Summary
Nearly 3 full years after its initial release,Cyberpunk 2077has finally received its first expansion, but this isn’t a typical DLC with a few new missions and weapons added to the game. Instead,Phantom Libertyis launching alongside a whole roster of improvements that completely overhaul the game inthe form of update 2.0. Thanks to this massive new update expansion though,Cyberpunk 2077is as close as it’s ever been to that revolutionary RPG title that it was always advertised as, and thePhantom Libertyexpansion especially demonstrates just how amazing thisdystopian game worldcan be.
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Phantom Libertyhas done a fantastic job at breathing new life intoCyberpunk, convincing old and new fans alike to enjoy a game that’s much closer to what they were promised all those years ago. While it’s a little shorter, there are also many other ways it improves from the base game. CD Projekt RED has clearly put a lot of effort into addressing some of the biggest complaints players had during their first playthrough, but the extremely high quality ofPhantom Libertymakes it much harder to find issues with.
5Consistent Side Quests
While there were plenty ofextremely intriguing side questsscattered around Night City, not all of them featured the excellent writing and thought-provoking dilemmas that CD Projekt RED became known for after theirWitchergames. Right after a compelling side quest that touched on the lore ofCyberpunkand its world, too often would a simple fetch quest or clearing out a camp of bandits mission come right after, which felt more like a chore compared to the more memorable quests.
Luckily,Phantom Libertynever lets its foot off the gas when it comes to the “gigs,” with each one having a handful of genuinely difficult decisions and characters who actually shed light on the history of Dogtown and its unique way of life. The mixture of compelling side quests withan incredible main plotis a big reason whyPhantom Libertyis being so highly regarded as an expansion by many fans and critics.
4A Much More Focused Story
BesidesCyberpunk’svisuals, which were downright jaw-dropping at times, another area many players praised the game for was the compelling story that primarily centers on the troubled but fascinating relationship between V andlegendary rockstar Johnny Silverhand. The only problem was that the game really struggled to keep players engaged for large chunks of the story, with the stakes only really reaching a head near the end. It doesn’t help that V is told that he only has weeks to live, but the game really has no sense of urgency to reflect this, creating a disconnect between the story and gameplay.
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The spy thriller plot ofPhantom Libertyis a lot more focused and much more confident in what it’s trying to be, with plot twists and decisions that have game-changing consequences appearing consistently to keep the player glued to their screen. As much as the world loves Keanu Reeves,Idris Elba also puts in a stellar performanceas the intimidating new NUSA agent, Solomon Reed, which really helps to boost the quality of this already fantastic story expansion.
3Vehicle Combat
Technically, the vehicle combat isn’t a feature of thePhantom Libertyexpansion directly, but it sure feels like CD Projekt RED knew what they were doing when adding it to the game alongside an action-packed side story that features plenty ofhigh-speed chases. The driving inCyberpunk 2077was always one area of the game that many people didn’t mind, but while racing around the neon-lit streets of Night City is fun for a few hours, the lack of fleshed-out vehicle combat made it feel a little less exciting than it could have been. The good news is that intense vehicle shootouts are now a part of the game, and players can fire a weapon out the window of their car or while racing on a motorbike.
While this is an easy way to get AI drivers to move out of the way if they’re being a little slow or causing a traffic jam, it can also help to slow down the police, who will swarm the player if they commit a crime. That said, players should try not to get too trigger-happy while on the road, otherwise, the police may just call in their new miniboss,the terrifying MaxTac, to finish V off for good.
2More Open-Ended Map
While there’s no denying that Night City isa beautiful area to reside in, it could start to feel a little stale after players spend hours running through the same streets and buildings to go between missions. The Badlands definitely did help to break this up a little bit, but because of how baron and deserted the area was, it also came off as a little flat for a lot of players, largely adding very little to the captivating lore of the world.
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Phantom Libertymakes the world feel much more open and alive thanks to the addition of Dogtown, a walled-off sub-district of Night City that feels a lot more real with torn-down residential districts and crumbling buildings, implying that the people here have been struggling for quite some time. The area is also noticeably a lot more open than Night City, allowing players to cruise through the streets with their car or bike without the worry of hitting a random pedestrian. Overall, Dogtown is an amazing addition to the game, which not only provides heaps of information on the world but also hastons of missions and activitiesthat are sure to keep players occupied for many hours.
1More Options For Character Builds
During the very first mission of thePhantom Libertyexpansion, the mysterious netrunner known as Songbird will grant V access to a brand-new set of abilitiesknown as Relics. There are only 9 perks players will be able to acquire in this exclusive upgrade tree, but each of them has an ability that is capable of completely changing the way the game is played because of how impactful they are. Jailbreak, for example, will unlock a few new offensive abilities forMantis Blades, Gorilla Arms, and Monowire, allowing the player to leap between enemies and cause a tremendous amount of damage in the process.
Emergency Cloaking on the other hand letsV turn invisiblewith the press of a button, which is not only essential for stealth missions but will even work well when trying to avoid the police or a group of bandits. The addition of Relic Skills opens up so many avenues for fun and interesting builds to play around with, and when paired with the overhauled base-game perks, it grants the player a tremendous amount of freedom to play the game exactly how they want to.
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Libertyis available now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
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