Unveiling the Mind-Blowing Dystopian Landscape of Cyberpunk 2077

Highlights

Cyberpunk 2077's DLC expansion, Phantom Liberty, aims to redefine the game with improved combat and cyberware, allowing players to experience the dystopian mess of Dogtown.

President Rosalind Myers is a central figure in the narrative of the expansion, where players first encounter her and strive to safeguard her from numerous dangers. Through the President's involvement, the expansion emphasizes the themes of treachery and dishonesty, underscoring the vulnerability of even the most powerful figures in the Cyberpunk 2077 universe.

Warning: Spoilers ahead for Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty.

Promoted as a thrilling spy experience that can be enjoyed alongside the main game or as a standalone, the DLC expansion of Cyberpunk 2077, Phantom Liberty, had high expectations to fulfill. Thankfully, due to CD Projekt Red's efforts to enhance CP2077 through its 2.0 update, these expectations are not too far out of reach. With improved combat and cyberware playing a significant role in players' armor stats, Phantom Liberty is poised to redefine the game and immerse players in the chaotic dystopia of Dogtown.

However, despite the dilapidated state of Dogtown, V, the protagonist of CP2077, encounters some significant characters right from the beginning of the expansion's story. The primary focus of Phantom Liberty's initial set of quests revolves around none other than Rosalind Myers, the President of the New United States. Myers plays a crucial role in V's dealings with Netrunner FIA agent Songbird, in an attempt to potentially escape the Relic chip's slow, unavoidable fate. Interestingly, while players expected considerable interactions with Songbird, Rosalind Myers ends up becoming a prominent figure.

Not Even President Myers is Safe in Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty

Within the "cyberpunk" genre of science fiction media, the Night City in Cyberpunk 2077 is renowned for its corruption, criminal activities, and the constant struggle for survival. Adding to the dystopian ambiance, Phantom Liberty's Dogtown intensifies these elements to an extreme level. To gain access to the Barghest-controlled region, players are first enlisted to safeguard President Myers in the initial part of the DLC. However, following the rescue operation of President Myers from the wreckage of the NSU's Space Force One, our protagonist, V, finds themselves face-to-face with the lady herself, being interrogated at gunpoint before being forcefully pushed to the ground.

In Phantom Liberty, it may seem surprising that the President is capable of protecting herself, considering V's goal is to be her protector. However, this is just the beginning. Throughout the journey to Songbird's hideout, Myers consistently safeguards herself, turning the set of quests into more of a temporary companionship with V, while also being the most powerful person in the NUS. She proves to be useful when facing the Chimera Songbird's attacks, but the situation takes a turn for the worse when Rosalind discovers she is unknowingly revealing their location due to a tracker implanted in her neck. In order to remove the tracker, she asks V to extract it from her skin, which becomes a disturbing sequence as the President explains its proximity to a critical artery, making it risky for anyone attempting to remove it without causing harm. Initially, having a tracker inside the President is viewed as a security measure in case of emergencies, like a kidnapping. However, due to Myers suspecting a mole within Washington causing the Space Force One crash, the tracker becomes a significant security risk instead of the perfect defense it was intended to be.

Players are accustomed to experiencing the harsh realities of the lawless world of CP2077, where they often find themselves at the bottom of the social hierarchy. Through the perspective of V, who has risen from humble beginnings, they witness President Myers displaying remarkable combat skills and having a government-issued tracker that can potentially turn against the authorities. This highlights the pervasive nature of the dystopia that extends even to the highest levels of power. It becomes evident that even the seemingly desirable lives that V may admire are not immune to betrayal from their closest associates. This theme remains prevalent throughout Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty. The game is currently available for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.