The infamous launch of Cyberpunk 2077 in 2020 is no secret, and CD Projekt Red has been working hard to change the perception of the game since then. For the past couple of years, small updates have been added. But now there is an expansion and the massive 2.0 Update, so should you jump back in?
Is Cyberpunk 2077 Worth Playing Now?
Yes. Cyberpunk 2077 is a fantastic game that is absolutely worth playing. On September 21, the Update 2.0 patch was implemented into the game, and most of the major systems were overhauled. Police and enemy AI were improved, the clothing structure was revamped, and the entire perk system was changed from the ground up. That’s just a few of the major changes that were added for free.
Combat feels better than ever, and even small details like Johnny Silverhand got a significant quality update. Most of the base game is still the same in terms of quests and narratives, so don’t expect any changes there. But the gameplay is better than ever, and Update 2.0 is the perfect time to jump back into Night City.
Along with the new update, there is the Phantom Liberty expansion that adds Dogtown to Cyberpunk 2077. The expansion is $30 and is easily some of the best content in the game. We reviewed Phantom Liberty and gave the expansion a 9.5 out of 10 because of how great it was. Based on general reception, it seems most people had the same reaction.
Between the fresh expansion and the Update 2.0 content that revitalizes Night City, Cyberpunk 2077 is easily one of the best action RPGs on the market. Do yourself a favor and jump back in, or start for the first time if the disappointment from 2020 pushed you away. In other words, Cyberpunk 2077 is good now.
Weapon Responsiveness
Gun feel was a major complaint in the base game of Cyberpunk 2077. Many players reported guns felt underwhelming to shoot, with not much kick behind them. We’re happy to report that this has been improved a fair bit. Many guns now have “bite,” and feel more impactful. The Phantom Liberty DLC also added a lot of new guns.
Melee Combat
If you’re worried about melee combat in Phantom Liberty, you’ll be pleased to know that it’s better than ever. The expansion pack introduced more build diversity, experimentation, weapons, and movesets. The quick-access menu for weapons like Gorilla Arms and Mantis Blades is also much improved.
Cyberware
Like the other game systems, cyberware also received a substantial overhaul in the Cyberpunk 2.0 update. There is now a new Cyberware Capacity Limit. This means that you now have a limit on how much cyberware you can install. This leads to more build diversity, and harder choices when it comes to picking out your cyberware. It’s possible to increase your cyberware limit, but you need certain perks to do so. You can also use Cyberware Capacity Shards.
There are new Cyberware options to try out too. The Ripperdocs have an expanded inventory now, and new enhancements. Cyberware is now also attuned to specific attributes, like armor and damage percentage.
New Missions
Of course, the Phantom Liberty DLC wouldn’t be a proper expansion pack if it didn’t add new missions. Thankfully, Phantom Liberty adds a ton of gigs and jobs for you to explore to your heart’s content. These missions add new characters, locations, rewards, and story lore.
Player Movement
Player Movement received a fresh coat of paint as well. Characters feel much better to control now, and there are increased options for high-mobility builds as well. Dashing and double-dashing don’t take Stamina anymore, meaning you can ninja leap and run forever.
However, the tradeoff is that shooting costs Stamina. That might sound weird, but somehow it just works.
Make sure to check out Aerial Acrobat and Air Dash perks for even more mobility.
Perks
Speaking of perks, Phantom Liberty also overhauls this. It adds an extra 10 perk points, meaning you can get a max of 80 perk points in the new DLC expansion. Perks are now more intrinsic to what V as a character knows. You can also fully respec your perk tree whenever you want in Phantom Liberty.
New V Dialogue Options and Characterization
Much of V’s dialogue has been changed or improved for better writing and believability. For example, some late-game banter between V and Johnny now accurately portrays their anxiety and hate. Pre-update 2.0, this banter was far more friendly than it realistically should have been. Much of this dialogue will depend on choices that the player has made throughout the game, of course.
V now also has extra dialogue options they can pick from, leading to even more expanded freedom in how players shape their main character. The romance options that do exist now have more in-depth dialogue you can choose with your selected partner.
Is the Phantom Liberty DLC in Cyberpunk 2077 Worth it?
We are happy to report that the new DLC is definitely worth it. There are so many new features that substantially improve the base game, and will keep you busy for hours on end.
New Canonical Ending
Phantom Liberty also introduces a new canonical ending, which many fans are calling a drastic improvement. This ending wraps up a lot more loose ends and gives a more satisfying conclusion over the original. This ending is oriented towards a spy thriller story and has V chasing a promising lead for a cure to their affliction. This new ending lets V survive their affliction but at a grave price. It is up to you, the player, to decide whether this price is worth paying.
New Characters
Phantom Liberty introduces many new, colorful characters. Alena “Alex” Xenakis is one such character. She’s a Federal Intelligence Agency agent with the power to shapeshift at will.
Ash is a DJ radio show host on the new Growl FM radio station. She is voiced by the former porn star, Sasha Grey.
Solomon Reed is an FIA agent who is voiced by no other than the legendary Idris Elba. There are many more new characters that add a lot to the world of Cyberpunk 2077.
Some old characters like Mr. Hands have also been fully fleshed out. He has gone from a weird lone shark in Pacifica to a Mr.-Blue-Eyes-kind of character. Now, Mr. Hands’ personality is less ambiguous and more direct—he’s even chaotic to a certain degree.
New Cyberware
Fans will be pleased to learn that the Cyberware selection has been expanded and given a fresh coat of paint. There’s new Cyberware for every part of V’s body that can be upgraded to your pleasure. For example, you can get new parts for the Frontal Cortex Cyberware, like the Axolotl, which instantly. gives a cooldown percentage after killing an enemy. An Integumentary System Cyberware part called Chitin gives you extra health regen and defense.
New Relic System
Phantom Liberty introduces Jailbreak, Vulnerability Analytics, and Emergency Cloaking, as three major Relic abilities. These each need three points to unlock and give you powerful new abilities. Jailbreak lets you leap around like a grass hopper with your Mantis Blades. It also gives a few new minor abilities, like Spatial Mapping and Limiter Removal.
Emergency Cloaking lets you easily evade detection from enemies. Its sub ability Sensory Protocol triggers slow motion when you’re detected while crouching. Vulnerability Analytics allows you to discover enemy vulnerabilities, and gives you a huge +100% critical chance against them, along with other weak spot bonuses and armor penetration.
New Vehicle Combat
The Phantom Liberty DLC adds several new cars, some of which are weapon-mounted. There is a Laser-Mounted Sports Car that might make you feel like James Bond when you drive it. The Armored Military SUV also comes jam-packed with bulletproof glass, armor plating, and more to withstand many firefights.
There are even new perks that play into vehicle combat, like Carhacker, which lets you use Quickhacks on enemy cars.
So, now’s a better time than ever to play Cyberpunk. Get started with the Phantom Liberty DLC, and you’ll be off to
