Cyberpunk 2077 has come a long way since its launch. When it came out, it was a mess of bugs and glitches, fans were furious, and rightly so since they were promised so many features, that the game’s marketing had made it sound like an actual second life in the cyberpunk world. However, on release, people who had waited for almost a decade were met with a game that was barely running on last-gen systems, had terrible framerate even on good PCs, and was riddled with often hilarious yet frustrating bugs that ruined any immersion the player was able to laboriously garner.
People rushed to the forums and delivered unprecedented hate and criticism to the team at CDPR, they wanted to love this game as it had such a unique narrative and setting than the usual looter shooter games every studio was churning out. Thankfully, CDPR did not give up on the game and instead, fixed most of the bugs, improved enemy and police AI, and gave it an exceptional expansion that seamlessly integrates with the main campaign.
CDPR’s Redemption
Improvements in the game from CDPR coupled with the release of Edgerunners from Studio Trigger, gave a well-timed and much-needed revival to the game. After all of the updates, Cyberpunk 2077 now has a diverse and organized attribute and perk system that allows the player to try out a variety of builds and works seamlessly with the different guns, blades, and various elements that make up the combat system of the game.
There are any number of ways a player can approach an objective, a stealthy netrunner sporting a cyberdeck, a meticulous ninja who leverages time slowdown of the sandevistan to land a perfect cut from a katana, or even an agent of chaos who prefers to leverage the superhero-like invincibility granted by berserk to combat enemy ranks head on.
Incredible Post Launch Support
Cyberpunk 2077, after Phantom Liberty and update 2.1 has become near perfect with regards to bug fixes and gameplay imbalances; however, despite all that, what made the game unique was always there, despite all the bugs and issues on its launch, it never failed to deliver on what cyberpunk was trying to do, what makes it special had been there from the very beginning.
While it’s true that the bugs, mislabeled AI, and T-posing NPCs marred the game’s launch and left fans disappointed, even after fixes, some may argue that the Cyberpunk world remains unresponsive and lacks challenge. However, the game’s primary focus was never to excel in those aspects.
Cyberpunk’s Philosophy
Cyberpunk was not about being a next-gen shiny coat of paint on the same adrenaline-inducing shooter games, what it was trying to give was an experience of life in the dark yet beautiful world of Night City, a narrative that was tragic yet grand, characters that had imperfections, hopes, dreams, desires, motive and emotions that rival the depth of people we see in real life, and dialogue that creates moments that elicit genuine thought, retrospection and introspection in the player, especially as they navigate the conversations.
What truly distinguishes it is the depth of its characters, the intricacies of gang interactions, and the numerous stories scattered throughout the city. From the formation of gangs to personal struggles documented in shards, each narrative enriches seemingly routine missions. In addition to its bittersweet main storyline, Cyberpunk aimed to depict, in detail, how individual problems would manifest in a dystopian future like the one it presents.
An Alive World
Sure, you could find other games with better gunplay, fewer bugs, polished mechanics, etc. As a matter of fact, it is not hard to find a game with open world nowadays but you would be hard-pressed to find a game with a world as large, dense, detailed, and full of life as Night City. Markets bustle with vendors and shoppers, random NPCs engage in realistic conversations about their problems, and your acquaintances call or message you about their issues, asking for favors and reciprocating when you need them.
A prime example is how your relationship with Judy evolves as you progress in the game. Initially, it’s strictly business, but after Evelyn (Judy’s friend) goes missing, Judy tries to distance herself until you ultimately help rescue Evelyn. When Judy loses Evelyn, she starts turning to you for help, leading to a close friendship. The game’s handling of romances is also far superior to most, where your dialogue choices can make or break the romance, much like real life.
Characters often reprimand you for unsavory or out-of-place dialogue choices, prompting you to think during conversations throughout the game, unlike in other games where you simply wait for them to end. The characters’ choices align with their beliefs; you can understand and sympathize with Takemura’s fierce loyalty to Saburo Arasaka, who lifted him out of the Chiba-11 slums in Japan, providing him with education, skills, resources, and honor. Similarly, you comprehend Panam’s actions, from helping Saul escape the Wraith’s camp to aiding you in reaching Mikoshi, driven by unwavering loyalty to her family and commitment to her ideals.
The standout feature that sets Cyberpunk apart from other titles is its authentic and deep characters, presentation of morally gray dilemmas, and the way seemingly detached side jobs impact the main narrative. The evolving relationships with characters like Johnny Silverhand, the grandeur and detail of Night City, and the intricate interplay of its different aspects create a cohesive and immersive experience.
The game offers a variety of ways to build abilities to suit your playstyle and approach combat, along with emotionally resonant and thought-provoking dialogue. It’s a game that prompts introspection about one’s own life. I find Cyberpunk unique in that I wish they wouldn’t create another installment but instead continue releasing new content like Phantom Liberty. The potential for stories and expansions within the infinite possibilities of Night City in Cyberpunk 2077 is vast, showcasing the limitless potential of the Cyberpunk world.
