Cyberpunk 2077 advertising campaign should go down in marketing textbooks as an example of what not to do. In promo materials gamers were promised a large-scale and spectacular RPG with variability of Planescape: Torment level, but in the end it turned out to be a completely different game, and also full of bugs.
How does it look like now? Should players, who were scared off by Cyberpunk 2077 release state, give it a second chance? More on that below.
BUGS AND GAME OPTIMIZATION
To begin with the most important thing: the bugs for the last year in the game became much less. Apparently, the developers decided to borrow the strategy of No Man’s Sky authors and not to give up until the project is polished to a shine. Over the past 12 months, more than 10 patches were released to fix the technical problems that were most noticeable.
Missing plot-important NPCs, broken quests, bogged down scripts, breakdancing cars, locations that load one meter away from the protagonist, regular crashes to the desktop….
The list of issues with the release version of Cyberpunk 2077 could go on indefinitely, but what’s more important is that, at this moment, this list is practically empty.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that the game no longer needs patches. It’s still possible to encounter people stuck in textures, disappearing street traffic at the most unexpected moments, and even treacherous trash bags on the roadside that are better avoided to not ‘bury’ one’s vehicle.
However, if previously Night City was almost entirely made up of bugs, now they appear at worst a couple of times an hour.
In this regard, Cyberpunk 2077 has definitely improved, transforming from a creation that belonged in Steam’s early access mode into a decent AAA title of acceptable quality. Had it been released in this state a year ago, there would have been no scandal surrounding it.
HAS THE OPEN WORLD COME TO LIFE?
Unfortunately, in the process of bug fixing, the developers had to make some sacrifices. The first and most noticeable is the reduction in the number of objects in the frame. What was proudly showcased in trailers and reached the release version in a crippled state was decided to be simplified. Thus, the bustling metropolis with its dense traffic and crowds of people on the streets has noticeably thinned out.
The illusion of a living world remains perhaps only in story-important locations, where it is simply indispensable. Those who expected to see an open world on par with GTA V but in cyberpunk settings are still in for a disappointment.
The local streets in their ‘density’ remind more of NFS: Carbon than any part of the Grand Theft Auto series.
Accepting such an open world is only possible if one expects from the game meditative trips from one mission to another, and not a living city of the future, where anything can happen to the main character at any moment. If the marketing campaign had not tried to present the latter scenario, the game’s reputation would have fared much better.
In its current state, the open world unequivocally hints that it was created as an adjunct to the story and numerous quests. It is these aspects that the developers focused on, and frankly, they would have been better off creating a semi-corridor adventure, which would have ultimately prevented them from being buried under their own ambitions.
PLOT AND LORE OF THE GAME
The main storyline missions and various side quests remain, even a year later, perhaps the most outstanding element of Cyberpunk 2077. This is not just about filler side quests of the ‘fetch-and-carry’ variety (although there are those too), but also about skillfully crafted missions that reveal complex characters and their backgrounds, as well as outline the future society in detail.
Now, when the game’s poor technical state is no longer glaringly obvious, one can fully immerse themselves in the various mood-setting sketches from the lives of Night City’s inhabitants. Among them are political intrigues, gang clashes, murder investigations, and simple human joys.
In the triumphant third ‘Witcher’, the developers already demonstrated their ability to create memorable quests, and in Cyberpunk 2077, their skill shines just as brightly. They adeptly alternate explosive action episodes with quiet conversational moments, horror scenes with comedic segments, without forgetting the understated drama.
Almost every quest can stick in the memory for a long time. Encountering a cyberpsycho in a store, a ride on the roller coaster with Silverhand, the beginning of a touching romance with Judy, attempts to unravel a complex conspiracy theory, a date with the aged Beast… It’s evident that the authors put their soul into creating these missions, and this is precisely what makes the story they tell so captivating.
CHARACTERS
Not a single quest in the game would work properly if the authors hadn’t bothered to write voluminous characters. CD Projekt RED excelled in this. Night City is inhabited by dozens of vivid personalities with their own aspirations, fears, and views on the society surrounding them. Their appearance, manner of speaking, the affairs they involve V in – all this helps to see them not as a set of scripted pixels, but as living people.
Cyberpunk 2077 impresses with its gallery of colorful characters. Apart from the dead rebel rocker with revolutionary tendencies, who became the face of the game’s advertising campaign, the protagonist encounters cold-blooded corporates, hardened psychopaths, and externally tough but not entirely dehumanized people who are just trying to survive in a world of grotesque capitalism.
At the same time, they do not become hostages to clichéd archetypes. Not every politician in the game is heartless, not every cop is corrupt, and not every positive character is pure of heart. They don’t try to unload their (often tragic) backstory on V and behave as real people would in their place.
Therefore, the dialogues here impress with their naturalness. Characters vividly react to what’s happening, don’t shy away from harsh expressions (some even abuse them), and, having developed trust in V, can open up to him. There are not many such touching moments in the game, but all of them operate at the highest level, for which the scriptwriters deserve praise once again.
GAME PROSPECTS AND DEVELOPMENT
According to the updated roadmap, the developers do not intend to rest on their laurels. If the past 12 months were spent releasing a series of patches and sparse cosmetic content, in 2022, the authors plan to introduce significant changes to Cyberpunk 2077. Of course, they will not stop polishing the game with major patches, which will eventually eliminate the remaining technical flaws.
In addition, Cyberpunk 2077 will finally reach next-generation consoles. No exact date has been announced yet, but according to the developers, this will happen no later than the first quarter of 2022. This version will be available for free to all who have previously purchased the game. Thus, as early as March (or even earlier), all owners of PS5 and Xbox Series X/S consoles will be able to walk through the updated Night City and its surroundings.
The planned release is referred to by the creators as a “soft reboot” of the project, as it will be accompanied by the substantial Patch 1.5, which includes additional content.
The support for the game will not end there. For the second half of 2022, the release of a major story DLC is planned, which includes a plethora of cosmetic items, a series of story missions continuing the narratives of the main characters, and additional vehicles with expanded customization options. According to the developers’ statements, this DLC Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty (like all those that are to follow) will be distributed free of charge among all owners of the base version of Cyberpunk 2077.
All this indicates that the Polish studio takes its dream project seriously. The developers have acknowledged their mistakes, listened to criticism from the gaming community, and are not going to give up until they bring their creation to perfection. Such professional ethics are already bearing fruit. Just look at the rise in positive ratings on Steam.
If a year ago the project was drowning in negative reviews, as of now, the overwhelming majority of reviews (more than 424 thousand) are positive.
CONCLUSION
Cyberpunk 2077 Answering the question posed in the title, it is definitely worth playing Cyberpunk 2077 in 2022. Those who were once deterred by the scandal around the unfinished title are awaited by delightful quests, decent gameplay (though not groundbreaking), as well as convincing characters and a wonderful, albeit not the most variable, story. Moreover, it’s worth returning to Night City even for those who have already reached the final credits. In light of the upcoming patches and additions, it would be very appropriate to explore all the game’s story branches, enjoy the absence of bugs, and refresh favorite moments in memory.
Arguments for:
- The action-RPG has transformed from a complete disaster into a playable project.
- In terms of the number of unique quests, Cyberpunk 2077 can compete with the best in the genre.
- High level of detail in dialogues and character development.
Arguments against:
- “Dead” open world.
- The proclaimed non-linearity of the story leaves much to be desired.
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty – A New Chapter of Night City
Cyberpunk 2077’s latest DLC, “Phantom Liberty,” promises to inject a fresh surge of excitement into the streets of Night City. This expansion, distinct in its scope and ambition, is not just another addition but a significant leap in the game’s narrative and world-building. “Phantom Liberty” expands the Cyberpunk universe, introducing new plots, characters, and locales that deepen the lore of this dystopian world. Players can anticipate an exhilarating blend of espionage and action, as the DLC teases a storyline centered around a spy-thriller theme. The expansion’s focus on political intrigue and rebellion adds layers to the already complex societal structure of Night City, offering a fresh perspective and new challenges. With its enhanced gameplay mechanics, improved graphics, and engaging story, “Phantom Liberty” is set to redefine the Cyberpunk 2077 experience, promising to be an essential play for both veterans of the game and newcomers alike.
