Current Events > Cyberpunk 2077 seems cool at first, but it's paper-thin

(+) Yeah! (+)

The current vibe seems to be "well it's great on PC even though it's a disaster on console" and frankly, after playing about 30 hours into the PC version, I have to disagree.

It's a superficially very cool game, but when you actually get into the RPG itself it quickly becomes obvious that there's a million different systems that are all basically irrelevant. The spec trees, the choices, etc. The initial mission is set up BRILLIANTLY to make you think that careful planning can turn the tides (for example, if you do your homework with the hacked credit chip and then bargain with it) but the ending of that mission and everything after that makes it clear that things really only go one or two ways, and everything else is just window dressing.

There's no morality system, which is IMO a good idea on paper but realistically means there's literally no reason not to just obliterate everyone in your path. It's easier and more profitable.

Vehicles are expensive and worthless due to the fast travel system.

Items and upgrades are pointless since drops scale with level.

The city seems so cool until you realize nothing is actually going on. The people don't really act like people. It's all a veneer of Skyrim-like depth where every character can be talked-to and missions are everywhere, but you quickly realize that's not really the case.


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There are some things that are legitimately great ideas:

Braindancing is extremely clever as a "solve the mystery" tool

Everything about cybernetic upgrades fits perfectly into the cyberpunk narrative

The lack of a true right/wrong morality system also fits in with the the Philip K. Dick themes


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Shouldn't it be, compered to material based on a book like Witcher was?

This game will be a masterpiece in 2 years, after several official patches and several user-made mods

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coinstarcad posted...

Shouldn't it be, compered to material based on a book like Witcher was?

How do you compare the gameplay to a book dingus?

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DarkRoast posted...

There's no morality system, which is IMO a good idea on paper but realistically means there's literally no reason not to just obliterate everyone in your path. It's easier and more profitable.

Cyberpunk is a role playing game, youre supposed to role play

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coinstarcad posted...

Shouldn't it be, compered to material based on a book like Witcher was?

There's a lot of genre stuff to draw on. They could have done better.

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I'm playing on PC also and about 30 hours in myself. I'm enjoying the game so far but those are some really valid criticisms.

I think this game needed more time in the oven. It should have been a PC release first then a console port on the PS5 and new XBOX. This is an ambitious game, but in some aspects CDPR seem a bit out of their depth. Although visually the game is stunning and they actually did a great job of the design and set pieces, the world doesn't seem as "fluid" as GTA V or a Red Dead 2. The physics, NPCs and AI kind of take you out of the immersion a bit.

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Taharqa_ posted...

I'm playing on PC also and about 30 hours in myself. I'm enjoying the game so far but those are some really valid criticisms.

I think this game needed more time in the oven. It should have been a PC release first then a console port on the PS5 and new XBOX. This is an ambitious game, but in some aspects CDPR seem a bit out of their depth. Although visually the game is stunning and they actually did a great job of the design and set pieces, the world doesn't seem as "fluid" as GTA V or a Red Dead 2. The physics, NPCs and AI kind of take you out of the immersion a bit.

It seems like they bit off more than they could chew, in terms of the game's perceived scope and depth.

Console technical issues aside, even the PC version maxed out strikes me as being more ambition than actualization. There's a huge city and lots of people, with lots of landmarks and tons and tons of non-verbal worldbuilding. But they simply don't do anything. It's weird, like a facade.


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It feels like i'm playing a pretty game made in like 2007 tbh

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Each mechanic feels pretty bad when examined individually but the whole package is really entertaining, I've got like 40 hours in and I love it. I appreciate that I'm not pigeonholed into any one playstyle. Sometimes I want to just shoot people up, sometimes I like to antagonize them with hacking.

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Deus Ex still king

as an asian person, the thing that bothers me the most is that every asian person is a walking talking stereotype

"BuT CybErPuNk HaS AlwAyS bEen lIke ThaT"

well it fucking sucks.

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I legitimately liked human revolution and mankind divided way more than 2077. It just wasn't for me.

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Hexenherz posted...

Each mechanic feels pretty bad when examined individually but the whole package is really entertaining, I've got like 40 hours in and I love it. I appreciate that I'm not pigeonholed into any one playstyle. Sometimes I want to just shoot people up, sometimes I like to antagonize them with hacking.

The lack of a morality or reputation system actually helps with this

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I hate morality systems but I do think a reputation system would be kinda cool :\

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WingsOfGood posted...

Deus Ex still king

It will always be king.

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When you say "lack of morality system" does that mean that the world just doesn't care about your quest outcomes, or is it that the quest outcomes simply aren't projected onto a spectrum of "good" and "bad"?

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Good summary in the op, its essentially like any other open world game, too big that the content suffers.

I'm 60 hours and loving it. I'm such a sucker for lore and world building which this game has a huge amount. I simply have fun exploring Night City even if I play it like a walking simulator. It feels like a fully realized city and the districts are so unique.