I may not be the first person to admit it but when I saw Blade Runner for the first time, I wanted to just BE in that bleak but irresistibly dazzling world of sleazy neon nightclubs, hazy street markets and the hustle and bustle of a city filled with quirky characters at every corner. Cyberpunk 2077 is a significant departure from the world of The Witcher, but is nevertheless a high fantasy in the same regard.
The most striking character of CD Projekt Red’s latest game is not Keanu Reeves but rather that exact neon-noir dreamscape, Night City. It is alive with busy streets, giant flickering billboards, flying cars and (mostly) criminal activity. There’s a satisfying degree of freedom with how you choose your character and their interactions with others, with a vast array of side quests and activities that form the most meat of the game.
As with the previous Witcher title, however, it is the quality of writing which sets this apart from the standard RPG title: the dialogue feels surprisingly natural in such an eccentric setting; the plot of each side quest - more so than the main quest - is often compelling and usually reflective of our real-world nightmares. Particular stories such as those about politicians being brainwashed and controlled by a higher authority, or detectives hijacking a dying man’s memories to find the kids he kidnapped, would make Philip K Dick proud.
I’m sure the game will be thoroughly patched out by the end of the year but the frequent bugs and crashes were indeed frustrating and sometimes obtrusive to the main game. I’d definitely recommend playing the game on a PC or new-gen console to minimise this but even then you’ll get bugs.
This is especially a shame considering the game is a technical feat in every other regard, the textures and designs of weapons, cars and clothing are spectacular and the lighting is dynamic and gorgeously detailed, making the gameplay a much more cinematic experience than the likes of Fallout or the Elder Scrolls.
The main aspect I was disappointed by was the lack of a third-person option, especially given the effort put into customising how your character looks - cyberpunk is as much a fashion statement as a political one, is it not?! The first-person is indeed immersive not being able to see your hero as part of the world you explore is a loss.
Whilst I enjoyed the main plot, the shortness of it allowing for repeated playthroughs for different endings, it was rather underwhelming in comparison to the rest of the game. Yes, Keanu Reeves is a neat addition but not as game-changing as hoped for.
Overall, it’s certainly not as groundbreaking, nor as polished, as it was hyped up to be, but hype as massive as that usually does that much disservice to a game. I do still think it delivers on its promise of mere escapism into the endlessly cinematic world of Night City, something that is all the more welcome during the dystopian times we currently in.
The most striking character of CD Projekt Red’s latest game is not Keanu Reeves but rather that exact neon-noir dreamscape, Night City. It is alive with busy streets, giant flickering billboards, flying cars and (mostly) criminal activity. There’s a satisfying degree of freedom with how you choose your character and their interactions with others, with a vast array of side quests and activities that form the most meat of the game.
As with the previous Witcher title, however, it is the quality of writing which sets this apart from the standard RPG title: the dialogue feels surprisingly natural in such an eccentric setting; the plot of each side quest - more so than the main quest - is often compelling and usually reflective of our real-world nightmares. Particular stories such as those about politicians being brainwashed and controlled by a higher authority, or detectives hijacking a dying man’s memories to find the kids he kidnapped, would make Philip K Dick proud.
I’m sure the game will be thoroughly patched out by the end of the year but the frequent bugs and crashes were indeed frustrating and sometimes obtrusive to the main game. I’d definitely recommend playing the game on a PC or new-gen console to minimise this but even then you’ll get bugs.
This is especially a shame considering the game is a technical feat in every other regard, the textures and designs of weapons, cars and clothing are spectacular and the lighting is dynamic and gorgeously detailed, making the gameplay a much more cinematic experience than the likes of Fallout or the Elder Scrolls.
The main aspect I was disappointed by was the lack of a third-person option, especially given the effort put into customising how your character looks - cyberpunk is as much a fashion statement as a political one, is it not?! The first-person is indeed immersive not being able to see your hero as part of the world you explore is a loss.
Whilst I enjoyed the main plot, the shortness of it allowing for repeated playthroughs for different endings, it was rather underwhelming in comparison to the rest of the game. Yes, Keanu Reeves is a neat addition but not as game-changing as hoped for.
Overall, it’s certainly not as groundbreaking, nor as polished, as it was hyped up to be, but hype as massive as that usually does that much disservice to a game. I do still think it delivers on its promise of mere escapism into the endlessly cinematic world of Night City, something that is all the more welcome during the dystopian times we currently in.