That's true. It's an entirely different game until Keanu appears. More choices, less bullshit. Even Regina calling me every 5 minutes wasn't as annoying. The first two hours promise a lot, unfortunately, this promise falls flat shortly after. I was feeling that V was going somewhere and was interested in the story (not invested yet though). BUT (there has to be "but" of course) with one exception - the life path missions at the beginning. They are too short, don't really explain the background very well and the persona that V was/wants to be.
Whoever is left, sure. A lot already ditched the game and get back to AC: Valhalla or whatever else is on now. That's what plot cancer does to people
Good or not, I felt that he stole the stage from V and for me, he was very annoying. I wasn't interested in neither his past nor redemption and I just wanted him out. I was more interested in the dark side of Night City and I really enjoyed Evelyn / Judy's questline. Unfortunately for me, it ended quickly.
Honestly, Seeing V in 3rd person makes them more tangible (real) and a person. Seeing everything, especially critical cutscenes only from behind the camera shows you V's POV - but does not reflect V as a person or make you, the viewer/player respond in a dramatic way. The voice acting CAN, to a degree.
Mind Game: Envision Clarice and Hannibal meeting for the first time but the camera remains only over the shoulder of one/over the head. What you will get is either just Jodie Fosters acting, and none of Hannibal's - removing much of the dramatic tete a tete OR you see Anthony Hopkins half and just hear Jodie Fosters part. Both versions would remove much of the dramatic pulses of the scene. No movie director would do that. NONE. When Hitchcock used it it for dramatic effect and limited.
So why did the new game director change it. The game is about Johnny - not V. The more you would SEE V's performance along with saying the lines - you would view them like Geralt - you would see facial expressions - body language - a more realized person. But since the endings are , even with some hope, a all roads lead to a pillaged Rome and the story being about Johnny. They chose to switch the games focus.
Why do you think they removed the your goals and who you admire in the beginning, just for a bland - what was your occupation before the game begins. Because in a story about Johnny, V's motivations do not matter as they removed all goals/inspirations you the player might have and make all answers to Dex "to be a legend" essentially. It's why we "play as V" and not <really> role-play as V.
Look at all "story" type quests/events/cut scenes:
4 "romance partners" - but even then one of the four has the huge Johnny Silverhand connection. (Johnny present)
(Exception) - which are ALL about the motivation of the other person - solving their problems
Takemura - which is required, to a degree, to progress story and get you each step of the way. (Johnny present)
(Exception)
All other story quests in ACT 2 and ACT 3 - are - drum roll - about Johnny Silverhand. (see above)
Date with Rogue
His Grave
Voodoo Boys (dual Johnnys story and you finding "help")
Samurai Concert
"Getting the band back together" moments.
or deal with AI/subquests
Vending machine AI/ALT/Sandra/mayor candidate
Please name me ANY quest which is about some motivation V has. Some goal or desire V has come across. Some idea V has. Some choice the player makes after a past quest.
NONE. Every quest in the game, outside of "find info to try and live" is entirely, especially the climax - chapter 3 - about Johnny Silverhand or other peoples needs/wants (romance characters plots/quests) - things they need.
Johnny Silverhand is the protagonist.
V is merely the vehicle to carry the protagonist and someone the protagonist is to act with - as Johnny would need to act/have scenes as the protagonist.
Please note - every quest you do something Johnny doesnt like - he tortures you. Help Judy - johnny frowns and immediate relic malfunction and V in pain. - but no increase in %.
Do the Panam quests - johnny not happy and wants to go and wham - relic malfunctions and you are seriously hurt / in pain. I mean the post main quest aspect ones.
So the game, as designed, tortures' your character in the ONLY QUESTS YOU EVEER DO THAT ARE ON THE MOTIVATION OF V - and not just hired by fixer (which one can always not do those quests sure - but the only non monetary non Johnny silverhand quests.. drumroll.. you are tortured for doing as doesn't fit the protagonists desires.
I know this is a wall of text and no one will read. But to add on to the above person. What if V was given a choice. What if instead of wasting time playing band concerts and trying to hunt down smasher - V has an epiphany - seeing what they did to Evelyn - seeing what they were going to do to Sandra - and the PTSD both go through, much less evelyn. V spends 24/48 hours on an avenging angel rampage to destroy and eliminate the scavengers and their allies for the horrors and cruelty they perform on other human beings. But thats not allowed - as would be player choice, agency, and give V a say in motivations - as the game removed all player choices from the game , like at creations for a "choose your profession you had" before assigning you by force a "you just want to be a legend - end of motivation).