Unleashing a Futuristic Revolution: Cyberpunk 2077's Phantom Liberty DLC Redefines the Game of Thrones Experience
Prepare for a gripping dilemma in Cyberpunk 2077's Phantom Liberty DLC As NPCs face their demise, players are confronted with a challenging Game of Thrones-like decision Brace yourself for an intense choice that will redefine your gaming experience
Warning: Spoilers ahead for Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty. Every captivating story requires unexpected twists to keep its audience engaged. By deviating from the typical narrative conventions and taking away the protective plot armor for main characters, a tale can truly captivate its audience. Game of Thrones initially gained considerable influence during its debut season, but it wasn't until the shocking demise of Ned Stark and the horrifying Red Wedding that the series soared to become a cultural sensation. These brutal executions demonstrated that no character was safe in A Song of Ice and Fire. Naturally, video games followed suit, and Cyberpunk 2077 embraced this formula by incorporating a series of tragic deaths that befall V's closest allies. This trend continues in the latest update, Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, adding to the emotional weight of the base game.
Despite the initial launch of Cyberpunk 2077 receiving mixed reviews in terms of gameplay experience, its core storyline has always remained a standout feature of the CD Projekt Red title. In Night City, death holds immense value, and the protagonist's journey is far from guaranteed a happy ending, as the chip embedded in their head slowly brings them closer to their demise. The base game of Cyberpunk 2077 witnessed the heartbreaking loss of notable characters such as River Ward, Johnny Silverhand, and Jackie Welles. In Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, this tradition of inflicting painful losses upon V for the sake of character development continues, taking inspiration from Game of Thrones' unyielding and merciless storytelling approach.
Phantom Liberty Presents Players With a Hard Choice
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty continues to make a significant impact on the gaming industry, achieving impressive sales figures and rejuvenating fans after the disappointing initial launch. Apart from the improved performance and features, the game's success can be attributed to the captivating Night City region and its emotionally charged storyline. While the base game had its darker moments, with several non-playable characters meeting unexpected ends due to their association with V, Phantom Liberty takes a different approach. Instead of a high overall kill count, it strategically places the weight of impactful deaths on the choices made by players. In this regard, the DLC draws inspiration from the successful formula of Game of Thrones by eliminating important characters.
The fate of characters in Phantom Liberty is determined by the player's choices, forcing them into difficult decisions. Aligning with Solomon Reed sets off a thrilling pursuit of Songbird through the Blackwall, culminating in So Mi pleading for V to end her life. Furthermore, siding with Reed results in a tragic fate for Alex, who is overwhelmed by Hansen and ultimately murdered by Kurt with Songbird's assistance. In order to catch up to Songbird, players must also eliminate Kurt, bringing the total story deaths to three for those who choose Reed. On the other hand, aiding Songbird's escape only requires Reed's demise, as he blocks V's escape route and demands the surrender of So Mi.
The choice between siding with Songbird or following Reed in Cyberpunk 2077's main story may result in fewer deaths, but neither decision is clearly better than the other. Unlike in other parts of the game where NPC deaths are not impactful due to limited interactions and predetermined outcomes, the main story of Phantom Liberty features two characters crucial to driving the narrative. CD Projekt Red allows players to make the difficult decision of choosing who to eliminate.
The strong emotional connection players develop with the main characters in Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty makes it even harder to make a choice, and there is no clear moral answer. Even Johnny Silverhand, a prominent character, admits to being unsure about what to do. However, players have the option to keep both Songbird and Reed alive if they cannot decide between them. The game's willingness to kill off beloved characters, similar to the approach in Game of Thrones, is executed flawlessly in Cyberpunk 2077 and its DLC.
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty is available now on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
