You’re standing in the middle of a neon-soaked nightmare, and for once, the bullets aren't flying. It’s quiet. Too quiet. That’s the feeling you get during Heaviest of Hearts Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty’s most gut-wrenching side gig. It isn't just a mission. It is a litmus test for your soul in a world where "soul" is a commodity bought and sold on the black market.
Honestly, Dogtown is a dump. We know this. But within that dumpster fire, CD Projekt Red managed to hide some of the most human stories ever told in a video game. This specific quest—Gig: Heaviest of Hearts—starts with a simple ping from Mr. Hands. He wants you to go to a club called Heavy Hearts. Standard stuff, right? Wrong.
The premise is deceptively simple: Michael Maldonado, a guy whose life is basically falling apart, needs you to delete some testimony from a DA’s server. Why? Because his son is being squeezed by a prosecutor named Georgina Zembinsky. If the evidence stays, the kid goes away. If it goes, the kid walks. But as with everything in the expansion, the truth is way messier than a "delete" key.
The Moral Rot Inside Heavy Hearts
When you walk into the Heavy Hearts club, the vibe is impeccable. It’s sleek. It’s expensive. It’s a sharp contrast to the grit outside. You’re looking for a woman named Georgina. Finding her requires a bit of social engineering or just being a tech-wizard, depending on how you built your V.
Most players just rush through. Don't.
Talk to the NPCs. Listen to the background chatter. The game is telegraphing something here: everyone is lying. When you finally confront Georgina in the VIP area, she doesn't look like a villain. She looks like a tired public servant. And that's where the Heaviest of Hearts Cyberpunk experience shifts from an action game to a philosophical debate.
She tells you the "son" isn't an innocent victim. He’s a monster. He’s part of a group that’s been doing things that would make a Maelstrom ganger blush. Georgina isn't trying to ruin a life; she’s trying to get justice for victims who don’t have a V to fight for them.
📖 Related: Siegfried Persona 3 Reload: Why This Strength Persona Still Trivializes the Game
Why Choice Paralysis Sets In
Here is where the sentence structure of your life gets complicated. You have two choices.
- Delete the data. Michael’s son goes free. Michael is happy. You get paid.
- Leave the data. Georgina wins. The son stays in the crosshairs. Michael’s life is ruined.
It's a classic "lesser of two evils" scenario that defines the cyberpunk genre. If you delete it, you're essentially letting a criminal walk just because a dad loves his kid. If you don't, you're betraying the person who hired you and potentially letting a corrupt system crush a family.
The nuance is what matters.
I’ve seen people argue for hours on Reddit and Discord about this. Some say Michael is just a desperate father. Others point out that in Night City, "innocence" is a myth. The writing doesn't give you an easy out. There is no "perfect" ending where everyone gets a trophy and a beer.
Technical Execution: How to Finish the Gig
For those who just want to get the job done without a moral crisis, the pathing is actually pretty clever. You need to get into the VIP section. If you have high Technical Ability, you can just short-circuit your way through. If not, you’re playing a game of stealth and distraction.
- The Staff Room: There's a keypad. You can find the code or hack it.
- The Servers: They are tucked away. Getting there without tripping alarms is the "pro" way to do it.
- The Confrontation: Georgina will try to bargain. She offers a "compromise." She suggests deleting the father's testimony but keeping the rest.
This compromise is a trap for your conscience. It seems like a win-win, but it’s really just a way to make sure the evidence she really needs stays put. It’s a masterful bit of narrative design.
👉 See also: The Hunt: Mega Edition - Why This Roblox Event Changed Everything
The Aftermath Nobody Tells You About
What happens after you walk out of Heavy Hearts?
If you side with Michael and delete everything, you meet him later. He’s relieved. But there’s a hollowness to it. You realize you’ve just participated in the very corruption you’re supposed to be fighting against as a "merc with a heart of gold."
If you side with Georgina, or take her deal, Michael is devastated. He feels betrayed. And let’s be real, V isn't exactly a hero in this scenario either. You’re just another tool in a corporate/legal machine.
This is why Heaviest of Hearts Cyberpunk is cited by critics like those at IGN or GamesRadar as a standout piece of content. It isn't about the loot. Though, the eddies are nice. It’s about the fact that 40 hours later, you’re still thinking about whether you did the right thing.
Common Misconceptions About Michael Maldonado
A lot of players think Michael is a "good guy."
He’s not. He’s a guy who’s willing to let others suffer so his own blood doesn't have to face consequences. In the lore of Cyberpunk 2077, this is a recurring theme. Family is the only thing that matters, but that loyalty often requires doing terrible things. Look at the Aldecaldos. Look at the Valentinos.
✨ Don't miss: Why the GTA San Andreas Motorcycle is Still the Best Way to Get Around Los Santos
The quest title itself is a pun. "Heavy Hearts" is the name of the club, but the "heaviest of hearts" belongs to V, the player, who has to carry the weight of these decisions.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Playthrough
If you’re heading back into Dogtown to tackle this, here is how to get the most out of it.
First, max out your Intelligence or Technical Ability before starting. This opens up dialogue options that reveal Georgina’s true motives much earlier. It changes the context of the entire conversation.
Second, don't kill the guards. Try to go through the entire club using non-lethal takedowns or pure stealth. It fits the "professional" vibe Mr. Hands expects from V. Plus, it makes the final confrontation feel more like a tense noir film and less like a mindless shooter.
Third, pay attention to the environmental storytelling. Read the shards in the back rooms. They paint a picture of a legal system that is completely fractured. Georgina isn't a saint—she’s just as much a part of the machine as anyone else.
Finally, listen to Johnny Silverhand. His commentary on this mission is biting. He sees through the BS of both sides. Sometimes, the grumpy rocker in your head is the only one telling the truth.
To really "complete" this experience, follow these steps:
- Save your game before entering the VIP lounge to see both outcomes.
- Read the "Evidence" shard found near the servers to understand the son's actual crimes.
- Observe Michael's reaction in the final dialogue—it reveals more about his character than the entire briefing.
- Check your messages a few days later; the fallout from this mission often arrives via a text that confirms the consequences of your choice.
The game doesn't judge you. It just lets you live with what you've done. That's the most cyberpunk thing about it.