Cyberpunk 2077 - The Open-World, Dystopian Thriller That's Almost Ready for Prime Time

Cyberpunk 2077 is an open world story-rich RPG by CD Projekt Red that takes place in the futuristic dystopian megapolis, Night City. You play as V, and the name of the character is basically the only thing about the character that is set. From the backstory, lifestyle, skill-set, and size of your genitalia (no, really), V's choices are virtually all in your hands. Unlike many choice-based games, what you select really does matter, as your choices, actions, and dialogue options will have a massive impact on the way the game is played.

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Choose Your Own (Very Deadly) Adventure

Cyberpunk 2077 has been the most anticipated game of the year, probably even of all time. This is all thanks to the jaw-dropping teaser trailers and CD Projekt Reds' other massively successful RPG, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

Cyberpunk 2077 takes place in Night City, a dystopian paradise. You're a mercenary, and your job is to complete various missions while unwinding a broader plot. Like many action RPGs, you have the ability to upgrade skills and classes based on your playing style. You can access dozens of weapons, melee tactics, or hacking skills, and all of this is in addition to the game's various stealth options. Night City is an open world filled with hundreds of possible missions.

Cyberpunk 2077 | Credit: cyberpunk.net

The game's various options can seem overwhelming at first, but the system is largely intuitive, and once you begin to play, you get the hang of it relatively quickly.

CONCEPT RATING: 5/5

A Stunning Display of Color or a Buggy and Broken Mess

The graphics are a tale of two worlds. If you play the PC version, good news: You're going to be using one of the most gorgeous graphical renderings available today thanks to the DLSS / ray-tracing tech. The colors are stunning, the textures immaculate, the environments enthralling. There is hardly a miss in the visual display.

The game is such a buggy mess on console that refunds are being offered by CD Projekt Red for disappointed fans.

As for consoles...not so much. The game is hugely buggy, with textures failing to load or colors not inputting properly. Some problems have been alleviated by the Day One patch, but it's clear that more work must be done before Cyberpunk 2077 is up to the hype. For a game that was in development for over 8 years, this is a highly disappointing experience in which players have even demanded refunds.

On the plus side, regardless of how you play, the audio is absolutely fantastic. The soundtrack is fresh, original, and blends in seamlessly with whatever environment you are moving through. Songs like Grimes' "4ÆM" and "Delicate Weapon" pump you up during combat, adding to the massive sense of urgency and tension. It is a fantastic addition to your senses at a time when they may be under assault from poor graphics. 

GRAPHICS & AUDIO RATING: 4 (High-End PC), 2.5 (Consoles)

Near Limitless Potential

Cyberpunk 2077 has been long-awaited because of the absolutely enthralling experience. You can play in so many different ways and select so many different options it is truly astounding. The game is deeply enjoyable. Combat is satisfying, be it if you are launching a grenade or swinging a katana. Combat is also difficult. This isn't a run and gun - you have to use planning and various other systems, like hacking and stealthy, in order to be successful. 

Cyberpunk 2077 | Credit: cyberpunk.net

Indeed, this is how Cyberpunk truly stands out from the crowd: The ability to customize the experience but still make it massively challenging. 

GAMEPLAY RATING: 5/5

Conclusion

The game's true emphasis on choice creates fascinating decisions, opening and closing new content, relationships, and characters for you to enjoy. It does a fantastic job of truly achieving an often sought-after goal in game design, but one that is often missed: Your choice really does matter.

Cyberpunk 2077 | Credit: cyberpunk.net

Thankfully, the game has incredible replayability potential. Players can pick a different starting character, make near-endless varying choices, open up new missions, concentrate on new skills, and more. The game presents players with so many different options and branching paths that it is virtually impossible to imagine a way in which you explore all of the content that it has to offer.

Get it now for Windows, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.

REPLAYABILITY RATING: 4/5 (for high-end PC), 2.5 (Consoles)

TL/DR

Don't let the bugs distract you - Cyberpunk 2077 is an amazing open-world RPG, and when the bugs are patched, it will be worth the hype.