Everyone loves a good comeback story, and Cyberpunk 2077 might just be one of the best in gaming. Released nearly 3 years ago to abysmal performance, so bad it was pulled from the PSN store, the game has since received numerous updates. The newest update, free for all players on next generation consoles and PC, 2.0 overhauls many systems in the game. Along with the major gameplay overhaul CD Projekt Red also released an expansion to the already massive game, Phantom Liberty. If you have not already played this game, or are coming back, there is a lot to love.
One of the biggest gameplay overhauls is the progression system. The new system includes attribute points and perk points. The five main categories, body, reflexes, technical ability, intelligence, and cool all remain the same, and are upgraded using attribute points. There are skill trees within those 5 categories, and each skill tree is upgraded using skill points. Each skill tree has vastly different modifiers like “cool” affecting stealth and precision with certain guns, or technical ability affecting how much cyberware V can equip. The skill trees are in depth, and with a level cap, and only one attribute reset available, players need to carefully decide what they want their build to be.
The cyberware cap is another big change to the gameplay. V now has a cap on the amount of cyberware that can be equipped. Cyberware has also, for the most part, replaced clothing as an armor system. The changes to cyberware make it feel much more significant. There is still the fun cyberware, like mantis blades and others, but cyberware is tied more deeply to armor and stat modifiers which make a huge difference. As an example, I tried waiting to install cyberwear on so I could just save eddies for the best, and I got to the point where enemies were taking me out in nearly one hit.
Another big addition to Cyberpunk 2077 2.0 is vehicle combat. Vehicle combat is a welcome addition to a game that really needed it. CDPR has even added some weaponized vehicles to the game. Vehicle combat feels great. The game implements an auto lock on system with a very generous auto aim that allows players to focus on driving instead of aiming and crashing into everything. Of course vehicle combat would be nothing without the vehicles, and they are fantastic. The detail in vehicles is crazy, from stitching on seats, to a bobblehead in some cars that accurately moves with the vehicle. Looks are not everything though, driving in Cyberpunk 2077 isn’t on a level of games like Grand Theft Auto V, but for an open world game of this magnitude it’s enjoyable enough to push players to want to drive different vehicles and find one they like.
One of the reasons why vehicle combat is so useful is because of the new police system. The game now has a wanted level system 5 similar to GTA V, and it adds a lot of fun to Cyberpunk 2077. Although the system was reworked, the police are mostly non-intrusive. Just going from mission to mission, the player will run into more police fighting gangs than trying to stop V, but way the police interact with the world around them is incredible. Police will engage in random car chases, the shoot-outs, and other random that help add to the already phenomenal atmosphere of Night City. Although they may seem like a cosmetic addition, if a player does want to rampage, the police will be there, and reaching the fifth level of the wanted system will even bring in maxtac.
Along with the free 2.0 update CPDR also released CyberPunk 2077’s first and what will be its only expansion Phantom Liberty. Phantom Liberty is everything someone could want from a paid expansion. It includes an entire new section to Night City, Dog Town, a new storyline featuring sleeper agent Solomon Reed voiced by Idris Elba, and much more. Phantom Liberty is dropped right into the middle of Cyberpunk’s Story. The plot revolves around the president’s aircraft getting shot down in Dogtown, and V must rescue the president and unite her with Reed in exchange for help with the relic. Anything more would be in spoiler waters, but the new story is great, it could be right out of a spy movie. The expansion has huge set pieces, action straight out of the best action movies, and so much more to experience. The expansion also adds a new skill tree that can use a different progression from the main skill trees. The New relic skill tree adds useful additions like mantis blade upgrades, and slowing time when spotted by enemies.
In 2023 Cyberpunk is amazing, and more than meets the expectations of the original hype that was built around it. Phantom Liberty is more than worth the $30 price tag especially for those who already owned the game. I could write a book about how good this game is, but it would make more sense to just play it for yourself.
Chase Hil 
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