Phantom Liberty Rewrites Cyberpunk 2077’s DNA

Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty feels extra like a top-to-bottom overhaul of the unique sport than a regular growth. In fact, it would function a brand new story with new characters and a brand new space to discover, however what left me most excited is how this growth may probably shake up the unique expertise and deal with many points gamers had at launch.

Earlier than our hands-on demo, quest director Paweł Sasko and quest designer Despoina Anetaky informed us that just about each system had been modified, tweaked, or redone fully. Unlockable skills within the ability tree really feel extra like perks somewhat than passive stat bonuses; the cybernetics are much more sturdy, providing extra gameplay choices; and the notorious police response system has been rebuilt from the bottom up. This is not the primary time developer CD Projekt Crimson has completed one thing like this–The Witcher 3’s last growth introduced with it plenty of adjustments to the UI and combat–but Phantom Liberty is trying to comprehensively rewrite Cyberpunk’s DNA.

Phantom Liberty is not only a glorified replace, although. It brings with it a narrative that leans closely into the spy thriller style and new characters together with the gruff sleeper cell agent Solomon Reed (portrayed by the illustrious Idris Elba) and a brand new lawless district of Evening Metropolis known as Dogtown. The setup appears pretty easy: A mysterious character who goes by Songbird guarantees V that she will take away the lethal biochip from their head, if she will save and defend the president of the New United States after her plane crashes in Dogtown.

My session started within the seedy underbelly of Dogtown, a district nestled within Pacifica. Rubbish littered the neon-washed alleyways, and cybered-up riffraff ambled the sidewalks. It was a sight not too far off from what we noticed in Cyberpunk 2077, however Dogtown has a rugged lawlessness to it that feels extra in keeping with the post-apocalyptic streets of Escape From New York than the compact and multilayered thoroughfares of Evening Metropolis. This will appear unusual given its location inside Evening Metropolis, however Dogtown is essentially lower off from the town, appearing extra as an unbiased state somewhat than a district. Sasko and Anetaky informed us that Dogtown may be very troublesome to enter and exit with out the precise connections. After finishing the primary few missions, V can enter and go away Dogtown as they please, however entry to the world is closed off till you start the growth.

It is powerful to provide any agency impressions of the story primarily based on what I performed, but it surely appears CD Projekt Crimson is utilizing this growth to dig deeper into Johnny Silverhand’s character. At one level, whereas we have been ready for Solomon Reed by a run-down basketball courtroom, Johnny mirrored on his time within the military and grappled together with his guilt for deserting. It was a messy, introspective second that confirmed a facet of Johnny we by no means actually noticed in Cyberpunk 2077. It is clear that Johnny hates the institution and the whole lot the NUSA stands for, however listening to his rage-fueled rantings about how the navy hides violence underneath the guise of hole platitudes whereas concurrently feeling responsible exhibits that it is a chapter of his life that he is by no means managed to shut.

In fact, the star of the growth is particular agent Reed. He is a gruff and charismatic undercover operative that’s poised to play a central function in Phantom Liberty. Like Idris Elba himself, Reed has a commanding, larger-than-life presence to him. He is assured, calculated, and imposing. My first encounter with Reed started with him jamming a gun into V’s facet from behind as he vets them. It is an excellent little introduction that matches properly throughout the spy-thriller-inspired story. Whereas I nonetheless have many questions on who Reed is and what his motives are, he looks as if he might be an excellent foil to Johnny’s anarchist worldview.

What’s most spectacular is how completely different Phantom Liberty feels in comparison with the vanilla expertise and the way these adjustments may breathe new life into the core expertise. Practically each system has been touched up or redone, and new mechanics have been launched, equivalent to automobile fight–and these options aren’t restricted to Phantom Liberty.

For instance, cybernetics acquired an entire overhaul. Now, armor is tied to your cyberware somewhat than clothes. This implies you may put on no matter you need with out worrying about your general protection and fight effectiveness. Nevertheless, you may’t set up a bunch of cyberware without delay. As you progress you may enhance your cyberware restrict, and for those who set up an excessive amount of you may be hit with numerous debuffs. Not solely that, however if you set up new cyberware, you may get to see the set up course of from V’s perspective. Whereas we did not get particular examples of how cyberpsychosis may have an effect on your character, getting debuffs from extreme cybernetics suits throughout the context of the world. It looks as if a way more refined system that may pressure gamers to rigorously choose and select cyberware that matches their play type.

Talent timber throughout the board have additionally been reworked to introduce new skills and perks that ought to boost fight. Sasko informed us that they wished to get away from the percentage-based stat buffs that populated the unique ability tree and construct them round distinctive class-based abilities. Throughout my time, I solely bought to play as a quick solo construct outfitted with a thermal katana and mantis blades. Due to the brand new and improved Reflex ability tree, I may sprint mid-air, deflect bullets, and carry out gory finishers. I am curious to see simply how sturdy these revamped ability timber are, notably on the subject of netrunning, but when my time with the quick solo construct was any indication, I believe there must be some cool surprises in retailer for each class archetype.

Phantom Liberty additionally brings with it the long-awaited revamped police and notoriety system. At launch, Cyberpunk 2077 was derided for its simplistic and unfair notoriety system. Police would spawn immediately and in random places, even when there have been no police close by. That’s not the case in Phantom Liberty. Now, much like GTA V, for those who commit a criminal offense, the police will examine. In case you’re close by, they are going to have interaction; if not, they are going to search the world. As you commit extra crimes in fast succession, they are going to get extra aggressive, and for those who hit a five-star wished degree, MaxTac, a SWAT-like particular forces unit within the Cyberpunk universe, will present up. Sasko informed us that bosses will spawn on the planet for those who get your notoriety excessive sufficient. Nevertheless, police aggression can also be dependent in your location. They’re going to be a lot faster to reply in wealthier, extra populated areas like Corpo Plaza.

While you do piss off the NCDP, you are not restricted to on-foot fight. Phantom Liberty introduces vehicular fight and weapon-mounted autos. Utilizing the bumper buttons, you may goal your gun out the window and hearth, and for those who’re on a bike you may wield melee weapons. I do not understand how sensible swinging a katana from the facet of a bike really is, but it surely positive seems badass. And to slot in with the spy-thriller aesthetic, you may even unlock a sports activities automobile with miniguns hidden behind the bumper a la James Bond’s well-known Aston Martin.

These options aren’t locked to the brand new space or DLC story. They’re world adjustments that may have an effect on your entire sport from begin to end and rebalance almost each side of the expertise. When you can load up outdated saves and nonetheless take pleasure in all these adjustments, there is a compelling case to begin recent, as many of those mechanics are designed to bolster Cyberpunk’s world-building and hone in on the role-playing facets at its basis.

The online game redemption arc has grow to be all too widespread lately. I am unable to blame individuals for giving up on Cyberpunk 2077 after its messy launch, but it surely was onerous to disclaim its potential. And, primarily based on what I noticed of Phantom Liberty, Cyberpunk 2077 may lastly dwell as much as it.