misty and ask her for tarots, she will also read different ones depending on which ending you are picking, how ominous cards are with Arasaka route for example) . Awsome video !
As for Judgement, the classic version shows St. Michael blowing the trumpet on Judgement Day and the dead rising up to meet him. In endings when you access Mikoshi, you release all the dead, the engrams, within Mikoshi to AI Alt fro her to do as she will with. To her to judge.
I see the Death card as less about literal death and far more about transition from one thing to the next, whatever it might be. Death on the doors of Embers is particularly fitting as the point of no return - no matter what path you end up choosing, V is going to change in one way or another, and there's no going back (until you load the save to do all those extra NCPD scanner hustles you haven't done yet).
In the Sun vs. the Star card, the Sun represents those attributes which are overt, seen, inspiring, and affecting the world in direct ways. The Star is the covert forces, the hidden and unseen. Whereas the Sun touches all things and is seen by them the Star quietly touches and is seen only by those who search for it. Neither is better than the other, only different means of infulencing the world.
The Moon represents the animal instincts as you noted but in it's upright stage it represents those instincts guiding a person true, just as the Moon can guide the traveler through the night. And just as the Moon does not reveal all, one may pass through the landscape of their fate successfully but without conscious understanding of the forces around them that move them or the circumstances they pass through. It is some ways the Fool card evolved. Once again you are making that leap of faith but this time you know that there are forces that can catch you out there, if the circumstances are right.
Personally, I find the Moon the hardest card to interpret. There is the recognition of the dark side of ourselves and the world; the position of the Moon between the Star and the Sun could also be a card of transition as its also called the Twilight, so perhaps it can be the use of own darkness, the pursuit of our happiness with action and perhaps even take the little moments to sabor our small victories.
There's a person on Etsy that makes a the deck of tarot cards (minus minor arcana). I did pick them up and did my first reading for my wife and I. Honestly, felt pretty accurate for the long term. Thankfully no Devils drawn for either of us
Tarot cards are among my favorite character analysis tools. I think Hanako, as you say, is typically one step ahead but Yorinobu and V demonstrate that even she isn't above surprises. The Devil ending is the only one where she survives iirc. Personally, I can see parts of myself in the reversed Magician. I do have some unrefined talents but I never utilize them fully and tend to just go with the flow in life.
So, as someone who does Tarot I'm going to have a few replies. I hope you don't mind. Magician, reversed can also be seen as a sign one's talents are being directed in the wrong direction or career and that focusing them in another direction or career path will be more suited to the person and successful. Johnny and Evelyn had the talent to achieve success with a higher degree of success in less flashy and more patient methods.
The fact that they include a few lyrics of Never Fade Away in the OST during the end of the Sun makes me think you’re spot on with your interpretation of it; on the surface it’s supposed to be this “fuck yeah” moment but it’s actually incredibly sad and depressing, mirroring Johnnys journey.
I just finished my first playthrough yesterday, and got the Sun ending. And your reading of the card PRECISELY explains my feelings. When given the choice, on the rooftop, I wanted to call Panam. But Johnny gave me the "bunch of hicks" speech, and said I was going to get a lot of people killed. So he talked me out of my initial plan, and I let him take the reins. Which ended up with me back in my body(with a 6 month ish timer), a living legend. All we (Jackie and V) wanted! But with Johnny gone, Rogue dead, and the thing that hurt me the most, Judy leaving, it left SUCH a bitter feeling in my mouth. I've never been this angry at a game ending before. I replayed the ending, and called Panam this time, and got the much more satisfying ending with V leaving NC with the Aldecaldo's and Judy. But it wasn't the same. (I'm gonna think of it as my cannon ending, but we can all see which achievement I got first)
Hey Shaped, I have no idea if you will end up reading this, but I actually wanted to throw my theory out there about why the Sun, specifically the version where it's you and Johnny (the fool[s?] and the magician) against the Tower, is the truest, best ending for the Fool's journey through night city. In that ending, where are you? You broke through the oppression of night city and made it all the way to the top. You stuck it not only to the elites who hunted and burned you (even straight up rejected you like so much trash in the corpo path, frankly the path that I think does the most for characterization of V, but that's my opinion), and you made it. Plus, you lost no one you cared for in the end. You did it, you won, with the only real regrets being Judy/Panam leaving you (not necessarily permanent after you Last Big Score™), you lost Jackie (guaranteed anyways), and you have 6 months left to live (kinda guaranteed unless you phantom Liberty or take a long walk off a short roof, or I guess Johnny). So, that begs the question, why do the last mission? You're a legend not just in night city, but the world most likely. You're up there with Morgan Blackhand (show me the body or he's still alive in Militech's basement) and the rest of the greatest hits. So why do you make a deal with Mr. Blue Eyes (who most V's at that level, with Rogue still alive to advise them, would be aware is a man who has no name or real background, a very dangerous thing in the merc game at that level)? My theory is that, with the solo heist of the chekov's gun that was the Crystal Palace, mentioned in recurring TV ads throughout the game, you get not only a permanent place in the Merc Hall of [In]Fame, but you get something maybe only Mr. Blue Eyes could reasonably provide. I think you get a new body, and, therefore, a new lease on life. You made it to the top, now it's time to go out in the blaze of glory that V boasts about to Dex, then get to silently slip away, using the rewritten chip in your head to imprint on another body (ideally an actually dead one this time), and let you live the life of peace you earned. To me, the symbolism of The Sun isn't just the end of the journey, but the main focus should be on the "Cowboy in the Sunset" trope. In old westerns, the cowboy rides off into the sunset, their quest finished, the town saved, and their legend established by those who stay, but their future left as a mystery. The key being they get to leave, and have future adventures. In all the comics, TV shows, movies, even radio shows, the cowboy rides off into the sunset, and gets to make their own story somewhere else, with this episode, this adventure, this story told. I believe The Sun, specifically the ending where the Fool and Magician reach the end of their journey, together (meaning get that perfect relationship route), only to give the fool a new lease on life, and let the magician find their own end to their story, is the most true to the themes of the setting and game (no one makes it out alive, unless, that is, if you've got the skills and the will to make it all real), and the one with the best hope for V and those around them. Who's to say Panam doesn't get a call from V a month or 2 later, just, maybe with a different sounding voice and face? Who's to say Judy doesn't run into V again in another city? Or Kerry gets a new groupie on tour, or River gets a strangely familiar new partner in his detective work? V earns their ride off into the sunset, and a chance at a new adventure, but only by sticking around, and facing the worst the World has to throw at them, and making it out on top, even if dustier, and with a few more bullet holes in their jacket than before.
Hanuko as the High Priestess works too as the High Priestess is often seen as the mediator between the spirits and the !iving. Hanuko is the High Priestess for her father "spirit", his engram, doing his bidding in the material world in the Devil ending.
i was doing work with your video in the background and i had it minimized so when i went to open it back up and you were green screened on misty's place that shit fucked up my whole work vibe because that shit was the funniest thing ever😂😂😂😂
Ahhh thank you! I’m excited, I’ve been forcing myself to play through the ones I didn’t want to do (like the Devil ending), it’s awesome how FULL these endings are.
@lydiscott I'm a bit late with this reply, lol, but I really think that your series on the endings is going to help a lot of the community gain a better understanding of them. Like you've said, they are full of so much content that unfortunately gets overlooked in a lot of cases. One great example is the Star ending and how much it uses symbolism to enforce it's more hopeful tone, yet in most discussions I've seen others aren't quite privy to these neat little details. The Devil is in a similar position, I feel. The more negative endings are harder to get through, but they really get you thinking about deeper subjects, especially the one provided by the dlc.
Big kudos to you for this content. The subject of tarot and applying it to the story of the game was a brilliant idea for CDPR and I really enjoyed listening to your interpretations of the cards. Well thought out, fun and engaging, wish you the best
I would love to hear about the tarot readings by misty for each ending. It felt like an interesting way to see the intentions for which ending is supposed to be "good" atleast by the tarot standard.
Yes! another great video from Lydi! I love your analysis videos! I feel like you validate all my theories and interpretations of these stories, Cyberpunk and others. Keep it up, I share your videos to all of my friends!
"Behind them is a pile of bones and metal. Remnants of the last feast these animals must've just enjoyed. It's like a date night." Wow. I'm not sure if that's an explanation on what the animals just did, or a joke on seeing what couples do in resturants/roommates doing in the apartment or even your own dating history. But I found it very funny :D Speaking of the Tower. A friend, who later became a medium and we lost contact, once talked about the tarot cards a while back. I think, poor memory aside, that the tower should only be included in a reading if the reader feels dread when preparing it. She explained it as either warning the subject of imminent danger or warning them that they are the danger. This is very old second or third hand information. But I think it is an interesting viewpoint. (Someone else I met much later said that preparing the deck beforehand meant that my friend wasn't a "true" medium. So really take it for what you will. )
LOLOL 😂 and OOOH I mean I definitely like the different takes on the tower card, it adds a lot of “ooohh that’s scary” to the reading. GRAVITY. DRAMA. Thank you for sharing!
Love seeing your uploads! We have to find another story rich media for you to sink your teeth into as Cyberpunk seems to have unsealed all of its secrets to you XD
Thank you for the in depth look into the Npcs in Cyberpunk, iv'e now watched all of those you've done so far. I was wondering wether you have any plans to do an insight into Yorinobu, Takemura or Songbird maybe? Also understanding that your probably busy and there are of course other games too. Regardless thanks for your work and insight, its appreciated.
Wheel of fortune: You are at the hotel a third time, when Hanako's envoy / proxy first makes contact with you. You spin the wheel at least three times at that place.
Death symbolise the ending of a cycle (and the beginning of a new), letting go ... Reversed, it's resisting change, refusing to let go ... It's next to the quest triggering the end of the game. Before this point, V is running through night city, searching for a way to save him/Herself. No matter which ending you choose, you come face to face with the end of the current cycle, and the beginning of a new one.
I'm always curious what others' interpretations of the cards are, I find it telling about that individual. Excited for part 2, on my current playthrough I'm trying to get readings from Misty only as soon as a new reading is available but not so often that I get repeat readings
Great work as always Lydi! I’ve long suspected the tarot are not just a glitch in the Kiroshi, I think Alt sends them to V to try and push her into Mikoshi. Alt wanted the contents for a reason we still do not know. And the two “good end” tarot cards both bring you there, while the “bad end and phantom liberty end” do not.
@@lydiscott I suspect Alt is Lilith and if this is the case I think she wants to shatter the blackwall and attempt an AI takeover. Possibly she could be the force behind Mr Blue Eyes as well.
@@lydiscott prepare to fall down the rabbit hole with him lol. Everything from Maelstrom to Sandra Dorsett to Gary the Prophet to Songbird has links to him.
Fun fact: the Tower card foundational myth is the biblic Tower of Babel. This is the reason it represents hubris, and almost no good comes from this card. In classic tarot, lightining seen in this card is God's wrath leveling Tower of Babel, which adds a layer of divine punishment to all havoc the Tower conjures.
I think the Moon represents the variant of the Devil ending where V refuses to sign the contract. Hanako offers V a job, yet at that point, V knows very well that (s)he is walking into a mysterious and treacherous world. Plus, in the aforementioned ending, Misty advises V to “keep an eye on” his/her “new friends”. Also, Goro is reassigned to an unspecified assignment, yet praises you for maintaining control of your destiny.
Personally, I think of the tower as a symbol of sudden realization. The tower itself represents our systems of beliefs, bias, and all the things we take for granted. The lightning represents a truth that comes crushing it all down, be it proof of betrayal or witnessing something that makes us question ourselves or others; it's an opportunity to take what we know, undestrand, while requiring our own willpower and wisdom to rebuild it better or resign ourselves to inhabit a broken building, hopeless, damaged, and far removed from the glory it represented for us.
The Star card can be seen as the evolution of the High Priestess card. Whereas the High Priestess represents one who has the potential to bridge the spiritual and material worlds, the Star card represents that potential coming to fruitation to draw from the infinite possibilities of the cosmos and bring forth new realities in the material world. Hanuko possesses the power to bring forth anything she wants into being with Arasaka's sheer power but lacks the will to do so, maintaining the old status quo. Pan Am proves to be the true High Priestess, bringing forth the possibility of new life for V in the Star ending, either by saving V's life with her connections or if in a romance with male V bringing forth literal new life in the form of their child.
I thought Judy would be the Magician. She is naive and immature to the way things work in Night City given her plan with Maiko. She is the most talented BD editor in the city, she is also resourceful enough to learn that Evelyn saw Fingers if V did not ingratiate themselves with her.
I’m not gonna lie the first time I played this game. I didn’t think much of the tarot cards and then in my second play through.I actually like read them and my mind was blown 😅😂
ok so what's weird about the sun is that it's probably the only card that's still positive even when reversed, so I think that was trying to signify to the player "this is the good ending"
I can’t help but wonder if there will be 78 tarot cards in Cyberpunk Orion. These 22 are just the Major Arcana. The remaining 56 are in the Minor Arcana. I can’t help but wonder if we’ll see the rest in Orion for expanded symbolism and incorporated narrative choices… 🤨
There's an internet theory is that V does not meet ALT. V meets the AI that ate ALT. At no point does that thing say it is ALT. I don't think it even says it was ALT. But it craves data. It says it in a hungry creepy way. "They're Daaaaataaaaa". Which is how a computer program would see the world. As a amateur programmer I have to think in a similar way when making code because then it opens up so much more possibilities. It's called computational thinking.
Antonio is absolutely the hermit, don’t trust him! 🐿️
You know I just noticed, for the Strength card, that you could almost view Panam working the car engine as the image of her "wrestling with the lion's jaws" It's got the same silhouette as the woman/lion shadow in the tarot glyph itself. I'm curious of the car model is a feline inspired name, or if it's got any lion based decals on it.
@@happyninja42OHHH I love that! That’s a great point!
There's a theory that the tarot visions are actually Jackie trying to communicate with you in death, given how Jackie set up Misty's mandala before leaving for the heist, and how he slotted in the chip first
Ohhhh I really like this theory! That’s awesome.
Oooh like a tiny ghost left of him alongside johnny in the relic? I could totally see it
So like a fragment of his psyche like a lighter version of what happens if you don't send his body straight to his family?
That would be cool! Maybe it's resonating with what happens to v during the story as well as the things v learns.
The empress card could appear based on what v hears about rogue, what v experiences talking to her, and/or Johnny's knowledge of her bleeding thru.
I don’t see a shattered sword in the Empress, I think it’s a bloodied katana. Matched with her sorrowful expression, it all seems to point to the theory that Rouge sold out Johnny in some way.
OHHHHHH that would make a ton of sense!
She probably feels guilty for leaving him to die to adam smasher. She tries to hide it but ya can tell she regrets not helping him out even if johnny only has his self to blame for it
@@Kris-wo4pjI’m so tempted to cover rogues story now ahhhh, gotta love a conflicted character.
@@lydiscott Rogue would be very interesting!
To be fair, there is a quest where you take rogue with you. The boss of that mission also implies something like that.
Editing yourself into Mistys position was an amazing choice to explain the Tarot cards to all the V's out there! :D
yesssss talking about 2077's tarot murals
if I wasn't such a weenie about it, I'd get one of them tattooed on my back like one of those giant yakuza tats. They're so incredible in terms of raw art and I love the symbolic meanings of the major arcana AND and the story of 2077 is whatever the adult version of a core memory is to me.
HONESTLY YEAH they’re super cool designs! I don’t blame you. They’d make for a cool tattoo, Chef. Love how harsh the style is just like BAM
The Emperor obviously referencing The God Emperor of Mankind that is intered upon the Golden Throne.
LOLOLOL
Your content on Cyberpunk 2077 is just something else. Next level of dedication and analysis. I also like to listen to your voice. Great videos!
Aw thank you so much! 😊
Professional tarot reader here, over 20 years. For context here is some back story about the tarot;
-Debate on origins of the word “Tarot” either Italian or Arabic based
-First mention of Tarot as a card game in the 14th century, Believed entered Europe via Egypt
-First documents mentioning tarot is a ban in Switzerland in 1367
-Started out as art/education and card games most notable in and around Italy.
-First recorded use of tarot as divination in a book was 1540 with no meaning in of themselves
-First noted card associations in 1735 in the book “The Square of Sevens”
-Carl Jung (father of modern psych) first psychologist to attach importance of symbolism as it represented human archetypes
-Timothy Leary (another noted psychologist) also suggests major arcana represents via archetypes human development/journey from birth (Fool) to death (Death) to ones final spiritual journey (The World)
The Fool - yes you are correct it represents Vincent/Valerie. However is also represents the ultimate “Greater Fool”; perfect blend of self delusion and ego to think he can succeed where others have failed. This sums up V's goals, motivations at the start.
The Magician - Yes again represents Evie. Core symbolism of the card is skill, diplomacy, confidence, deceit, mental illness (suicide) and false knowledge. All traits Evie has or displays, related to.
The HP - A card of Secrets, matters fully unrevealed, tenacity, physical/moral failure and ignoring intuition or facts. The last one being by the end V knows if he takes Hano's deal they are getting screwed on some level. So going down that road tracks. It's also fairly clear shes not telling you everything when you agree to her plan... and becomes crystal clear she wasn't by the time you are in the space station. The moral failure and deceit on her part of screwing V while technically holding up her end of the bargain.
The empress - Certainly Rogues card. A card traditionally having the symbolism of fruitfulness, being overbearing, doubt, sexuality, motherhood, matters coming to light, plans unraveling. All aspects of Rogue we see depending on the choices we make with her. Traditionally the card shows the empress holding a scepter, which symbolizes taking control of her power. You're reading into the sword she holds but this is a reinterpretation of the card so nothing wrong with that.
The emperor - traditional meanings Stability, protection, conviction, ambition, aggression, person in power, confusion of enemies, obstruction, fatherhood. All traits he has or shows. The traditional card has the emperor holding a Crux ansata (cross with handle); which is symbolically life and the key to life. Which is really what he wants above all else, hence the relic.
The Hierphant is goro to a T as you state. Symbolically means servitude, tradition, institutions, outward wisdom, blind devotion, poor advice, dogma. Hierophant comes from Greek “revealer of the sacred”. Again him to a T.
Lovers - Yes a card of union, but also union for the wrong reasons, failure, unbalanced relationship, foolish ideas. Sums of Silverhands and Rogues relationship.
I can go on if you'd like more. None the less good 101 overview of the cards. Well done :)
Hi what’s your take on the tower tarot
@@snowinouterspace1883 It's the most on the nose card in the whole game. Being at the location where JS nuked a actual tower. And the ruin that followed such. Symbolically speaking the tower means; Misery, distress, calamity, ruin, disgrace, depression, upheaval, liberated also imprisonment (literal or figurative).
Again all things that happened to Saboru, saka as a company and JS.
Hope that's helpful :)
I'm curious about your viewings of both the Sun and Star Tarot and how they relate to their respective endings.
Man I don't think I properly appreciated how gorgeous the tarot card art is until now. I really love the big blocks of color and shadow and the sort of marker-y washed out style. I wanna try making some cyberpunk tarot card art now...
They’re very stunning! Hell yeah, that’s awesome! Maybe you can make the rest of the Minor Arcana 😂
@@lydiscott oh man that's a good idea!!
The fun thing about Tarot these days is that there's a deck out there for anyone's tastes when it comes to art. We've come a long way from the garish primary colours of the original Rider Waite deck from the 1900's. You've got a couple of Tarot "schools" to pick from, as the symbolism used in Cyberpunk 2077 relies heavily on Rider Waite, and rightfully so since it's the most popular and structured of the forms of Tarot.
The Sun also reminds me of a classic Western, particularly The Man With No Name trilogy. There’s an ambivalence or bittersweet vibe, a closing for good and ill. It’s definitively an end, but also incomplete, like the journey didn’t lead to the treasure one wished for, or the treasure itself wasn’t one expected.
Ohhhh I really like this connection! AHHH I’m just remembering the net runner netwatch man and what he said about westerns, I missed that!
@@lydiscott
This might be stretching it, but the character on the card even looks like Blondie, Clint Eastwood’s character from the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly-he seems to be wearing that…poncho? Shawl? Don’t know the right name for it 😂
What I found interesting when I originally played is that there isn't a World card attributed to any space. And why would there be? There's no completion, no true closure. Night City doesn't let you have that. So you can fight, or run, or acquiesce, or just stand still, but you'll never be fulfilled. You'll never be whole. True happiness, true harmony, will never happen. Not physically, not materialistically, not spiritually, not mentally. And I think that there's a poignancy to that being wholly unwritten within the game.
At first, tarot seemed like an odd addition to Cyberpunk. Like it seemed too on-the-nose for each plot point but I grew to love them. Especially the PL tarot! Looking forward to your videos on each of them!
The phantom liberty stuff is so depressing but so *chefs kiss*
Love those tarot cards in the game, their design and meaning behind them (my favourite one is Tower, also LOVE how you can come to Misty and ask her for tarots, she will also read different ones depending on which ending you are picking, how ominous cards are with Arasaka route for example) . Awsome video !
I love all the readings, I’ve never found all of them, but they’re a lot of fun 😄
As for Judgement, the classic version shows St. Michael blowing the trumpet on Judgement Day and the dead rising up to meet him. In endings when you access Mikoshi, you release all the dead, the engrams, within Mikoshi to AI Alt fro her to do as she will with. To her to judge.
I see the Death card as less about literal death and far more about transition from one thing to the next, whatever it might be. Death on the doors of Embers is particularly fitting as the point of no return - no matter what path you end up choosing, V is going to change in one way or another, and there's no going back (until you load the save to do all those extra NCPD scanner hustles you haven't done yet).
I'm always game for more Cyberpunk content from you! Love your words on the game and the conversations had!
Ahhh thank you! Seriously! 😊
In the Sun vs. the Star card, the Sun represents those attributes which are overt, seen, inspiring, and affecting the world in direct ways. The Star is the covert forces, the hidden and unseen. Whereas the Sun touches all things and is seen by them the Star quietly touches and is seen only by those who search for it. Neither is better than the other, only different means of infulencing the world.
The Moon represents the animal instincts as you noted but in it's upright stage it represents those instincts guiding a person true, just as the Moon can guide the traveler through the night. And just as the Moon does not reveal all, one may pass through the landscape of their fate successfully but without conscious understanding of the forces around them that move them or the circumstances they pass through. It is some ways the Fool card evolved. Once again you are making that leap of faith but this time you know that there are forces that can catch you out there, if the circumstances are right.
Personally, I find the Moon the hardest card to interpret. There is the recognition of the dark side of ourselves and the world; the position of the Moon between the Star and the Sun could also be a card of transition as its also called the Twilight, so perhaps it can be the use of own darkness, the pursuit of our happiness with action and perhaps even take the little moments to sabor our small victories.
There's a person on Etsy that makes a the deck of tarot cards (minus minor arcana). I did pick them up and did my first reading for my wife and I. Honestly, felt pretty accurate for the long term.
Thankfully no Devils drawn for either of us
Ohhhh that’s awesome! Such beautiful art, would love to get them as posters someday! And lol THAT IS GOOD!
Your content is some of my favorite no matter the context, your voice is rather soothing and comforting.
Aww thank you I would never think that about my voice to be honest lmao! But seriously thank you for watching/listening! 😆
Tarot cards are among my favorite character analysis tools. I think Hanako, as you say, is typically one step ahead but Yorinobu and V demonstrate that even she isn't above surprises. The Devil ending is the only one where she survives iirc.
Personally, I can see parts of myself in the reversed Magician. I do have some unrefined talents but I never utilize them fully and tend to just go with the flow in life.
Ohhhh very good point! I will take this into account for my analyses of these characters 😄
So, as someone who does Tarot I'm going to have a few replies. I hope you don't mind.
Magician, reversed can also be seen as a sign one's talents are being directed in the wrong direction or career and that focusing them in another direction or career path will be more suited to the person and successful. Johnny and Evelyn had the talent to achieve success with a higher degree of success in less flashy and more patient methods.
The fact that they include a few lyrics of Never Fade Away in the OST during the end of the Sun makes me think you’re spot on with your interpretation of it; on the surface it’s supposed to be this “fuck yeah” moment but it’s actually incredibly sad and depressing, mirroring Johnnys journey.
Very true. Feels so... empty. Big sadge. Also, because we don't get to actually see the inside of the crystal palace lol
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LYDI great video ❤
Aawwww THANK YOU RENN OMG HIIIII! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
I just finished my first playthrough yesterday, and got the Sun ending. And your reading of the card PRECISELY explains my feelings. When given the choice, on the rooftop, I wanted to call Panam. But Johnny gave me the "bunch of hicks" speech, and said I was going to get a lot of people killed. So he talked me out of my initial plan, and I let him take the reins. Which ended up with me back in my body(with a 6 month ish timer), a living legend. All we (Jackie and V) wanted! But with Johnny gone, Rogue dead, and the thing that hurt me the most, Judy leaving, it left SUCH a bitter feeling in my mouth. I've never been this angry at a game ending before.
I replayed the ending, and called Panam this time, and got the much more satisfying ending with V leaving NC with the Aldecaldo's and Judy. But it wasn't the same. (I'm gonna think of it as my cannon ending, but we can all see which achievement I got first)
Literally on my first playthrough, glad to get some insight behind the tarot cards! This was killer!
Ahhh that's awesome! Enjoy! :D Thank you so much for watching, Bundle!
Hey Shaped, I have no idea if you will end up reading this, but I actually wanted to throw my theory out there about why the Sun, specifically the version where it's you and Johnny (the fool[s?] and the magician) against the Tower, is the truest, best ending for the Fool's journey through night city.
In that ending, where are you? You broke through the oppression of night city and made it all the way to the top. You stuck it not only to the elites who hunted and burned you (even straight up rejected you like so much trash in the corpo path, frankly the path that I think does the most for characterization of V, but that's my opinion), and you made it. Plus, you lost no one you cared for in the end. You did it, you won, with the only real regrets being Judy/Panam leaving you (not necessarily permanent after you Last Big Score™), you lost Jackie (guaranteed anyways), and you have 6 months left to live (kinda guaranteed unless you phantom Liberty or take a long walk off a short roof, or I guess Johnny). So, that begs the question, why do the last mission? You're a legend not just in night city, but the world most likely. You're up there with Morgan Blackhand (show me the body or he's still alive in Militech's basement) and the rest of the greatest hits. So why do you make a deal with Mr. Blue Eyes (who most V's at that level, with Rogue still alive to advise them, would be aware is a man who has no name or real background, a very dangerous thing in the merc game at that level)? My theory is that, with the solo heist of the chekov's gun that was the Crystal Palace, mentioned in recurring TV ads throughout the game, you get not only a permanent place in the Merc Hall of [In]Fame, but you get something maybe only Mr. Blue Eyes could reasonably provide. I think you get a new body, and, therefore, a new lease on life. You made it to the top, now it's time to go out in the blaze of glory that V boasts about to Dex, then get to silently slip away, using the rewritten chip in your head to imprint on another body (ideally an actually dead one this time), and let you live the life of peace you earned.
To me, the symbolism of The Sun isn't just the end of the journey, but the main focus should be on the "Cowboy in the Sunset" trope. In old westerns, the cowboy rides off into the sunset, their quest finished, the town saved, and their legend established by those who stay, but their future left as a mystery. The key being they get to leave, and have future adventures. In all the comics, TV shows, movies, even radio shows, the cowboy rides off into the sunset, and gets to make their own story somewhere else, with this episode, this adventure, this story told. I believe The Sun, specifically the ending where the Fool and Magician reach the end of their journey, together (meaning get that perfect relationship route), only to give the fool a new lease on life, and let the magician find their own end to their story, is the most true to the themes of the setting and game (no one makes it out alive, unless, that is, if you've got the skills and the will to make it all real), and the one with the best hope for V and those around them. Who's to say Panam doesn't get a call from V a month or 2 later, just, maybe with a different sounding voice and face? Who's to say Judy doesn't run into V again in another city? Or Kerry gets a new groupie on tour, or River gets a strangely familiar new partner in his detective work?
V earns their ride off into the sunset, and a chance at a new adventure, but only by sticking around, and facing the worst the World has to throw at them, and making it out on top, even if dustier, and with a few more bullet holes in their jacket than before.
Misty knew... misty always knew
Hanuko as the High Priestess works too as the High Priestess is often seen as the mediator between the spirits and the !iving. Hanuko is the High Priestess for her father "spirit", his engram, doing his bidding in the material world in the Devil ending.
I've always loved these things!! Great to see another upload :D
i was doing work with your video in the background and i had it minimized so when i went to open it back up and you were green screened on misty's place that shit fucked up my whole work vibe because that shit was the funniest thing ever😂😂😂😂
Another banger! I can't wait to see you tackle the endings.
Ahhh thank you! I’m excited, I’ve been forcing myself to play through the ones I didn’t want to do (like the Devil ending), it’s awesome how FULL these endings are.
@lydiscott I'm a bit late with this reply, lol, but I really think that your series on the endings is going to help a lot of the community gain a better understanding of them. Like you've said, they are full of so much content that unfortunately gets overlooked in a lot of cases. One great example is the Star ending and how much it uses symbolism to enforce it's more hopeful tone, yet in most discussions I've seen others aren't quite privy to these neat little details. The Devil is in a similar position, I feel. The more negative endings are harder to get through, but they really get you thinking about deeper subjects, especially the one provided by the dlc.
Big kudos to you for this content. The subject of tarot and applying it to the story of the game was a brilliant idea for CDPR and I really enjoyed listening to your interpretations of the cards. Well thought out, fun and engaging, wish you the best
Aw thanks! 😊
Discovered your channel 4 hours ago, absolutely love these analysis videos 🤘 keep it up!
Ahhh thank you so much! 😁
Damn choomba, you know just how to cheer me up after a long day. Ty
HELL YEAH 🎉
I would love to hear about the tarot readings by misty for each ending. It felt like an interesting way to see the intentions for which ending is supposed to be "good" atleast by the tarot standard.
Yes! another great video from Lydi! I love your analysis videos! I feel like you validate all my theories and interpretations of these stories, Cyberpunk and others.
Keep it up, I share your videos to all of my friends!
Aww thank you so much for that Jester! Seriously that’s awesome! 🥳
Well with the tower it could also mean the downfall of Arasaka tyranny. I don't think the card has only bad readings traditionally tbh.
Very good point!
"Behind them is a pile of bones and metal. Remnants of the last feast these animals must've just enjoyed. It's like a date night." Wow. I'm not sure if that's an explanation on what the animals just did, or a joke on seeing what couples do in resturants/roommates doing in the apartment or even your own dating history. But I found it very funny :D
Speaking of the Tower. A friend, who later became a medium and we lost contact, once talked about the tarot cards a while back. I think, poor memory aside, that the tower should only be included in a reading if the reader feels dread when preparing it. She explained it as either warning the subject of imminent danger or warning them that they are the danger. This is very old second or third hand information. But I think it is an interesting viewpoint.
(Someone else I met much later said that preparing the deck beforehand meant that my friend wasn't a "true" medium. So really take it for what you will. )
LOLOL 😂 and OOOH I mean I definitely like the different takes on the tower card, it adds a lot of “ooohh that’s scary” to the reading. GRAVITY. DRAMA. Thank you for sharing!
THANK YOUU SO MUCH FOR MAKING THIS!
AHHH Thank you for watching! :D
Love seeing your uploads! We have to find another story rich media for you to sink your teeth into as Cyberpunk seems to have unsealed all of its secrets to you XD
I’m being pulled in so many directions for the next one, Witcher, Mass Effect, etc… there’s so many I’d love to cover!! 😂
I absolutely enjoy all your videos, please continue!❤️
Thanks so much!!! Will do!!!
Top tier Cyberpunk 2077 content
Thank you so much!!! 😊
Thank you for the in depth look into the Npcs in Cyberpunk, iv'e now watched all of those you've done so far. I was wondering wether you have any plans to do an insight into Yorinobu, Takemura or Songbird maybe? Also understanding that your probably busy and there are of course other games too. Regardless thanks for your work and insight, its appreciated.
Great in depth video
Thank you!!!
Wheel of fortune: You are at the hotel a third time, when Hanako's envoy / proxy first makes contact with you. You spin the wheel at least three times at that place.
Death symbolise the ending of a cycle (and the beginning of a new), letting go ... Reversed, it's resisting change, refusing to let go ... It's next to the quest triggering the end of the game. Before this point, V is running through night city, searching for a way to save him/Herself. No matter which ending you choose, you come face to face with the end of the current cycle, and the beginning of a new one.
Been looking forward to this one
I'm always curious what others' interpretations of the cards are, I find it telling about that individual. Excited for part 2, on my current playthrough I'm trying to get readings from Misty only as soon as a new reading is available but not so often that I get repeat readings
Ohhhh good luck! I’m trying to get all of them too - I feel like I keep missing them! 😂
Amazing video!! I love tarot so much
Cyberpunk content? Subscribed.
Aw thank you!!!!
Hope the next game has more cards and in different positions ( to add more meaning).
Keep up the great videos
Me too! They're very fun! And thank you so much for watching :D
Great work as always Lydi! I’ve long suspected the tarot are not just a glitch in the Kiroshi, I think Alt sends them to V to try and push her into Mikoshi. Alt wanted the contents for a reason we still do not know. And the two “good end” tarot cards both bring you there, while the “bad end and phantom liberty end” do not.
AH thank you so much Mecoolerest! OHHHHH… I like this idea! She’s quite sus, I would love to know what she wants mikoshi for… HMMMM…
@@lydiscott I suspect Alt is Lilith and if this is the case I think she wants to shatter the blackwall and attempt an AI takeover. Possibly she could be the force behind Mr Blue Eyes as well.
@@TheMecoolerest001OHHHHH him! God I gotta make a video on him too!
@@lydiscott prepare to fall down the rabbit hole with him lol. Everything from Maelstrom to Sandra Dorsett to Gary the Prophet to Songbird has links to him.
Fun fact: the Tower card foundational myth is the biblic Tower of Babel. This is the reason it represents hubris, and almost no good comes from this card. In classic tarot, lightining seen in this card is God's wrath leveling Tower of Babel, which adds a layer of divine punishment to all havoc the Tower conjures.
Hyped for this video
Aw thank you!
On the devil ending is also the complacency of not going through and not doing all the quests by the only ending you get by just doing the campaign
Really like these Cyberpunk videos
Aw thank you! 😊
Tarot Cards, Jotaro, Susie Q, and I'm certain a lot of other characters I missed. I'm surprised we didn't see Stand Battles in CP 2077.
yooo more analysis on the 2077 tarot cards!
I think the Moon represents the variant of the Devil ending where V refuses to sign the contract. Hanako offers V a job, yet at that point, V knows very well that (s)he is walking into a mysterious and treacherous world. Plus, in the aforementioned ending, Misty advises V to “keep an eye on” his/her “new friends”. Also, Goro is reassigned to an unspecified assignment, yet praises you for maintaining control of your destiny.
Panam may represent the star card but that ending is the lovers card
I gotta cover her character one of these days she’s awesome
Amazing video 👏🏾💯
Thank you so much!
Personally, I think of the tower as a symbol of sudden realization. The tower itself represents our systems of beliefs, bias, and all the things we take for granted. The lightning represents a truth that comes crushing it all down, be it proof of betrayal or witnessing something that makes us question ourselves or others; it's an opportunity to take what we know, undestrand, while requiring our own willpower and wisdom to rebuild it better or resign ourselves to inhabit a broken building, hopeless, damaged, and far removed from the glory it represented for us.
The Star card can be seen as the evolution of the High Priestess card. Whereas the High Priestess represents one who has the potential to bridge the spiritual and material worlds, the Star card represents that potential coming to fruitation to draw from the infinite possibilities of the cosmos and bring forth new realities in the material world. Hanuko possesses the power to bring forth anything she wants into being with Arasaka's sheer power but lacks the will to do so, maintaining the old status quo. Pan Am proves to be the true High Priestess, bringing forth the possibility of new life for V in the Star ending, either by saving V's life with her connections or if in a romance with male V bringing forth literal new life in the form of their child.
Are the card names what people refer to as the endings? Like "The Tower Ending" is referring to the tarot card?
yep
Arguably, the Hermit is also Garry ;p
Wait so the Tarot Cards in Cyberpunk are actually the same as real life Tarot Cards? I never knew that, I thought they were made up for the game
It's notable that while traditionally the Magician is represented as male, here it's female, reinforcing the Evelyn theory
ohh very good point!
Obviously the Emperor is meant to be Saburo, but the art itself was absolutely inspired by the Emperor from warhammer 40k
Me IRL: I don't believe in Tarot
Me in Cyberpunk: This is a deeply insightful tool into the human psyche that should be applied in real life.
If you meet Hanako before you meet Madam Briget (If I remember right) you realize she knows bugger all.
Id love to see you tackle a symbolism of Night City video
OHHH that would be a great topic!
Love your videos ❤
Aw thank you!
I thought Judy would be the Magician. She is naive and immature to the way things work in Night City given her plan with Maiko. She is the most talented BD editor in the city, she is also resourceful enough to learn that Evelyn saw Fingers if V did not ingratiate themselves with her.
I’m not gonna lie the first time I played this game. I didn’t think much of the tarot cards and then in my second play through.I actually like read them and my mind was blown 😅😂
Same here! I just thought “oh they’re pretty!” But then, was like “oh this is rather ominous” lol
@@lydiscott that’s hilarious i thought the same thing too loll
ok so what's weird about the sun is that it's probably the only card that's still positive even when reversed, so I think that was trying to signify to the player "this is the good ending"
The katana is dripping with some kind of fluid, perhaps blood. It’s not broken.
Thank God Hot Dog Man is still here
If CDPR ever makes a full tarot deck with this art, I will buy 10 copies
I can’t help but wonder if there will be 78 tarot cards in Cyberpunk Orion. These 22 are just the Major Arcana. The remaining 56 are in the Minor Arcana. I can’t help but wonder if we’ll see the rest in Orion for expanded symbolism and incorporated narrative choices… 🤨
Damn. Nothing for Jackie or Kerry? That's kinda wild.
Persona fans: "Hey, I've seen this one before."
There's an internet theory is that V does not meet ALT. V meets the AI that ate ALT. At no point does that thing say it is ALT. I don't think it even says it was ALT. But it craves data. It says it in a hungry creepy way. "They're Daaaaataaaaa". Which is how a computer program would see the world. As a amateur programmer I have to think in a similar way when making code because then it opens up so much more possibilities. It's called computational thinking.
Would you mind analyzing the cards from Phantom Liberty? I’ve a few theories as to who is represented by what but I’d like to her your thoughts.
Ohhh I would love to! 😁
All in the cads
Please continue ...very pretty lady very awesome content..Road to 50k❤
Whoa
WHOA
Jojos reference
Babe wake up new Shaped by Peak video just dropped
LOLOL
Ok, but what is Antonio’s tarot?
Oh definitely the hermit
I think you Just can't move