Cyberpunk 2077 has been one of the most talked-about games in recent history, seldom for the best of reasons. Since its release in December 2020, this game was at once one of the most highly anticipated and one of the most disappointing ones. Although it did have a great open world and an intricately designed storyline, it was plagued by technical issues and bugs at its release, especially on older consoles. But it was a labour of love that for CD Projekt Red never seemed to stop, and a few days ago, the studio finally released the so-called Phantom Liberty expansion. Said expansion was supposed to add not only more content to the overall experience, but also fix significant core gameplay, hence begging the question: does Phantom Liberty reinvent Cyberpunk 2077?
A New Chapter in the Cyberpunk Saga
It’s a completely new storyline, part of the expansion entitled Phantom Liberty-nested within the large city of Night City. Players are dropped right into a world of espionage, intrigue, and high stakes drama when one churns out in treacherous waters of political conspiracy.
The storyline of the expansion was painted on top of a high-profile extraction that soon spiralled into a thick web of betrayal and deception. Phantom Liberty offers new experiences with new characters, new locations, and new missions, but keeps the spirit of grimy and dystopian Cyberpunk 2077 intact.
One of the intriguing features of Phantom Liberty is the introduction of new factions that are fighting for their share of power in Night City. Each of these groups has different agendas and motivations, further complicating the storyline since players now have to make difficult choices that can shape the outcome of their journey. It’s highly influenced by the players’ decisions in this expansion so that each play may offer some sort of difference.
Gameplay Enhancements and New Mechanics
Undoubtedly, it will be a new story content that will be one of the main lures, but Phantom Liberty ushers in several major gameplay enhancements and new mechanics attempting to iron out some criticisms from the original. Perhaps the most notable is a revamped combat system that feels more dynamic and responsive than ever before. First and foremost, CD Projekt Red has rewritten the rules that govern AI behavior, with far more challenging yet intelligent enemies. The difference this makes lies in a much more thrilling and tactical combat session, where thinking must be done rather than pure reliance on brute force.
This expansion also brings new weapons and cyberware, offering the player even more advanced tools to extend the capabilities of their character and game style. Whether you want to go stealthily, hack into the systems of your enemies, or come into battle guns ablaze, Phantom Liberty offers a great many ways to tailor just about any experience. The new arsenal is strikingly powerful and visually stunning, with uniquely designed pieces that are almost perfectly set within the cyberpunk aesthetic.
The next big addition is the greatly expanded vehicle combat system. Where it had not been altogether fleshed out in the original game, Phantom Liberty takes it to the next level. From high-speed chases to shootouts and vehicular takedowns, they can all be part of navigating the neon-lit streets of Night City. This puts another layer on the game, making any journey around the city quite easily an adrenaline-filled adventure.
Exploring New Locations in Night City
Phantom Liberty brings to life a whole new district in Night City, full of character and fraught with dangers. These areas were created to feel alive, filled with crowded markets, narrow alleys, and the appearance of corporate skyscrapers. The expansion’s environments are visually breathtaking but also filled with secrets to be discovered and side missions to undertake.
Among these new districts, Dogtown is a lawless zone where the rule of the strongest prevails. This place is full of criminal entities which any player will definitely have to get through piece by piece if he wants to survive. Dogtown strikingly contrasts with more organized parts of Night City, having a gritty feeling almost like post-apocalypse. It’s one of those places where trust is a definite luxury and danger lurks around every corner.
But then again, there is this new corporate enclave, an extremely secure part of the town overseen by one of a number of mega corporations with their fingers in most city dealings.
It’s lined with state-of-the-art tech, smooth architecture, and that omnipresent feeling of being watched. The missions inside this area tend to involve infiltration, hacking, and high-stakes espionage, so it’s pretty much a playground for players that do enjoy the more cerebral approaches to gameplay.
Character Development and Role-Playing Opportunities
One of the strong points of Cyberpunk 2077 has always been deep character development, and in Phantom Liberty, that foundation is further built upon. It brings in new skill trees and perks that help players further tune their character’s abilities. Whether you want to be a master hacker, deadly in combat, or a charismatic leader, the new options offer an even greater degree of free choice in how one envisions their character.
This expansion also focuses a lot more on providing role-playing opportunities, as new dialogue options and changes in story branches let the player dictate more about how his or her character interacts with the world and its denizens. The great new focus on this roleplaying aspect makes for deeper immersion, with the narrative feeling both personal and impactful.
Visual and Performance Upgrades
Besides that, in addition to new content and improvements in gameplay, Phantom Liberty brings large visual and performance boosts into Cyberpunk 2077. “In many ways, CD Projekt Red has implemented a variety of optimizations that greatly improve the stability and performance of the game, especially on consoles. It also leverages all the newest hardware by including improved graphics, ray tracing, and faster loading.
The attention to detail when it comes to visual upgrades is simply amazing, especially within the new districts. Everything from neon signs lighting up the night sky to grime-stained streets of Dogtown feels so rich and immersive. Improved lighting and weather effects add to the atmosphere, probably making Night City feel more alive than it has in years.
Community Reception and the Road Ahead
Overall, the reaction to the Phantom Liberty release has been very good within the gaming community. Many players were disappointed with Cyberpunk 2077, but have been giving credit to this expansion for really ironing out a lot of the kinks that troubled the original game. The new content atop many improvements game- and performance-wise has re-energized interest in playing the game and brought most players back to Night City.
It is, however, with its criticism a big step forward. First and foremost, a number of players pointed out a few outstanding issues that remain, such as some bugs and AI quirks.
But by and large, it really does seem the feeling is one of Phantom Liberty being a big step up, promising an omen for the future in Cyberpunk 2077.
To that end, CD Projekt Red has teased more content and updates in the future, perhaps making Phantom Liberty just a stepping stone toward further refreshment for Cyberpunk 2077. The future certainly seems bright for both this game and its community, as lessons learned from both the original release and this expansion’s success would be in the bag.
Final Thoughts: A New Beginning for Cyberpunk 2077?
More than an expansion, Phantom Liberty is a statement from CD Projekt Red to see through its commitments with players. New content, game improvements, and visual uplift all contribute to making Cyberpunk 2077 more refined and fun. While it might never be possible for the game to really struggle out of the shadow of that troubled launch, Phantom Liberty proves it’s never too late.
For those who have been waiting for that sweet spot to get into Cyberpunk 2077 or have left Night City frustrated, well, this might just be that great time jumping in. With Phantom Liberty, CD Projekt Red delivers a compelling expansion that gives new life to the game and sets the stage for its continued evolution. While that might be a game-changer, which it is for the players to decide, one thing is certain: Cyberpunk 2077 is not complete yet, and this is just but the beginning of its journey.