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Why do cyberpunk cities feel vertically claustrophobic even when the streets

 title: 'In Defense of Night City: A Cyberpunk 2077 Architectural Critique.'

Cyberpunk cities feel like a concrete canyon because they are designed to box you in, turning the sky into a rare, obstructed luxury[5]. Massive skyscrapers and layered infrastructure like overpasses and tangled cables physically block the horizon, forcing your gaze upward into a vertical trap[5].

This visual density isn't just aesthetic; it’s a deliberate architectural metaphor for being trapped within oppressive systems[2]. By replacing the natural sky with a ceiling of neon signage and machinery, the city constantly reminds you that you are just a small cog in a massive, overwhelming machine[1].