Netflix released the first season of its new anime series, “Cyberpunk: Edgerunners” yesterday. The show — debuting with 10 episodes — is based on the “Cyberpunk 2077” video game released in 2020.

The highly anticipated series strongly appeals to players of the Cyberpunk game. Netflix spent a considerable amount of effort producing the series, teaming up with Studio Trigger, creators of “Gurren Lagann” and “Star Wars Visions.” It also boasted an impressive Japanese and English voice cast featuring Giancarlo Esposito (“Breaking Bad, “The Boys”). “Edgerunners” will pique the interest of anime fans, including those who know nothing about the video game.

“Edgerunners” follows David Martinez, struggling to make ends meet after being kicked out of school. David meets Lucy, who introduces him to the world of cyborgs and body modifications. David becomes an edgerunner, a cyborg mercenary, hunting for eurodollars: Night City’s currency. When David meets the mysterious Lucy, the story unfolds into an interesting dynamic between the two characters. 

Within two episodes, viewers can fully immerse themselves in Night City. The vibrant metropolis comes alive through stunning animation. The show divulges the lore of the city through its plot, including its politics, history and class structure. In the second episode, one of the series most vibrant scenes occurs when Lucy pushes an unconscious David on a stretcher through the city.

“Edgerunners” compares favorably to other recent video game adaptations. Video game movies have had an extensive history of not being critical darlings. February’s “Uncharted” being the most recent example, although it does have a 90%audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Last year, Netflix released “Arcane,” a 3D-animated adaptation of “League of Legends.” While the show received critical acclaim, some non-gamers found it hard to enjoy. But “Edgerunners” is a fun romp, even without any prior “Cyberpunk” knowledge. 

While the show struggles with a generic plot, its incredible visuals make up for simplistic storylines. Every scene is animated meticulously; the characters, cities and weapons offer fantastic visuals. Action sequences provide incredible thrills, with a scene in episode five where David flees from the police.

“Cyberpunk: Edgerunners” makes for a very enjoyable watch. The show is an immersive experience into the world of “Cyberpunk”. Viewers do not have to play “Cyberpunk 2077” before watching the anime adaptation. However, playing the video game would most definitely enhance the experience, and non-gamers might want to catch up on the game before the show is renewed for a second season.

3.5 eurodollars out of 5