The attraction of Night City was in its spectacular scope and dazzling visuals, which painted a bleak neon-lit future dictated by technological exploitation and unfettered capitalism. Within that have been tragic, human tales to drag at your heartstrings and a complete lot of violent motion typically perpetuated by its gameplay methods. But what in case you took the most effective elements of Cyberpunk 2077 and condensed them into a decent, cohesive bundle for a heart-wrenching political motion thriller? That’s what Phantom Liberty does in an enlargement that seamlessly matches into the unique sport.Phantom Liberty showcases the complete potential of Cyberpunk 2077 with a brand new, charming story in regards to the faults of loyalty, reckoning along 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 informed via the lens of a robust solid of characters elevated by poignant writing and delivered via sharp performances. It’s in a position to 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 allow the revamped RPG mechanics sing, then break the tempo with a wide range of tense and well-crafted non-combat situations, which provides the expertise a relentless and regular momentum.
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Now Playing: Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty Video Review
More than something, Phantom Liberty goes above and past with not one, however two finales which can be wildly totally different but equally stunning–hell, you possibly can even argue it is three when counting the added ending for the unique story. It’s a incredible mixture of almost every part you possibly can ask of Cyberpunk. And after taking 30 hours to expertise all of its content–both important story routes, the brand new ending, all of the aspect missions and gigs, and more–I am unable to think about Cyberpunk 2077 with out Phantom Liberty.While you may bounce straight into the brand new content material or use a save far sufficient within the base sport, these beginning recent must make it to what’s roughly the midway level, proper when the unique story provides you parallel important questlines. Phantom Liberty acts as one other department to important character V’s seek for a remedy to their illness, and one which includes forces outdoors of Night City: federal brokers who make up the brand new core characters, and Dogtown, a downtrodden militia-run district the place many of the enlargement takes place.It’s arduous to disregard the starpower of famed actor Idris Elba, who lends his voice and likeness to key character Solomon Reed. He’s cussed and retains everybody at arm’s size, but has a commanding presence in each scene he is in. But the emotional anchor is Song So Mi, aka Songbird, who’s arguably probably the most proficient netrunner on this planet. Sharing the identical targets as V, she offers 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 always hangs over the political and private drama.And there to chop the strain is Johnny Silverhand, who’s nonetheless the charismatic asshole 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’s at all times lingering within the background and infrequently offers 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 may depend on Johnny to be that dickhead pal you may’t assist however love as a result of, with every of his smartass one-liners, you at the 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. Especially for a narrative fully informed 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 in a position to bounce out from the display screen as memorable of their most important moments, and develop into unforgettable figures in Cyberpunk’s world.The new bodily piece to that world is Dogtown, an unbiased district inside Night City 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 a couple of luxurious institutions and the vigorous black market throughout the soccer stadium. It’s smaller in scale than the principle Night City map, making it simpler to familiarize your self with the streets. But when trying throughout the district from the rooftops, it nonetheless gives the look of an expansive open world. Although 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 Night City. Part of it’s a lawless warzone, however there’s one other aspect that is genuinely human with individuals attempting their greatest to eke out an existence regardless of all of it.Phantom Liberty makes nice use of Dogtown, neatly embedding a lot of its important story and aspect missions inside its streets. The absolute banger of a gap mission is emblematic of this design philosophy. As Songbird leads you thru the stadium’s black market, you get an instantaneous sense of the city’s vibe earlier than all hell breaks unfastened. Whether you are wading via battling factions in tense firefights or making elaborate performs at stealth, you may rapidly 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 aspect missions additionally litter the streets, and Phantom Liberty prioritizes high quality over amount right here as effectively. While they’re aspect content material, gigs play an vital position within the circulation of the principle mission since your fixer, Mr. Hands, is an important contact for favors that advance the story. What’s extra is that every gig is an elaborately designed mission relatively than an goal to test off a listing. These are action-packed to offer them a satisfying gameplay problem, and so they’re at all times accompanied by a heavy choice ultimately, which must typically be made within the warmth of the second. With solely incomplete info of the scenario at hand, the ethical conundrums develop into extra attention-grabbing as selections are hardly ever 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 individuals depend on; a system that exploits them, grinds them, and spits them out. The outcomes of your selections could not result in main revelations, however each single gig and aspect mission is completely value doing.Phantom Liberty additionally encompasses the two.0 replace for Cyberpunk, and the fight is now extra thrilling with explosive set items that carry out the most effective within the overhauled RPG methods. (You can learn my full ideas on the Cyberpunk 2077 2.0 replace particularly, if you’d like all the main points.) With the revamped perks and talent bushes, constructing your character for particular playstyles can result in dramatic effectiveness in fight. And the flexibleness of the system, which expertly balances complexity and approachability, means you may create hybrid approaches. Features just like the Hack Queue make netrunner-style builds way more sensible and complicated. 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 methods and stage design each help it as a viable possibility. Cyberpunk is not inflexible, and in reality, 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 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 system 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 far stronger now than it was beforehand and Phantom Liberty’s fight situations considerably profit from this reinvented basis. Together, all of it ends in a uniquely satisfying gameplay expertise. There was by no means a boring second when it got here to fight, but it surely’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 you need to navigate conversations rigorously underneath tense conditions. Infiltrating an extravagant rooftop social gathering, then mixing in as visitor with a purpose to make contact and get very important info, was a particular highlight–due partly to the lifelike environment and intoxicating visible prospers. When it got here all the way down to enterprise, nevertheless, making wise dialogue selections underneath duress, and infrequently doubting your self in case you made the precise one, was integral to the expertise.Overall, Phantom Liberty is not a lot involved with providing you with freedom to affect outcomes on a big scale till it makes these selections clear. But 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’m conflicted not with the alternatives I made, however in how sure characters painting particular conditions and the tone they’re delivered in. But in any other case, the writing is watertight and I started to care about these minor selections as I turned absolutely invested within the story and enjoying the position of my V, even when simply to impress sure responses.The conversations at Dogtown’s park overlooking the unfinished skyscrapers offer you 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 special mild. So, as wild because the motion could get, there’s an ever-present groundedness to the journey, making seemingly inconsequential selections add as much as kind a plausible, customized 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 other ways. They’ll hit you with sudden twists that depart you questioning whether or not or not you probably did the precise factor, questioning why you are feeling empowered but powerless, and pondering the age-old query: What was all of it for? This is one case the place I implore anybody who performs this enlargement to see each routes. This is due to the drastically totally different and excellent gameplay sequences they provide, even subverting the style expectations in a single case, however extra importantly, collectively they full the complete image of Phantom Liberty’s bold story.And on high of that, the brand new ending for the unique story earned by fulfilling sure situations 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 offer away too much–but I need to say that CD Projekt Red has outdone itself with this one, delivering the kind of ending that only a few video games are in a position to get proper.Phantom Liberty is Cyberpunk 2077 at its greatest. CD Projekt Red has taken the teachings from the unique launch and centered on the elements that mattered most to ship an exciting and impactful expertise that does not overstay its welcome. And though it matches 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 incredible overhaul of the RPG methods for fight, then elevates the intimate dialogue-driven parts that make it unforgettable–and does so in spectacular and ingenious 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’s merciless, sobering, and bittersweet, and it will follow you effectively after V lays down their weapons.