Cyberpunk 2077 – Ripperdocs & Cyberware! (Explained!)

In today’s Cyberpunk 2077 video we are talking about Ripperdocs and cyberware, what a Ripperdoc is, what Cyberware is, how we install cyberware, explaining procedures involved in installation, and the pros and cons of visiting legal and illegal ripperdocs in Cyberpunk 2077.

Ripperdocs are NPCs your character can visit in Cyberpunk 2077, who will install all types of different cybernetics and cyberware for a price. With Cyberware being so popular in Night City, so too has the demand for Ripper docs. Ripper docs are a mix between engineers and doctors, installing and removing cybernetics usually out of a clinic or hospital.

Now Cyberware comes in a variety of forms in Night City, from tech that bolsters your quality of life like a bio-monitor, or pain editor, to more lethal cybernetics such as weapon grips increasing your base damage, and cyberlimbs and weapons.

Cyberware is a form of gloating as well, and the flashier your cyberware is, the more power you and respect you can demand. This is called Cyberfashion and is common practice in Night City.

We’ve all seen the gameplay demo where we are walking around the streets. See how many people are wearing Cybernetics that are visible? Lots like to show off, although for some individuals it’s better to be discrete and hide what you’re packing with RealSkinn technology, a synthetic skin that looks like human flesh, to hide away your expensive and deadly prosthetics.

Now each time you add Cyberware to your body, you’ll have to visit a Ripper Doc. On the RipperDoc surgical software, you can pick out and choose your ‘ware based on what you want to use it for. Each cybernetic has a humanity cost, meaning as you strap on more tech to your body, you will start to dissociate from your mind. Cyberware can have a potent effect on the mind, where you essentially go insane and lose your quote unquote humanity, if you over-do it.
Each piece of tech has a different humanity cost. IN 2020 is goes from Low to very high in terms of cost, but for 2077 there is a numerical value attached to each component. Presumably the higher the # the more impact that particular piece of gear will have on your mental state.

If you go full-force with “bumping up your specs” and max out your allotted humanity, you will be classified as a cyberpsycho, which are generally some of the most dangerous characters in Night City. Now as a side note this is only applicable to other people in Night City. Your Character will not be able to go fully cyberpsychotic, for the sake of the story. This has been confirmed by CD PROJEKT RED.

Rehabilitation for this type of psychosis is offered to you by law enforcement in Night City before you get overly violent. This rehabilitation consists of visiting a Cyber psychologist and undergoing trans-formative Braindance sessions, which essentially will chemically disassemble your brain and reassemble it to have more socially acceptable thoughts.

Now within the realm of Ripperdocs and installing and grafting tech to the body, we also have Surgery codes. A surgery code is the minimum level of medical care required to install cyberware, the length of surgical time required, the cost, as well as the difficulty of the surgery. Now keep in mind this is highly subject to change in 2077, but it is part of the rules in the pen and paper game.

Negligible surgeries can be performed in Mall clinics or drop in body shops and generally only take 1 hour. These are fairly easy to perform and can be done by any level of ripper doctor.

Minor Surgeries can take up to 2 hours and must be done at a medical or ripper doc clinic. This hints at V’s surgery being a minor one as we are at OUR Ripper doc clinic with Dr Viktor.
Major and Critial surgeries both require full hospitals with surgery centers. These will take 4 and 6 hours respectively and are only to be done by highly trained professionals.

There can also be some residual and negative side effects of a botched or poorly done surgery. Things like infections, bruising and swelling, permanent scarring and cyber-rejection can happen. Cyber rejection means your body will refuse an implant. In these situations stats will drop, and physical changes may happen. This might be reflected in 2077 from 2020 by having visual scarring, or a hit to stats such as intelligence, reflex and tech levels.

Obviously when it comes to Cyberpsychosis, layering on high humanity cost ware would presumably effect your empathy levels, but empathy is not a stat in 2077, so it might end up rippling down and affecting another gameplay mechanic.

As mentioned in previous videos, V has a 10% discount rate at Dr Viktor. On screen is shown a Neural Processor, which is required for things like smart gun and weapon links. There will not be the ability to play 2077 without having basic cyberware, and this presumably includes a neural processor. This means there will be no purist playthroughs available in Cyberpunk 2077.