At a Glance: An action/role-playing game, in which the player assumes the role of "V", a mercenary that wants to make something of themselves or die trying.
Story: Cyberpunk was based off Mike Pondsmith's tabletop game, and although the story of '77 is a new one, there's lore and characters that carry throughout. Set in the fictional metropolis of Night City, Cyberpunk allows the player to put themselves in the place of a mercenary, who's actions are directed by the decisions they make, as well as three different starting "lifepaths". V's life is complicated by a cybernetic biochip, containing rockstar Johnny Silverhand, and they're about to realize that life is going to be anything but simple.
Cyberpunk is in one word, dense. Based on a game with a huge amount of lore, and source material, the plot is complex but easy to keep track of. Collectable datashards serve as additional information for the player, and offer an inside look at how the world of cyberpunk functions, without being overly expositional. There's also a glossary that keeps track of locations, characters, vehicles, weapons, and collectable tarot cards.
Although not as long as the main plot of Witcher 3, when considering side content, gigs, and optional interactions, an 100%(ish) runthrough of Cyberpunk can run 120hrs at least, and still leave you with more to discover. Different lifepaths, dialogue choices, and endings encourage multiple playthroughs, and even five years after release, I'm still discovering new secrets in the game. The DLC is also amazing, both from a story and aesthetic standpoint, and adds even more content. It's worth doing the side stories, and even though it might be tempting to blast through them and play the story, I'd recommend taking your time and exploring all the hidden corners of the city, and secrets that it holds.
Style: The style of Cyberpunk is superb. Like the name suggests, it puts a futuristic spin on things. City streets are lit with neon, but it also hide a grimy, seedy underbelly, where criminals wait for their next targets. If you're a fan of Bladerunner or Akira, Cyberpunk is a treat. Different city districts have different styles, combining present day familiarity, with a look to the future and what it may hold. It's also the game that got me into virtual photography, which is made even easier with the recent addition of an autodrive features on the in-game cars, simply sit back, and have your camera out and ready for that perfect shot.
Even on a less powerful system, the world of cyberpunk is eye-catching. In addition to PC, and Ps5 ports, there's also a very serviceable version for the Switch2, and it's an impressive feat to see how well it's been translated. While I wish there were more cosmetic options for the player character, it's only a small complaint, and an active and creative mod community has largely fixed this.
Characters: The characters are another place where Cyberpunk shines. Keanu Reeves voices the main character, Johnny Silverhand and he was made for the role. The bad tempered rocker isn't the only companion however, and the cast of characters is nothing if not exciting. The side characters also have a surprising amount of development, and an in-game photomode allows for an extensive amount of player creativity. Different gangs, corporations, and nomad clans provide an incredibly diverse population of characters, with unique backstories, motivations, and aesthetics. If it was one thing I'd like more of, it's simply more interactions with some of the side characters. What's there is solidly done, so if this is only the first in a series, I can't wait to see what's in store in the planned sequel.
Music: Cyberpunk's soundtrack is great, although not what one might expect. Instead of a synthwave-heavy game, we take a more balanced approach. Yes there's synths throughout, but there's also smooth jazz, pop music, Spanish rap, and metal that would make any die-hard fan happy. In-game radio stations provide a wide range of songs, both driving and on foot, although it's worth turning them off for specific cutscenes. The main story score is perfectly suited for the gameplay, and has made it into my Spotify wrapped for several years running. Phantom Liberty is also worth mentioning, with a theme song that's straight out of a James Bond Movie, a'la Writing's on the Wall or Skyfall.
The Good:
-Well-developed characters and deep lore, perfect if you like a lot of story in your games
-LGBTQ inclusive, and diverse characters
-Absolute BANGER of a soundtrack, both from the main game and in-game radio stations
-Gorgeous aesthetic, the game is a visual treat, and invites players to lose themselves in it (and put wayyyyy too much time into virtual photography)
-Controls feel smooth on both PC and console, and movement is fluid, making the fighting segments a joy to play
-Story is riveting, and the writing is also amazing
-Different endings mean lots of good replayability
-Mechanics are very smooth
The Bad:
-The Heist Mission is LONG, and while it's fun the first couple times, subsequent playthroughs can be a slog
-This also goes for the non-skippable braindance portions of the game
-While there's the beginning of a factions system, I'd love more depth, and more significant interactions based on who your allies are
-Different body types in the character creator would be amazing, not everyone looks like an olympic athlete, and if NPCs can have diverse body shapes than the player characters should be able to as well
-Side quests can occasionally be a little buggy, so saving often is still recommended, it's rarely game breaking anymore, only a little irritating
-Wow that launch was...rough
-Feels like I got romantically ghosted by Keanu Reeves
Final Consensus and Rating: Although the launch was buggy, and it's not a perfect game, CDPR has taken huge steps to fix bugs, respond to player requests. It's a 10/10 from me, and a 9/10 from KT. Wake the fuck up Samurai, we have a city to burn
