Cyberpunk 2077's Breathtaking DLC Revelation: Phantom Liberty Shatters All Expectations!
Cyberpunk 2077's Phantom Liberty DLC unveils a mysterious new district in Night City, beckoning players to delve into its enigmatic depths However, the decision to previously keep Dogtown inaccessible raises questions about its purpose and significance
Highlights
Cyberpunk 2077's new expansion, Phantom Liberty, introduces new stories, locales, and mechanics, making the game better than ever.
The introduction of Dogtown in Phantom Liberty feels out of place, as it was never previously mentioned or accessible.
In order to maintain story coherence, it might be time for the industry to rethink how it introduces new locations within game worlds, instead of relying solely on DLC to expand the game.
After a turbulent couple of years, Cyberpunk 2077 has made a triumphant return, surpassing expectations. In addition to the much-needed 2.0 update that resolved numerous issues with the original game, players are now embarking on an exciting new journey with the introduction of the Phantom Liberty expansion. This expansion takes Cyberpunk 2077 to unparalleled heights, offering captivating new narratives, breathtaking locales, and innovative gameplay mechanics. However, despite these positive aspects, the introduction of Phantom Liberty feels somewhat peculiar.
In an effort to entice players to invest in downloadable content (DLC), video game companies often include new locations for exploration. Rather than introducing entirely new cities, they typically expand upon the game's existing open world by incorporating fresh areas. While this approach makes sense from a gameplay perspective, it lacks coherence in terms of storytelling. Locations like Dogtown in the Phantom Liberty expansion abruptly manifest without prior mention or accessibility. Although this is a common practice in many expansion packs, it may be time to reconsider this approach.
Phantom Liberty's Dogtown Was Inaccessible Until Now for Some Reason
In Cyberpunk 2077, players can freely explore the sprawling Night City. Some have been exploring since day one, while others are just now experiencing the 2.0 update. Regardless of when they joined, players have been uncovering every corner of this world, or so they thought. Surprisingly, there is a whole district that went unnoticed and was hardly mentioned by NPCs. It almost feels like this district, called Dogtown, didn't exist until the launch of the Phantom Liberty DLC, which could disrupt the immersion.
From a gameplay perspective, it's understandable that Dogtown wasn't previously featured or discussed until the release of the Phantom Liberty DLC. In the original Cyberpunk 2077, the district simply didn't exist and was probably still in the planning stages as of 2020. CD Projekt Red couldn't guarantee additional content, so the concept of Dogtown wasn't introduced until now. However, this sudden appearance doesn't align well with the overall world of Cyberpunk 2077.
It is strange, from a lore point of view, that there was a whole district right under the players' noses. Despite some references to Dogtown in Night City, the district was never mentioned until it suddenly materialized this week. It was completely inaccessible, never brought up in the story, and it seemed like most of Night City acted as if it didn't exist. Considering it is a centrally located district torn by war, it should have been acknowledged earlier. However, its absence is typical for most modern video game DLCs.
In order to expand their game worlds with DLC, video game developers often introduce new areas that were never seen before. The MMO genre, such as World of Warcraft, is particularly guilty of this, with mysterious continents appearing in the ocean every few years. These areas are either shrouded in a peculiar fog, inaccessible due to conflicts, or the characters simply lack interest in exploring them. While this approach may work on a meta level, it doesn't work as effectively from a storytelling perspective, and perhaps it is time for the industry to reconsider this concept.
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty is a refreshing change after a tumultuous few years for the RPG genre. The game finally seems to have found its stride and, while it may not quite reach the same level as The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, it still provides an incredible gaming experience. However, CD Projekt Red's decision-making process when it comes to this DLC is somewhat perplexing. Nevertheless, players may need to temporarily disregard any inconsistencies and simply embrace the game for what it is. Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty can be enjoyed on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
