Back in 2020, Cyberpunk 2077 didn’t launch in the greatest of shape. In hindsight, a release on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One was ill advised. The game was simply too ambitious for the dated hardware, and despite many people (including myself) having a pretty solid experience playing on our shiny new systems via backwards compatibility, it’ll go down as a black eye for CD Projekt RED.
The first leg of the redemption tour kicked off in February 2022 with the native PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series launches. With it came significant updates, allowing the teams original vision to be shown in a stable manner. Now though, with the 2.0 update and Phantom Liberty expansion, we have a package that in my mind fulfils its promise as the best RPG I have ever played.
One of the standout features of Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty is undoubtedly its stunning graphics. The neon-soaked streets of Night City are a joy to behold, and the character and facial animation does a superb job of completely immersing you in the world. The lighting effects, especially in the rain-soaked alleys, create a visually striking atmosphere that truly captures the essence of the world.
Dogtown is a completely new area exclusive to the expansion. In the opening hour I feared that it was little more than the Badlands and not particularly dense. However, once it opens up and you get to explore yourself, it is easily on par the best the main map has to offer. Because it is an extension of the map, you are able to come and go as you please, with a pretty awesome scanning checkpoint to denote when you enter or leave.
Phantom Liberty’s narrative is a superb. The main storyline introduces compelling new characters and explores deeper aspects of the cyberpunk world, shedding light on the dark secrets of mega-corporations and the struggles of the underprivileged. The moral dilemmas presented throughout the game add depth to your choices, with consequences that ripple through the narrative.
Idris Elba does an incredible job throughout the 10-15 hour campaign. When huge A-list stars appear in the gaming space you always have that slight concern about how much they will throw themselves into the role. Well the answer here, was completely. His character Solomon Reed is gripping, and with the help of a strong supporting cast including Minji Chang and Kay Bess they deliver an authentic story from start to finish.
It doesn’t end with the main story either. There are plenty of gigs and side content to keep you busy as well. Some even add more depth and context to plot lines and characters from the main narrative. Phantom Liberty is designed to be played alongside the main campaign. You can alternate between story missions from each, which is how I would ideally recommend the expansion be played.
However, if you have already beaten the game and want to dive straight in you can load up your save file and you will receive a call shortly after giving you the mission to get started. The expansion is also available straight from the main menu without having played the base game, but I really don’t think this is the optimal way to play. At the very least start the main game and play to the point where Phantom Liberty becomes available and then you will have the context for what is happening.
CD Projekt Red has clearly taken player feedback to heart and has put immense effort into improving the overall presentation. The user interface is more intuitive, making it easier to navigate the intricate web of character upgrades and inventory management. There are also all new skills to learn and master, while returning players will be able to redistribute their existing upgrades too.
My one gripe is that during the main story missions, the emphasis is often on combat. In the main campaign, I was able to take a stealth route 95% of the time. I played the game like an open world Deus Ex: Human Revolution and loved every single second of it. This time around, whether you like it or not you’ll be spending a fair amount of time in shootouts. Thankfully the gun play is really good, with all the various weapons packing a real punch.
TROPHIES/ACHIEVEMENTS
In an ideal world we would be talking about a standalone expansion with a platinum trophy and 1000G. Unfortunately it was not to be on this occasion. Over on the PlayStation side you get 13 additional bronze trophies, where as on Xbox you get 13 achievements, each netting you 35G for a total of 455G. Nothing is particularly difficult and can be tackled on easy if you are struggling. If you want to get everything in one run you’ll need to be creative with your save files, so I recommend taking a look at PowerPyx guide.
VALUE
At £25, this is a steal. Plenty of full price releases don’t give you this amount of content and almost none give you anything close to the same level of quality. You do need to have the base game to access the expansion, so bare that in mind. But if you don’t own it already, it is regularly on sale and has also had a permanent price reduction in digital stores. £39.99 on PlayStation 5 and £49.99 on Xbox Series.
VERDICT
Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty, despite its rocky predecessor, manages to deliver a visually stunning and immersive experience. The production value is completely off the charts. I spent 25 hours in Dogtown and I still have a few things to mop up and another two endings (of five total) to see. There has been some great additions to games over the years, but for me this stands on top of the pile as the best expansion to date.
-Craig