The attraction of Evening Metropolis was in its spectacular scope and dazzling visuals, which painted a bleak neon-lit future dictated by technological exploitation and unfettered capitalism. Inside that had been tragic, human tales to tug at your heartstrings and a complete lot of violent motion typically perpetuated by its gameplay techniques. However what for those who took one of the best components of Cyberpunk 2077 and condensed them into a decent, cohesive package deal for a heart-wrenching political motion thriller? That is what Phantom Liberty does in an growth that seamlessly suits into the unique recreation.
Phantom Liberty showcases the total potential of Cyberpunk 2077 with a brand new, charming story in regards to the faults of loyalty, reckoning together with your previous and its penalties, and self-preservation in a tech-fueled dystopia. These are acquainted themes, for positive, however Phantom Liberty is intimate, uncooked, and earnest–all advised by way of the lens of a powerful forged of characters elevated by poignant writing and delivered by way of sharp performances. It is capable of execute on these narrative ambitions as a result of, most of the time, the missions that drive the plot function top-tier motion set items that permit the revamped RPG mechanics sing, then break the tempo with a wide range of tense and well-crafted non-combat eventualities, which provides the expertise a relentless and regular momentum.
Greater than something, Phantom Liberty goes above and past with not one, however two finales which are wildly completely different but equally stunning–hell, you possibly can even argue it is three when counting the added ending for the unique story. It is a unbelievable mixture of almost every part you possibly can ask of Cyberpunk. And after taking 30 hours to expertise all of its content–both predominant story routes, the brand new ending, all of the facet missions and gigs, and more–I can not think about Cyberpunk 2077 with out Phantom Liberty.
When you can leap straight into the brand new content material or use a save far sufficient within the base recreation, these beginning contemporary should make it to what’s roughly the midway level, proper when the unique story provides you parallel predominant questlines. Phantom Liberty acts as one other department to predominant character V’s seek for a remedy to their illness, and one which entails forces outdoors of Evening Metropolis: federal brokers who make up the brand new core characters, and Dogtown, a downtrodden militia-run district the place many of the growth takes place.
It is laborious to disregard the starpower of famed actor Idris Elba, who lends his voice and likeness to key character Solomon Reed. He is cussed and retains everybody at arm’s size, but has a commanding presence in each scene he is in. However the emotional anchor is Track So Mi, aka Songbird, who’s arguably probably the most proficient netrunner on the earth. Sharing the identical targets as V, she gives a beautiful distinction and brings the depth required to inform a narrative like Phantom Liberty’s. Reed and Songbird have a deep historical past working collectively as long-time FIA brokers, and with V caught up in all of it, an intriguing rigidity consistently hangs over the political and private drama.
And there to chop the strain is Johnny Silverhand, who’s nonetheless the charismatic asshole you recognize and love, portrayed by and modeled after Keanu Reeves as soon as once more. Surprisingly, he will get much more introspective, opening up in ways in which add a brand new dimension to his character as he pertains to the occasions of Phantom Liberty. He is at all times lingering within the background and infrequently gives sobering views on probably the most dire conditions whereas staying true to who he is–there’s a comforting familiarity when he pops up. When you do not know who to belief or what option to make, you possibly can depend on Johnny to be that dickhead buddy you possibly can’t assist however love as a result of, with every of his smartass one-liners, you at the very least know he is brutally trustworthy.
Voice performances come alive with movement seize and animation, which advantages scenes the place subtleties genuinely add a layer of nuance to those characters. Particularly for a narrative totally advised in first-person, these excessive manufacturing values repay. This confluence of writing, efficiency, and tech is how Reed, Songbird, Johnny, and different supporting characters are capable of leap out from the display screen as memorable of their most important moments, and change into unforgettable figures in Cyberpunk’s world.
The brand new bodily piece to that world is Dogtown, an unbiased district inside Evening Metropolis that is been overrun by a militia performing because the de facto authorities. Sprawling slums and deserted buildings make up most of Dogtown, together with just a few luxurious institutions and the vigorous black market throughout the soccer stadium. It is smaller in scale than the primary Evening Metropolis map, making it simpler to familiarize your self with the streets. However when trying throughout the district from the rooftops, it nonetheless gives the look of an expansive open world. Though the tough realities on the bottom are unhappy to see, like a post-apocalyptic society barely scraping by, Dogtown has a definite id separate from Evening Metropolis. A part of it’s a lawless warzone, however there’s one other facet that is genuinely human with individuals making an attempt their greatest to eke out an existence despite all of it.
Phantom Liberty makes nice use of Dogtown, well embedding a lot of its predominant story and facet missions inside its streets. Absolutely the banger of a gap mission is emblematic of this design philosophy. As Songbird leads you thru the stadium’s black market, you get a direct sense of the city’s vibe earlier than all hell breaks unfastened. Whether or not you are wading by way of battling factions in tense firefights or making elaborate performs at stealth, you possibly can shortly see how Dogtown was made to naturally help a wide range of missions and fight sequences that really feel curated and deliberately designed, and that synergy is a mark of open world.
Gigs and facet missions additionally litter the streets, and Phantom Liberty prioritizes high quality over amount right here as effectively. Whereas they’re facet content material, gigs play an vital function within the circulate of the primary mission since your fixer, Mr. Palms, is a vital contact for favors that advance the story. What’s extra is that every gig is an elaborately designed mission somewhat than an goal to examine off a listing. These are action-packed to provide them a satisfying gameplay problem, they usually’re at all times accompanied by a heavy resolution in the long run, which must typically be made within the warmth of the second. With solely incomplete data of the state of affairs at hand, the ethical conundrums change into extra attention-grabbing as decisions are not often ever black and white. These tales paint a vivid image of what life is like in Dogtown, the place the desperation to flee poverty clashes with the very system that folks depend on; a system that exploits them, grinds them, and spits them out. The outcomes of your selections might not result in main revelations, however each single gig and facet mission is totally price doing.
Phantom Liberty additionally encompasses the two.0 replace for Cyberpunk, and the fight is now extra thrilling with explosive set items that deliver out one of the best within the overhauled RPG techniques. (You may learn my full ideas on the Cyberpunk 2077 2.0 replace particularly, if you’d like all the small print.) With the revamped perks and talent bushes, constructing your character for particular playstyles can result in dramatic effectiveness in fight. And the pliability of the system, which expertly balances complexity and approachability, means you will create hybrid approaches. Options just like the Hack Queue make netrunner-style builds way more sensible and complex. Lightning-fast air dashes mixed with blades make you a nimble, deadly goal who can deflect bullets again at enemies. Stealth may also be labored into any construct as a result of the gameplay techniques and degree design each help it as a viable choice. Cyberpunk is not inflexible, and actually, it pushes you to create these hybrid builds to beat Phantom Liberty’s intense, difficult battles. The distinct skills within the talent bushes are so enjoyable to combine and match, and like nice RPGs do, permitting gamers to piece collectively their favourite gameplay mechanics feels pure.
The brand new cyberware system provides one other layer to creating an efficient construct, letting you fine-tune your character with particular stat buffs, extra skills, and quickhacks. Phantom Liberty introduces the Relic talent tree as effectively, and whereas it is not notably deep, it provides a wrinkle to the components with new cyberware just like the quickhack-infused Monowire melee weapon, or extra perks that give an higher hand for stealth or hitting enemy weak spots. Cyberpunk 2077’s RPG id is way stronger now than it was beforehand and Phantom Liberty’s fight eventualities considerably profit from this reinvented basis. Collectively, all of it ends in a uniquely satisfying gameplay expertise.
There was by no means a uninteresting second when it got here to fight, nevertheless it’s just one a part of what Phantom Liberty does so effectively. The story attracts inspiration from spy thrillers, which is well seen in missions the place it’s a must to navigate conversations fastidiously underneath irritating conditions. Infiltrating an extravagant rooftop social gathering, then mixing in as visitor so as to make contact and get very important data, was a particular highlight–due partially to the lifelike environment and intoxicating visible thrives. When it got here right down to enterprise, nonetheless, making wise dialogue selections underneath duress, and infrequently doubting your self for those who made the best one, was integral to the expertise.
Total, Phantom Liberty is not a lot involved with supplying you with freedom to affect outcomes on a big scale till it makes these decisions clear. However even when it is on a set observe with clear paths, the sport is nice at contextualizing your selections to mitigate emotions of pointlessness. There are some inconsistencies in dialogue choices and some instances the place I am conflicted not with the alternatives I made, however in how sure characters painting particular conditions and the tone they’re delivered in. However in any other case, the writing is watertight and I started to care about these minor selections as I grew to become totally invested within the story and taking part in the function of my V, even when simply to impress sure responses.
The conversations at Dogtown’s park overlooking the unfinished skyscrapers provide you with time to soak all of it in. Sticking round to snoop on a dialog between key characters or make a dialogue alternative opens small, however rewarding alternatives to see characters in a distinct mild. So, as wild because the motion might get, there’s an ever-present groundedness to the journey, making seemingly inconsequential decisions add as much as kind a plausible, personalised understanding of Phantom Liberty.
With all that laid naked, Phantom Liberty’s crowning achievement is in the way it executes its closing hours. With two mutually unique paths at a turning level within the story, the sport takes some wild swings that repay in spectacularly alternative ways. They will hit you with surprising twists that go away you questioning whether or not or not you probably did the best factor, questioning why you are feeling empowered but powerless, and pondering the age-old query: What was all of it for? That is one case the place I implore anybody who performs this growth to see each routes. That is due to the drastically completely different and very good gameplay sequences they provide, even subverting the style expectations in a single case, however extra importantly, collectively they full the total image of Phantom Liberty’s bold story.
And on high of that, the brand new ending for the unique story earned by fulfilling sure circumstances in Phantom Liberty is a cherry on high, recontextualizing the Cyberpunk journey in highly effective style. To speak in regards to the feelings it teased out of me can be to provide away too much–but I have to say that CD Projekt Pink has outdone itself with this one, delivering the kind of ending that only a few video games are capable of get proper.
Phantom Liberty is Cyberpunk 2077 at its greatest. CD Projekt Pink has taken the teachings from the unique launch and centered on the components that mattered most to ship an exhilarating and impactful expertise that does not overstay its welcome. And though it suits into the unique story, it leaves a long-lasting impression that rewrote my notion of Cyberpunk’s world. From a gameplay perspective, Phantom Liberty takes full benefit of the unbelievable overhaul of the RPG techniques for fight, then elevates the intimate dialogue-driven parts that make it unforgettable–and does so in spectacular and creative style in its conclusions. Beneath the violence and edginess, the precise cyberpunk world is at all times going to be in regards to the toll on human life, and Phantom Liberty largely understands that. It is merciless, sobering, and bittersweet, and it will follow you effectively after V lays down their weapons.