Cyberpunk 2077: Unveiling Phantom Liberty's 1 Jaw-Dropping Advantage

Highlights

The Phantom Liberty DLC breathes new life into Cyberpunk 2077, delivering the revolutionary RPG experience promised from the start.

Phantom Liberty is highly acclaimed due to its engaging side quests, riveting storyline brimming with plot twists and impactful choices that alter the game significantly. Furthermore, the inclusion of vehicular combat, an expansive map where possibilities are endless, and a plethora of character customization options elevate the gameplay, providing players with a newfound sense of freedom.

After nearly three full years since its initial release, Cyberpunk 2077 has finally received its much-anticipated first expansion. However, this expansion, called Phantom Liberty, goes beyond the typical DLC content of new missions and weapons. It introduces a comprehensive update 2.0 that completely transforms and enhances the game. Thanks to this significant update, Cyberpunk 2077 is now closer than ever to achieving its reputation as a revolutionary RPG title, as originally advertised. The Phantom Liberty expansion, in particular, showcases the remarkable potential of this dystopian game world.

Phantom Liberty successfully injects new life into Cyberpunk, captivating both old and new fans with an experience that more closely aligns with the promises made years ago. While slightly shorter in duration, the expansion offers various improvements over the base game. CD Projekt RED has clearly devoted considerable effort to address major player complaints from the initial playthrough, resulting in a remarkably high-quality Phantom Liberty that makes it challenging to find any significant issues.

5 Consistent Side Quests

Not all side quests in Night City were as engaging as the ones in CD Projekt RED's Witcher games. While some quests touched on the lore of Cyberpunk and provided thought-provoking dilemmas, others like fetch quests or camp clearing missions felt like mundane tasks. However, Phantom Liberty stands out with its consistently captivating "gigs" that present challenging decisions and offer insights into Dogtown's history and way of life. The combination of compelling side quests and an amazing main plot has contributed to Phantom Liberty's stellar reputation among fans and critics alike.

4 A Much More Focused Story

The visuals in Cyberpunk were stunning, but what truly impressed players was the captivating story centered around the complex relationship between V and the legendary rockstar Johnny Silverhand. However, the game struggled to maintain engagement for significant portions of the story, only building up suspense towards the end. Complicating matters, V is given a limited time to live, but the sense of urgency is lacking, creating a disconnect between the narrative and gameplay.

In contrast, the plot of Phantom Liberty, a spy thriller, is much more focused and self-assured, featuring plot twists and consequential decisions that keep players engrossed. While Keanu Reeves is beloved, Idris Elba's superb portrayal of the formidable new NUSA agent, Solomon Reed, elevates the already outstanding storytelling in this expansion.

3 Vehicle Combat

The Phantom Liberty expansion may not directly feature vehicle combat, but CD Projekt RED's implementation of it in the game, along with an action-packed side story filled with high-speed chases, suggests their expertise. While driving in Cyberpunk 2077 was generally well-received, racing through Night City's neon-lit streets only provided temporary enjoyment due to the lack of fully developed vehicle combat. Fortunately, intense vehicle shootouts have now been introduced, allowing players to unleash gunfire from their car windows or while racing on a motorbike.

Apart from swiftly maneuvering around slow AI drivers or resolving traffic congestion, this feature also proves useful in evading the police, who will aggressively pursue players for any criminal activities. However, players should exercise caution and avoid excessive use of weaponry while on the road, as this may prompt the police to call in their formidable new adversary, the fearsome MaxTac, to permanently eliminate the player character, V.

2 More Open-Ended Map

Night City, though undeniably beautiful, can become monotonous for players who spend hours traversing the same streets and buildings between missions. While the Badlands offered some respite, its barrenness left many players feeling unimpressed, contributing very little to the rich lore of the world.

However, thanks to the inclusion of Dogtown, a walled-off sub-district within Night City, Phantom Liberty breathes new life into the game. Dogtown's torn-down residential districts and crumbling structures convey a sense of long-lasting struggle, making it feel more authentic and immersive. Moreover, this area is significantly more expansive than Night City, allowing players to freely roam the streets without the fear of colliding with unsuspecting pedestrians. Overall, Dogtown proves to be a remarkable addition to the game, offering not only valuable insights into the world but also a plethora of engaging missions and activities to keep players engrossed for countless hours.

1 More Options For Character Builds

In the Phantom Liberty expansion's inaugural mission, Songbird, the enigmatic netrunner, bestows upon V a fresh array of abilities called Relics. This exclusive upgrade tree offers a total of 9 perks, each possessing a game-changing ability that greatly impacts gameplay. For example, Jailbreak unlocks powerful offensive skills for Mantis Blades, Gorilla Arms, and Monowire, enabling the player to swiftly traverse between foes and inflict substantial damage.

On the other hand, Emergency Cloaking grants V the ability to turn invisible at will, making it indispensable for stealth operations and evading law enforcement or hostile groups. The inclusion of Relic Skills introduces an exciting array of possibilities for creative and interesting playstyles. When combined with the revamped base-game perks, players are bestowed with remarkable freedom to tailor their experience and play the game precisely as they desire.

Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty is available now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.