A recent 'deep dive' into Cyberpunk 2077's gameplay gave fans of the upcoming RPG a look at Night City's Pacifica district, as well as two rival factions that occupy the area: The Voodoo Boys and the Animals. These factions represent a dichotomy of the chaotic good in Night City (The Voodoo Boys) and the simply chaotic who do and take what they want. Luckily, the aforementioned gameplay filled in quite a few details concerning the two factions, with a ton of prior information also informing the context.
The Voodoo Boys, for example, clearly have a rich history in Night City, even though it only goes back roughly a decade or so. This realistic approach helps root the faction in the district, showing support for those who live in the poorest district of the city, and existing as a direct contrast to thuggish Animals who have also taken up residence in Pacifica. Either way, here's everything we know about the Voodoo Boys and the Animals in CD Projekt Red's upcoming RPG, Cyberpunk 2077.
SPOILER WARNING: Because these gangs are realistic and complex, there are elements to their description that could spoil meeting them in the story of Cyberpunk 2077. Therefore, readers who want to go into the upcoming RPG blind may want to turn back now.
Who Are The Voodoo Boys?
The iteration of the Voodoo Boys changed from Cyberpunk 2020 to Cyberpunk 2077, as they went from a gang of drug dealers to a Netrunner organization. In 2077, the Voodoo Boys were formed following a massive migration of Haitians into Night City. Sometime during the 2060s, a massive disaster struck Haiti, forcing most of the country to migrate, with many settling in the Pacifica district of Night City. Many in the Pacifica community see the Voodoo Boys as protectors of the peace, as well as the best Netrunners in all of Night City. Their overall agenda is to destroy the Blackwall, a virtual wall that prevents AIs from expanding throughout the virtual world (with some thinking that this would bring about the end of the world). The Voodoo boys are led by Brigitte and her second-in-command, Placide.
Little is currently known about Brigitte (pictured above), though she has been showcased a few times in gameplay. She's described as not being a major threat in person, but a dominant force on the Net. Placide, on the other hand, has been shown a few more times. He's unnervingly quiet and has a heavy, threatening presence around him. In the recent deep dive into gameplay, he is the quest giver that sends V out to defeat the Animals under the notion that they have a special Chip the main character is after in Cyberpunk 2077.
It's clear that, while Brigitte seems to be a bit more neutral in her attitude toward V, Placide (pictured below, left) is more antagonistic. He is shown attacking V at one point, but this could possibly tie into the PC'c chosen lifepath. If V is a Netrunner, for example, it seems that Placide may react more accordingly. Of course, this is only speculation based on what we know about Cyberpunk 2077's lifepaths and the Voodoo Boys, so Placide's reaction to V could easily be more scripted.
Who Are The Animals?
The Animals are one of many booster gangs in Night City. Booster gangs are essentially described as territorial gangs who use strength-oriented Cyberpunk 2077 cyberware to enhance themselves and can be incredibly violent. They also abuse a Steroid-like substance called Juice to enhance themselves further. The Animals, specifically, are based in Pacifica, taking over an abandoned mega mall as their primary base of operations.
The Animals seem to be a typical Night City Booster Gang, but they spread their operations throughout the city. They act as bouncers, have corned the market on illegal substance trade (likely Juice), and maintain an underground live-or-die prizefighting ring. There is no primary leader of the Animals, so when the gang comes together, they choose the strongest among them to be an ad hoc leader. In Cyberpunk 2077 gameplay shown so far, this is the character, Sasquatch (pictured above).
Like Brigitte, little is currently known about Sasquatch. She wields a massive hammer and has a Juice-pack attached that serves as weak point (perhaps this extends to other Animal Juicers as well?). As leader, though, it's worth mentioning that the Animals are secretly allied with Netwatch, a Cyberpunk 2077 organization that enforces anti-cybercrime tactics. This may be one reason that the Animals are so antagonistic toward the Voodoo Boys.
One major point to note about Sasquatch is that, during the deep dive gameplay reveal, developers mention that it is the player's choice as to whether to kill Sasquatch or not. The effects of this decision are not explored, however, but this helps emphasis the point that Cyberpunk 2077 players can enjoy a non-lethal playthrough.
More about these rival gangs may be revealed in the days building up to Cyberpunk 2077's release date, but given that Pacifica is but 1 of 6 districts in Night City, players can expect run-ins with various other gangs and organizations as well.
Cyberpunk 2077 releases April 16, 2020, on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
