Cyberpunk 2077 was the year’s most awaited game. The game puts players in the crime-ridden world of Night City where no one is your friend. After release, the game has earned its fair share of criticism spanning across a multitude of issues. These include textures popping in, random crashes and unplayable frame rates on the base PS4 and Xbox One. These inherent flaws don’t take away from the fact that CD Projekt Red has created a world which players will remember for years to come. The studio had perfected the art of making RPGs in the widely acclaimed The Witcher 3.
Needless to say, CD Projekt Red have carried over their expertise in Cyberpunk 2077 and added to it with some wonderful FPS mechanics as well.
10 RPG: Skill Tree
Cyberpunk 2077 features an extensive skill tree that would put many modern RPGs to shame. There are a plethora of skills available for players to unlock without it being too overwhelming. Akin to The Witcher 3, it’s nigh impossible to unlock all of these skills in a single playthrough. This approach makes players think a lot before selecting an upgrade which makes Cyberpunk 2077 an RPG in the truest sense. The core attributes include Body, Reflexes, Technical Ability, Intelligence, and Cool.
9 FPS: Variety Of Guns
For better or worse, all AAA games try to add as many choices in terms of weaponry as possible. In Cyberpunk 2077, CD Projekt Red have managed to add variety without compromising on quality. The guns in Cyberpunk 2077 do not feel overpowered or underpowered when compared to one another. There are also different perks to different weapon classes which gives players more flexibility on how to approach combat.
The game also offers players to ditch gunplay completely and go a melee killing spree.
8 RPG: Dialogue
Cyberpunk 2077 carries on the legacy of The Witcher 3 in the dialogue department. The game features well-written dialogues which carry weight and never sound like fillers. The impeccable performance of the voice actors adds to the charm. It also features multiple dialogue options in every dialogue which may sometimes change depending on V’s life path. There is a seamless transition between dialogues and gameplay which adds to the immersion while not taking away any depth from the dialogues themselves.
7 FPS: Weapon Mods
Cybernetic modifications are a complete game-changer in Cyberpunk 2077. This is especially true in the guns department of the game. Weapons contain two attachment slots and one mod slot. While attachments improve certain aspects of the weapon, mods provide complete buffs to the gun. These include eliminating recoil entirely or providing melee enhancements. Players may want to spend time looking for the best attachments as they hold the ability to completely change a gun.
6 RPG: Replayability
As soon as players jump into the world of Cyberpunk 2077, they will get a swift realisation that the world is just too large and too dense to be explored in a single playthrough. Add in the huge amount of dialogue options and possible endings and you have a game which is extremely replayable. The life paths players choose at the beginning of the game open up different dialogue choices which tug at players’ curiosity. The world of Cyberpunk 2077 is not going to get boring anytime soon.
5 FPS: Combat Pacing
Cyberpunk 2077 offers players the choice to use stealth or go in guns blazing in almost every combat scenario. The latter is an enjoyable experience mainly due to the excellent pacing and music during every fight. Playing at medium and higher difficulties, combat is a tad bit challenging which requires players to gauge their approach. Even though enemies may feel like bullet sponges, alternating between covers and shooting is fun.
One cannot just run and gun in this game which makes each gunfight unique and highly enjoyable.
4 RPG: Character Customization
Character customization is the most advertised and talked about features from Cyberpunk 2077. The scope of customization in the game is huge. From different eye types to ahem.. genital size, the character creation is one of the most fun parts of the game. This allows every player to create a completely unique character. It should be kept in mind that players cannot change these after creating the character right at the beginning. Certain mods in the game also change the look of V, albeit only slightly.
3 FPS: Weapon Feel
In spite of being completely new to this domain, CD Projekt Red has designed a game with excellent gunplay. Every weapon in Cyberpunk 2077 feels very much real and fits the setting perfectly. The attachments and mods are fairly balanced which don’t make the guns feel all too arcadey. Players coming from titles such as Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War will feel the difference instantly. A few hours into the game will make players love the weapon mechanics and realism.
2 RPG: NPC Design
Creating believable characters has always been a strength of CD Projekt Red and Cyberpunk 2077 is a testament to that. Every character you face in Cyberpunk 2077 has depth and dilemmas. Players will have to make difficult decisions regarding their friends in Night City. There are a lot of grey characters and players will sometimes have to choose ’the lesser evil’ but evil nonetheless.
From Jackie Welles to Johnny Silverhand, Cyberpunk 2077 shines in the NPC department and players owe it to themselves to ride out the end of their story.
1 FPS: Abundance Of Throwables
Firefights in Cyberpunk 2077 get overwhelming quickly if approached without caution. This is where the abundance of grenades come to the rescue. The game features seven types of grenades which range from frag to EMP grenades. Looking to scout for enemies before approaching- throw in a Recon Grenade and let it scan for enemies. Stuck in a difficult position- pop an X-22 Flashbang Grenade to disorient enemies and take them by surprise. There’s no dearth of creative ways in which nades can be used in Night City which is a key strength of the FPS mechanics in Cyberpunk 2077.
