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Cyberpunk 2077 has had its ups and downs, but in its current state after patch 1.5 – with added weight behind its romance options – Judy Alvarez and Panam Palmer continue to be its two most appealing romance options. Cyberpunk 2077 the characters are one of its greatest strengths, regardless of its story or its technical shortcomings, and just like The Witcher 3 before it, some of its secondary content (such as quests related to its characters) end up being the most memorable emotional parts of an otherwise fairly straightforward tale about corporate control and the limits of the mind and of the human body. This makes the choice which Cyberpunk 2077 character V’s protagonist should have an all the more difficult romance.
Cyberpunk 2077 Recent improvements have brought many people back into the game after a considerable time away, and not everyone will have explored the game’s various options for character romance. Some of the options are quick one-off encounters that players can engage in purely for sports or character building – short-term alliances with secondary characters only meant to enrich the game world. However, for characters like Judy, Panam, Meredith, River, and Kerry, things are a little more robust, with more substantial options and romance-related stories.
Having said that, it is undeniable that, in any type of classification of Cyberpunk 2077 romantic partners, Judy and Panam stand out as the two best by a mile in Night City. Where some of the game’s other characters offer a few interesting moments or funny banter, Judy and Panam stand above the rest in terms of the level of emotional connection players can find with them. However, given their sexual preferences, it could be that the choice between Cyberpunk 2077 Judy and Panam are ultimately decided by the gender options a player chooses for their version of V.
Why should you romance Panam in Cyberpunk 2077
Panam Palmer is easily one of Cyberpunk 2077 most compelling characters, with a story that takes players to the badlands outside of the city. It’s an action-packed affair in places, with plenty of interesting story beats and an emotional rollercoaster of a storyline that engages in both gameplay and sweeter storytelling moments. Same Cyberpunk 2077 players who are not in love with Panam will find in her a character who will quickly endear themselves to players and will likely find themselves bonding after the stressful events of her story (which also intersects with the game’s main narrative). Panam’s story involves a complicated relationship with the Aldecaldos and their leader Saul, who is ultimately endangered from which Panam and V must rescue him.
Panam’s story will likely appeal to a wide range of players, providing an ongoing relationship that’s solidified by the events she and V go through together. This makes the romance that can blossom all the more emotionally moving, although the main complication to this is the fact that Panam’s preferences require a partner with a male body type, which means she won’t be an option for everyone. But for those able and willing to pursue a deeper relationship with Panam, recent game updates have made it even more compelling, with expanded romance options in Cyberpunk 2077 1.5. The meaty update brought things like text messages and the ability to sleep next to and wake up with a romantic partner into the mix, allowing for more opportunities to bond.
Why should you romance Judy in Cyberpunk 2077
Panam’s ex-nomadic lifestyle and aesthetic may not be for everyone, so Judy Alvarez offers something of a polar opposite – at least when it comes to the female characters of Cyberpunk 2077 goes. Initially more abrupt, Judy is introduced to the players quite early in Cyberpunk 2077 history as a savvy Braindance editor with highly desirable talents. With an introduction by Evelyn Parker, who hires DeShawn to orchestrate the Konpeki Plaza heist, Judy quickly shows her worth as an ally. Unfortunate future circumstances related to Evelyn bring V and Judy closer together, and this thread quickly evolves into an emotional storyline that is more than a little heartbreaking. It gives Judy more depth than probably any other Cyberpunk 2077 character.
Luckily for the fans, Cyberpunk 2077 Patch 1.5 made the romance with Judy even more compelling. Entering the Relationship now offers the same story and quest options as before, but with the added bonus of being able to send text messages (some of which may even include slightly NSFW content attached). Being able to wake up with Judy after a good night’s rest is also a bonus for V, something that’s bound to affect players emotionally given all they’ve been through with Judy thus far. Just like with Panam, however, Judy’s preferences mean she has a particular type: Judy needs V to have a female body and voice for romance to be an option.
Why Judy is better than Panam as a Cyberpunk 2077 romance option
Given Panam’s and Judy’s preferences in Cyberpunk 2077, players may really only have one or the other as a romance option depending on how they created their character. But for any player creating a character with a female body type and voice, Judy is by far the best option in the game. No offense is intended for Panam, who is a fantastic character with a great story – and few players will find something to complain about if they develop a relationship with her – but right from the start of Judy’s nuanced and heartbreaking story, which blossoms into something bigger. as it goes, shows a depth of characterization that makes her the most compelling romance option in the game.
Ultimately, any gamer can choose an in-game romantic partner that pleases them, but for those looking to experience some of the best content that Cyberpunk 2077 has to offer, in addition to one of its most endearing and compelling characters, Judy Alvarez is the best choice. That shouldn’t stop anyone from doing another V and trying other romance options, of course, and even if Judy wins in the end, Panam Palmer is absolutely the clear runner-up in a pretty close race. The most of Cyberpunk 2077 the romance options just aren’t quite the same, with too little content, more gameplay than story, or just not enough of a chance to shine. It’s a shame we couldn’t do more with interesting male characters like River Ward or Kerry Eurodyne, who deserved a bit more attention than they probably got, and there are plenty Cyberpunk 2077 characters that should have been romance options. All the same, Judy and Panam represent the best of this Cyberpunk 2077 maybe when it fires on all cylinders: a game with a lot of heart, an immersive world and truly memorable characters.
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