by SymphonieCD Projekt Red made one of the greatest RPGs of all time with The Witcher 3, a game that ticked practically every box and delivered player freedom integrated seamlessly with a defined protagonist. Following this up was always going to be difficult, and Cyberpunk 2077 had a very troubled launch, with the array of platforms perhaps contributing to this. However, regular updates have honed the edge of Cyberpunk 2077, and the recently released 2.0 update has overhauled many of its mechanics to make it the game it always should have been. And the arrival of the DLC expansion Phantom Liberty is just the cherry on top of the gaming cake.
Cyberpunk Graduates to Greatness with 2.0 Update
Cyberpunk 2077 always had a lot of promise, but the rocky start did sour things for many people (particularly those on older consoles). The game still had its charms, but the contrast between expectation and delivery was stark. This is far from unique in the modern gaming world, and online updating means patches, hotfixes, and more substantial updates of game mechanics can turn a ship around. And so it’s proven with Cyberpunk 2077 and its 2.0 update, released on 21 September.
The update alters the game’s core mechanics and adds a lot of quality-of-life improvements. Menu navigation isn’t at the top of anyone’s gaming priority list, but when it’s clunky, it can grind a player down over tens of hours, and the 2.0 update has made this a lot smoother. More importantly, skills have been reworked, with more distinctive play styles supported via a new skill system. Whether a player prefers melee violence or hacking their way to success, the new approach to character-building has won plaudits. It’s worth noting this works well with both a specialist build or a hybrid style, allowing for significant tinkering by players.
The sandbox side of things is also better, with an improved approach to criminal acts and police activity (they no longer pop in magically, and the response is more tailored to the severity of crimes committed). Vehicular combat is another area sharpened in the update, a boon for drive-by enthusiasts. For those who prefer going on foot, stamina is different now, and sprinting forever is fine. Instead, stamina applies to combat actions, and health inhalers come with a cool down to encourage more strategy in fights (and less spamming).
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Idris Elba joins Keanu Reeves in Phantom Liberty
One area that has always been a strong point of Cyberpunk 2077 is star p
ower, starting with Keanu Reeves and now augmented by Idris Elba’s arrival in Phantom Liberty. The new expansion for the game has gone down a storm and also arrived in September. Set in the charmingly named Dogtown, Phantom Liberty sees the player surrounded by buildings falling to pieces alongside astonishing, glittering architectural feats. And the stakes could scarcely be higher.
Rescuing the president is video game 101, but it works well here thanks to the spy angle and the undoubted charisma of Idris Elba’s Solomon Reed. As with Reeves’ Silverhand, Reed is a dead ringer for Elba in appearance and voice, which is pretty cool. Sneaking around, competing agendas, and even a touch of casino gaming are all present in classic thriller style.
Previously a Flawed Gem
Between the 2.0 update and the Phantom Liberty expansion, Cyberpunk 2077 has been transformed from a flawed gem into one of the best RPGs of the current generation. And while the update and expansion are great, it’s worth noting that after its troubled start, the game had solid foundations to build.
The protagonist, V, was not quite on a par with Geralt from The Witcher 3 but still had more oomph to her character than many RPG leads. This was not a standard blank slate protagonist acting as a thin filter between player and game, but a person with her (or his) own personality. Likewise, Keanu Reeves is a big name, but the storyline could have been stronger with Johnny Silverhand’s entertaining interactions and plot weight. In a world of burgeoning AI and the increasing use of drones and cybernetics, the themes of transhumanism and technological progress potentially leading to less personal freedom and even worsening society could not be more relevant. There is still plenty of fantasy, though, such as being able to easily get hold of an apartment or to shrug off bullet wounds.
September’s release of the 2.0 revamp update, and the only paid DLC planned, has revitalized Cyberpunk 2077 and made it the game it should have been.
