Cyberpunk 2077 vs Fallout 4: Unveiling the Unyielding Battle for Superiority

Highlights

In Cyberpunk 2077, players enjoy extensive freedom to craft their character and influence the game's storyline through their choices. However, the dialogue options often deviate from players' expectations, resulting in jolting and unforeseen consequences.

The divergence between the chosen dialogue prompt and the actual response of the voiced protagonist can be highly frustrating and negatively impact the player's overall experience, particularly when even the most polite dialogue option can elicit an aggressive reaction from the character. This predicament with dialogue choices is not exclusive to Cyberpunk 2077; previous RPGs such as Fallout 4 have also encountered comparable challenges.

In Cyberpunk 2077, an RPG game, players have the ability to freely shape and mold their character within the game's world. They are also presented with choices throughout the storyline that can significantly impact the outcome of various situations. However, in Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, despite the increased number of scenarios, there is a notable flaw in the choices presented. While the option to choose the outcome is appreciated, the actual dialogue often does not align with what players expect. Similar to Fallout 4, the voiced protagonist sometimes says things that are unexpected, leading to potentially awkward moments. Unfortunately, it is too late to make any changes to this issue, so players should prepare themselves for unforeseen discrepancies in dialogue.

Cyberpunk 2077 Has a Dialogue Choice Problem

In Cyberpunk 2077, players are given a wide range of options during conversations, allowing them to ask questions, respond in different tones, or even resort to violence. These choices have a significant impact on the outcome of each conversation and can completely change the direction of a mission. However, players may be caught off guard by V's unexpected responses, as even the nicest dialogue prompt can lead to an aggressive reaction. Furthermore, the dialogue chosen by V may not align with what was originally expected, resulting in unexpected outcomes. While this doesn't usually detract from the overall experience, it can be quite surprising.

Cyberpunk 2077 is not the first RPG to have this issue, and it probably won't be the last. In 2015, Bethesda made the controversial choice of including a voiced protagonist in Fallout 4, which was a departure from their previous work. This decision left players uncertain about what to expect. Once the game was released, they quickly realized that it also suffered from dialogue not aligning with their chosen options. In Fallout 4, it was even worse as most choices were limited to just a few words. This became increasingly frustrating over time, which likely explains why Bethesda reverted to a silent protagonist in Starfield.

While this disconnection can be irritating, it does have some reasoning behind it. Since V is a voiced protagonist, CD Projekt Red has to structure every conversation around what the actor said. However, they probably don't want to overwhelm players with every line of dialogue when they make their choices. This would clutter the screen and detract from the enjoyment of the game. Additionally, actors sometimes improvise in the recording booth, or the studio may change their mind about certain dialogue prompts before the game's release. There are numerous factors that could contribute to this issue, but the reasoning behind it doesn't make it any less jarring.

The Phantom Liberty expansion has enhanced the already great game, Cyberpunk 2077. Nonetheless, the dialogue options could use some improvement before the release of the sequel. It would be beneficial for players to have a clear understanding of the consequences associated with each choice. Hopefully, CD Projekt Red will make this aspect more transparent in the future. This expansion, Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, is accessible for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S platforms.