Cyberpunk 2077 is an excellent game. This is a comment that would be seen with mockery and disbelief after what was admittingly possibly the worst launch of any game ever (until BF2042 that is). The damage may already be done, this game might not be saved but 10 years from now I can see this being highly regarded as a cult classic and the talk of a disastrous launch will slowly taper away.

To paraphrase a now famous youtube video this game overpromised and underdelivered. The key to enjoying this game is to appreciated it for what it is and not hate it for what it is not, if this was 15 years ago cyberpunk would be on the cover of every gaming magazine and labelled as a GTA killer. I do believe the general public saw this game as a new evolution of open world gaming with multiple intrinsic systems, deep customisation and many many dynamic open world events (think Red Dead Redemption 2) that would make night city feel like a never ending living breathing world, what we got was essentially a Deus Ex/Mass Effect hybrid with an open world not dissimilar to a Ubisoft game and all the bugs and glitches of a Bethesda game.

To talk personally I bought this game on my PS5 but was not massively swayed by the hype. What I was greeted with when I first booted up the game was something that looked worse than a switch game, I then refunded the game and bought it on PC only to find my RX 580 was incapable of getting the best out of the game, rather than refund I shelved it for another day, a few years late I came back.

Cons -
Weak loot system akin to Borderlands, the game has unique weapons and armour but also has tiered loot which bogs your inventory down with stat sticks.

Bugs and glitches still present however my experience with them was minimal.

Gigs (type of side quest) are very repetitive and are very similar to the fluff found in most open world games.

The games open world is just set dressing albeit a very pretty one, you won't find any organic encounters in the open world, all the cool stuff is limited to side quests.

customisation of character appearance on surface looks cool but is quite limited, clothes also come with an armour rating which can impact fashion, if you want the best stats you usual ended up looking like you've been dumpster diving.

I don't like male V's voice.


Pros -
The story is actually really interesting with lots of cool twist and turns, the game has multiple endings and I found all of them to be very profound and some were quite thought provoking. The stories of all the characters you meet on your journey are all very compelling.

The characters are the stars of the show, they are all so richly complex with individual motives, goals, opinions and fears. They all feel like real people who have all been burned by night city at one point. My favourite part of the game was getting to know these characters more, whether it be the arguing between Panam and Saul over how the Aldecaldos should be run. Making a budding friendship with River Ward after experience some disturbing circumstances together or just playing a gig with old friends. These moments are what elevate this game from standard open world guff into something special.

Johnny Silverhand. He get's his own pro spot because Keanu Reeves brings so much life to this character, what I was expecting to be a phoned in performance from an actor who didn't care was actually in fact one of the best and most tragic character arcs I've seen in a game recently. Without spoilers the journey this character goes on is a story of revenge, maturity and tragedy and it is way better than it has any right to be.

The city. It may just be set dressing but it is the best set dressing I have seen in a long time. The attention to detail is so incredible you cannot help being sucked into this world, the constant advertising, news reports and police presence in this shiny futuristic world is a mirror to our own reality and you cannot help but be completed immersed in this world. What truly makes this shine is how claustrophobic the city feels, it's almost like you are being suffocated by the sheer magnitude and weight of the sins of the city, and it's awesome.

Combat is punchy and satisfying and whilst it might not be very deep you can build a number of different characters, I had a male V proficient in katanas and bleed (too much Elden Ring) but was also a dab hand at hacking, but then I also had a stealth pistol build for a female V. In short the game gives you so many ways to approach a situation it feels like some of the best immersive sim games. Do you level up body and use strength to rip open doors and smash through soldiers, or do you use your tech abilities to open hatches and utilise stealth, the game openly encourages exploration of the combat mechanics and that isn't even taking into account cyber upgrades (double jump and mantis blades are still a must).

The OST slaps harder than when I slapped Kerry on the boat. Should be amongst the best and should be a part of any conversation when discussing music in games, it's that's good. You like Doom Eternal's music? imagine that with more synth.


Conclusion -
In short I could go on and on about the charters and the world building, this game was clearly crafted with love and if you are curious now is the best time to play. Just make sure you have a capable rig. Without a doubt if you like games like skyrim, fallout, deus ex, system shock, bioshock, mass effect, prey or even the witcher games you cannot do much wrong by giving this game a look. Ignore the hate and get playing, you won't be disappointed samurai.

Cyberpunk 2077 is an excellent game. This is a comment that would be seen with mockery and disbelief after what was admittingly possibly the worst launch of any game ever (until BF2042 that is). The damage may already be done, this game might not be saved but 10 years from now I can see this being highly regarded as a cult classic and the talk of a disastrous launch will slowly taper away. To paraphrase a now famous youtube video this game overpromised and underdelivered. The key to enjoying this game is to appreciated it for what it is and not hate it for what it is not, if this was 15 years ago cyberpunk would be on the cover of every gaming magazine and labelled as a GTA killer. I do believe the general public saw this game as a new evolution of open world gaming with multiple intrinsic systems, deep customisation and many many dynamic open world events (think Red Dead Redemption 2) that would make night city feel like a never ending living breathing world, what we got was essentially a Deus Ex/Mass Effect hybrid with an open world not dissimilar to a Ubisoft game and all the bugs and glitches of a Bethesda game. To talk personally I bought this game on my PS5 but was not massively swayed by the hype. What I was greeted with when I first booted up the game was something that looked worse than a switch game, I then refunded the game and bought it on PC only to find my RX 580 was incapable of getting the best out of the game, rather than refund I shelved it for another day, a few years late I came back. Cons - Weak loot system akin to Borderlands, the game has unique weapons and armour but also has tiered loot which bogs your inventory down with stat sticks. Bugs and glitches still present however my experience with them was minimal. Gigs (type of side quest) are very repetitive and are very similar to the fluff found in most open world games. The games open world is just set dressing albeit a very pretty one, you won't find any organic encounters in the open world, all the cool stuff is limited to side quests. customisation of character appearance on surface looks cool but is quite limited, clothes also come with an armour rating which can impact fashion, if you want the best stats you usual ended up looking like you've been dumpster diving. I don't like male V's voice. Pros - The story is actually really interesting with lots of cool twist and turns, the game has multiple endings and I found all of them to be very profound and some were quite thought provoking. The stories of all the characters you meet on your journey are all very compelling. The characters are the stars of the show, they are all so richly complex with individual motives, goals, opinions and fears. They all feel like real people who have all been burned by night city at one point. My favourite part of the game was getting to know these characters more, whether it be the arguing between Panam and Saul over how the Aldecaldos should be run. Making a budding friendship with River Ward after experience some disturbing circumstances together or just playing a gig with old friends. These moments are what elevate this game from standard open world guff into something special. Johnny Silverhand. He get's his own pro spot because Keanu Reeves brings so much life to this character, what I was expecting to be a phoned in performance from an actor who didn't care was actually in fact one of the best and most tragic character arcs I've seen in a game recently. Without spoilers the journey this character goes on is a story of revenge, maturity and tragedy and it is way better than it has any right to be. The city. It may just be set dressing but it is the best set dressing I have seen in a long time. The attention to detail is so incredible you cannot help being sucked into this world, the constant advertising, news reports and police presence in this shiny futuristic world is a mirror to our own reality and you cannot help but be completed immersed in this world. What truly makes this shine is how claustrophobic the city feels, it's almost like you are being suffocated by the sheer magnitude and weight of the sins of the city, and it's awesome. Combat is punchy and satisfying and whilst it might not be very deep you can build a number of different characters, I had a male V proficient in katanas and bleed (too much Elden Ring) but was also a dab hand at hacking, but then I also had a stealth pistol build for a female V. In short the game gives you so many ways to approach a situation it feels like some of the best immersive sim games. Do you level up body and use strength to rip open doors and smash through soldiers, or do you use your tech abilities to open hatches and utilise stealth, the game openly encourages exploration of the combat mechanics and that isn't even taking into account cyber upgrades (double jump and mantis blades are still a must). The OST slaps harder than when I slapped Kerry on the boat. Should be amongst the best and should be a part of any conversation when discussing music in games, it's that's good. You like Doom Eternal's music? imagine that with more synth. Conclusion - In short I could go on and on about the charters and the world building, this game was clearly crafted with love and if you are curious now is the best time to play. Just make sure you have a capable rig. Without a doubt if you like games like skyrim, fallout, deus ex, system shock, bioshock, mass effect, prey or even the witcher games you cannot do much wrong by giving this game a look. Ignore the hate and get playing, you won't be disappointed samurai.