Cyberpunk 2077 is a Fantastic RPG

Let me shuffle the elephant right out of the room- Cyberpunk 2077 released to a mountain of criticism. Many said the game felt unfinished, citing frequent glitches and bugs that ranged from constant annoyances to game-breaking issues. Others voiced the opposite- that any technical issues they encountered were minor and didn’t impact their experience much at all! I avoided playing Cyberpunk after its polarizing reception, but always kept my ear to the ground as I knew that CD Projekt Red could turn things around (apparently The Witcher III: Wild Hunt launched in a similar state, but was later refined into a masterpiece by the time I played it in 2016).

Well, after the launch of Patch 2.0, the next-gen update for Xbox Series X/PS5, and the Phantom Liberty expansion, there was enough positive hubbub going around about Cyberpunk that I decided to pick up a used copy of the game and give it a shot. And DAMN am I glad I did!

The first thing that struck me is how gorgeous this game looks. I chose a Streetkid origin for my first character (known as V, regardless of gender) and opening the game in a bar with neon lights everywhere, people milling about, drinks being poured, and all at a crisp 60 frames per second- it was STUNNING. Even venturing out into Night City, with its even larger array of neon, dozens of pedestrians everywhere you turn, vehicles cruising the streets, stoplights and crosswalks changing on a schedule, Cyberpunk 2077 held up. Not even combat slows the game’s frames down (at least, in my experiences of a full playthrough and two others started).

But the visuals aren’t everything- they serve to set the tone. Night City is all about Style and Power. And even from your very first interactions in any of the three origins (Streetkid, Nomad, Corpo), these facts are made abundantly clear. Every character is dressed in a mish-mash of items that just look COOL. A lot of the clothing items are not too far from what we see today, while also filling in with sparkling shirts, heavy-duty gang jackets, biker boots, futuristic suits, and some pretty slick combat gear. There’s something for everyone’s stylistic sensibilities in this game.

The gameplay doesn’t take a backseat to the looks. I did say that Night City is about Style, but also Power. And you have countless ways to show off yours. Cyberpunk is, first and foremost, a first-person shooter-based RPG. Your five main stats- Body, Reflexes, Intelligence, Technical Ability, and Cool- determine what sort of weapons you excel with, and your efficiency with cyberware/body mods (more on that later). The gunplay feels good, whether you’re pecking off health with a pistol or mowing enemies down with a machine gun. Players naturally peak around edges and over cover when you’re aiming your weapon, allowing you to fight from protected locations. Or you can charge right in and close the distance with a baseball bat, knife, katana, or *checks notes* a CHAINSWORD. Stealth is also a viable option throughout the game when taking down hoards of enemies.

But no matter your approach to the fighting (or avoiding it altogether with your dialogue options), Cyberpunk truly shines with its inclusion of cyberware and body modification. I’ll talk about each in their own section, as they have wildly different impacts on gameplay.

In a looming world of corporations and technology, cyberware is a must when rising to the top. These cybernetic brain chips allow your character to interact with tech from afar, such as turning off security cameras, hacking them to see and identify enemies remotely without them even realizing, or even Pinging their connection to the local network and showing you were all the other cameras and computers are in a given location. You can shut down turrets, overload explosive containers, or cause electrical devices to fail and distract enemies so you can take them out from behind or slip by entirely unnoticed. And much as you have tech in your brain, so do your foes! Use your cyberware to reboot their optics and give you a few free seconds during a firefight, or upload a computer virus that spreads to other enemies and take out an entire legion without lifting your gun once. No matter your playstyle, utilizing your cyberware smartly is a MUST.

Alongside your cyberware, body mods allow for yet another way to upgrade your character and customize your playstyle. Every single part of your body (head, torso, arms, legs, hands) can be fitted with upgrades, ranging from greater protection from damage and simple stat boosts to actual POWERS, such as upping your adrenaline so much that time seems to slow down momentarily, installing mantis blades in your arms so you always have melee weapons at the ready, or even leg boosters to increase your running speed or jump height. Getting actual abilities from body mods rather than just all being stat boosts adds to the immersion and excitement of exploring Night City. With actual level-ups, numerous cyberware upgrades/options, and body modifications, Cyberpunk 2077 gives you three entirely separate and satisfying ways to constantly grow your character.

Every RPG needs a driving storyline, and Cyberpunk does not shy away from an engaging narrative. Though you can start three different ways, the introductions all lead to the same place- working alongside your friend Jackie Welles as you take jobs for Night City’s fixers (folks who arrange for jobs/crimes to be carried out for clients). The two of you are introduced to fixer Dexter DeShawn, and a job he is planning against the powerful Arasaka Corporation. Through the events of this multi-tiered heist, V is infected with a chip that hosts the conscience of a living person- the notorious criminal and band-leader, Johnny Silverhand- which begins actively taking over V’s own conscience. The bulk of the game’s plot revolved around trying to cure yourself of the chip, as direct removal would kill you outright.

You encounter a large cast of characters as you go about your mission all over and beyond Night City. Some are far more interesting and complex than others, and as I said earlier, everything in Cyberpunk 2077 is about Style and Power, and everyone you encounter is set on accomplishing a goal of some sort. Do you help them, maybe in exchange for eddies (money), or turn them down entirely? Maybe you find love while getting to know a character and helping them through their most vulnerable moments? Will you be betrayed by those closest to you, or be the betrayer yourself? The story is yours to write in Night City.

There is so much depth to Cyberpunk 2077 and I could keep writing for ages with the content I haven’t even mentioned- the in-depth character customizer, vehicle purchases, new apartments, the immense radio catalogue of hand-crafted music for the game, weapon modifications and upgrades, photo mode with all sorts of poses/homages to movies, anime, and games, and so on.

If you take away one thing from this post, let it be this: Cyberpunk 2077 is a fantastic RPG, and any fan of the genre should give it a shot!

Thanks for reading, and take care!

-Brink