Cyberpunk 2077 is not only a highly intriguing futuristic tale about two identities sharing one body, but it’s also a magnificent redemption story. Not necessarily for protagonist V, but for Developer CD Projekt Red, who has come a long, long way. With the 2.0 update and the Phantom Liberty DLC, the action RPG is more compelling than ever. It has never been this enjoyable to clean up the streets of the stunning Night City, and now, Dogtown as well.
First Things First; The 2.0 Update
CD Projekt Red previously announced that the 2.0 update is the final major update for Cyberpunk 2077. The big overhaul is their last chance to turn this game into what people actually expected in anticipation of the release in 2020. Improvements such as a sleeker interface for V’s mobile device, the quest log, and perks are immediately noticeable. They not only give the game a fresher look but are also effective in making many in-game aspects more organized.
One of the most significant additions is the ability to engage in combat from your vehicles. While not groundbreaking (games like Grand Theft Auto and Saint’s Row have been doing it for years, after all), it introduces an enjoyable new gameplay element. You can shoot out tires, make pursuing vehicles explode, and, of course, deliver satisfying headshots to the driver or passenger. By unlocking the right new perks, you can also shake off your pursuers through hacking. As if that weren’t enough tools at your disposal, there are now weaponized vehicles available, allowing you to take down your enemies even faster.
Outside of the vehicles, the combat has also been revamped, feeling smoother and more satisfying than ever. Despite enemies now scaling with your level, I frequently felt like a badass, effortlessly taking down one foe after another. I must admit, this is partly thanks to the improved aim assist, which helped me nail headshots quite often. Perhaps it’s a tad too easy as a result, but it sure felt good.
If you decide to distribute these headshots to innocent NPCs, you’ll encounter an enhanced NCPD. The Night City Police Department will now actively pursue you, and you’ll need to genuinely shake them off and evade capture. You’ll hear their pursuit updates via radio chatter. If I were a nitpicker, I’d say that this functionality should have been there much earlier, but I’m not, so I’ll chalk it up to yet another valuable improvement. One of many that collectively contribute to a much more enjoyable gaming experience.
Last but not least, the driving also feels more enjoyable and realistic. The vehicles have a bit more weight to them, making them handle better on and off the road. So without futher ado, let’s hop in and take a ride to the new Dogtown, where a completely fresh adventure awaits us.
Phantom Liberty
Phantom Liberty can be initiated in Act 2, shortly after Maman Brigitte compels V to take a chilling dip in a bathtub. You receive an anonymous phone call, urging you to travel to Dogtown. Dogtown wastes no time in getting straight to the point. As I approach the border, I overhear a conversation between two police officers and some Barghest members (Barghest being the gang in control of Dogtown). The conversation immediately reveals the power dynamics at play. Barghest dismisses the police; they have no authority in Dogtown. The officers retreat, and V is put on notice.
In Dogtown, you’ll witness intimidation, death, and destruction everywhere you look. It’s like a war zone. People are attacking each other and shooting from cars. Within the first few minutes, it becomes clear why Dogtown is considered the underbelly of Night City. What on earth are we doing here?
The Mission and a Potential Cure
Songbird, our mysterious caller, provides us with the answer to that question. She explains that the Space Force One is facing issues. It’s up to us to rescue none other than President Meyers herself. Why would we do that as a mercenary who is already on a death sentence? Well, because Songbird believes there’s a way to save V’s life.
With stakes this high, it sets the stage for an intriguing encounter and dynamic with the president. I won’t delve too much into the story to avoid spoilers. What I can say is that it’s more than worth it. The story was compelling from start to finish and introduces us to new, fascinating characters with a wealth of background stories, including Idris Elba in the role of Solomon Reed.
Reed is an experienced and ruthless top spy who has worked undercover for seven years. The top actor not only convincingly portrays characters in series and films (Luther, being one of many) but also brings this video game character to life superbly. CD Projekt Red doesn’t solely rely on his star status, something I was briefly concerned about beforehand. They have crafted a fantastic, enigmatic character for him, which adds a lot to this DLC.
And I haven’t even mentioned the huge load of action-packed moments that Phantom Liberty serves up right away. Everything comes together in great fashion.
A New, Refreshing Environment With New, Refreshing Activities
As mentioned, Dogtown is an environment with its own unique style, for better or worse. While playing Cyberpunk 2077, I sometimes felt that it wasn’t V but Night City itself that was the protagonist. Now, Dogtown also demands a starring role. It possesses a hostile, unwelcoming atmosphere, yet it has its own beauty to offer. The pyramid immediately catches your eye, the neon red of Eden Plaza is striking, and it’s filled with bars, clubs, and bustling markets.
As a player, you’re also encouraged to explore this environment. The redesigned skill tree now includes an additional relic tree, allowing you to further upgrade V. Think of perks that let you see your enemies’ vulnerabilities or make your mantis blades even deadlier. However, you can’t unlock these skills by simply completing jobs and taking down enemies. You can only obtain the so-called relic points by discovering them throughout Dogtown. A squeaking sound guides you in the right direction when you’re nearby, encouraging you to keep your eyes and ears open as you race through Dogtown’s streets.
Side Jobs and Gigs
Not only did Phantom Liberty’s main job appeal to me, but the side jobs and gigs also managed to captivate my interest. In Cyberpunk 2077, the gigs sometimes felt like chores. Most of them were rather generic. We were sent to a location and had to steal data or eliminate someone. In the original game, there were a few gigs where you could or had to engage in conversations with the involved NPCs. Those were often the ones that held my attention better. They had more depth and often offered multiple approaches to complete the task. It was gratifying to see that the gigs in Phantom Liberty all followed this approach. Each gig had a contact person who could provide you with more information about the job and whose fate you could often influence.
The fact that the new jobs also result in new interactions with everyone’s favorite rockerboy, Johnny Silverhand (Keanu Reeves), is a welcome extra bonus.
Nevertheless, there’s still a rather generic activity to be found. Fixer Muamar “el capitan” Reyes informs you about a gig where you can steal cars for him. The first few times it was kind of fun, but the novelty quickly wore off. It doesn’t help that the man calls you in exactly the same way each time and thanks you in exactly the same manner when you deliver the car. These repetitive dialogues were somewhat immersion-breaking. These gigs do serve as a good way to showcase vehicle combat though, as you’re frequently pursued by gang members who aren’t pleased that you’ve taken their car for a joyride. Another advantage is that they offer decent rewards, such as skill points in specific specialties, upgrade components, weapons, and money.
A Bit More Background for Some Fixers
Throughout Cyberpunk 2077, we’re in constant contact with the fixers who provide V with countless gigs. They call and message us incessantly, showering us with praise and rewards when we complete the gigs successfully. But during the main job, we learn very little about the backgrounds of these contacts. Lore-wise, it makes sense for there to be a certain professional distance between the fixer and the merc, but the fixers undoubtedly have many fascinating experiences and stories to share.
Phantom Liberty allows us to get better acquainted with some fixers we know from the original game. The interactions are enjoyable to witness and make these fixers more than just automatons bombarding us with tasks.
And Yet…
Despite the many positive aspects I’ve seen and mentioned, the game still contains a plethora of odd glitches and that broke my immersion. It surprised me that after all these updates, I still see NPCs walking through cars, and I come across corpses laying in the most bizarre positions. NPC walking paths appear unnatural, and sometimes they glitch to completely different positions. And no, they weren’t dashing.
But if that’s all, I can live with it. With the 2.0 update and the phenomenal Phantom Liberty, Cyberpunk 2077 finally comes close to the towering expectations I had leading up to the game’s release. It’s not going to get any better than this, and I’m content with that. After the cringe-inducing launch in 2020, I was unsure whether to purchase this DLC on release date. Fortunately, I can say that I have zero regrets.
Conclusion
Phantom Liberty, in combination with the 2.0 update, is a robust addition to Cyberpunk 2077. What began in 2020 as an ugly duckling has undergone a transformation into a beautiful swan. Every now and then, the makeup comes off, and we catch a glimpse of what once lay beneath that swan, but these moments are few and far between.
The story is well-crafted, the action is seamless and satisfying. Dogtown provides a fresh backdrop and introduces us to an impressive roster of new characters, each more interesting than the last. Even the gigs manage to captivate, making virtually every minute spent in Dogtown interesting. Occasional glitches in NPC animations are the only thing that sometimes break the immersion and prevent Phantom Liberty from receiving a perfect 10.
