Review
Played on: Xbox Series X
Released: 2023
The long-awaited expansion to Cyberpunk 2077, review of that here, finally arrives. Much like Witcher 3's expansions, Phantom Liberty is a massive one. It sets itself straight in the middle of the existing map, featuring a large, albeit more vertical focused space.
Containing a huge, converted football stadium and a whole Las Vegas inspired strip with neon signs. It depicts a run-down part of the city, called Dogtown, once a lively and wealthy area that's been taken over and controlled by a militaristic leader.
Suffice to say, you need to own the main game to play this, let's take a closer look!
This militaristic and corrupt leader, Kurt Hansen, rules the Dogtown ghetto so ruthlessly the outside city has no law enforcement within. Your character, V, is called upon by Song "Songbird" So Mi to help rescue the country's president, called Myers, from falling into Hansens hands. Her flight has been hacked and the spaceship is directed to crash into Dogtown, so begins Phantom Liberty.
From the get-go, the expansion is a well scripted and cinematic expansion. Kicking off with a massive battle mech firefight, giving vibes all the way back to Ghost in the Shell's ending. The hectic, action filled, rescue of the president leads V to meeting sleeper agent Reed, voiced by Idris Elba! From here on you're sent to investigate and take control over Dogtown, one mission at the time.
It’s a content rich and varied addition to the main game. Enclosing itself in it's own world but also bringing back familiar faces. The expansion features several ending scenes depending on choices you make along the way. My ending was incredibly well done, blending action, with sorrow and loneliness. Reminding me how incredible the whole Cyberpunk lore pulls you into its dark, ruthless and facinating world.
From the get-go, the expansion is a well scripted and cinematic expansion. Kicking off with a massive battle mech firefight, giving vibes all the way back to Ghost in the Shell's ending. The hectic, action filled, rescue of the president leads V to meeting sleeper agent Reed, voiced by Idris Elba! From here on you're sent to investigate and take control over Dogtown, one mission at the time.
It’s a content rich and varied addition to the main game. Enclosing itself in it's own world but also bringing back familiar faces. The expansion features several ending scenes depending on choices you make along the way. My ending was incredibly well done, blending action, with sorrow and loneliness. Reminding me how incredible the whole Cyberpunk lore pulls you into its dark, ruthless and facinating world.
Furthermore, the expansion has been launched alongside a complete re-vamp of ability tree and levelling system, as well as a gameplay overhaul to the shooting mechanics, with vehicle combat added! New weapons, abilities and vehicles have been added too. Plus, a large handful of side-missions to mess about with.
The expansion does a great job of giving Dogtown depth, seeing what’s happening from several characters stories, then visiting the insides of many of the cool buildings within the map.
Visually, it's probably the developers strongest effort to date. The variation in environments, colour palette, small detail and the character models is seriously impressive work. The 60fps performance mode runs into some framerate drops in the open streets in Dogtown, but otherwise it's a smooth experience. Considering the open city, high framerate and stunning attention to even the smallest of deailt, it's a technical masterpiece to pull off.
I’d say there’s roughly between 15 to 20 hours of content here, making it another one of CD Projekt Reds large and amazing expansions. A must-buy for any Cyberpunk fan!
If you’re new to the whole Cyberpunk 2077 universe, having held back on the initial games rough and buggy console launch, then let me ensure you it’s gone through significant fixes and changes since. From the gunplay, driving and the way levelling works, to an end product that’s incredibly well made. Forget the earlier reviews and, believe me, this final product is nothing short of fantastic.
Buying the Cyberpunk 2077 together with Phantom Liberty, taking into consideration all the changes been made, I'd give this package a top rating. It’s such a fantastic world to sink into, with hours and hours of content.
I’d say there’s roughly between 15 to 20 hours of content here, making it another one of CD Projekt Reds large and amazing expansions. A must-buy for any Cyberpunk fan!
Bonus Review
Cyberpunk 2077 + Phantom Liberty collected
Buying the Cyberpunk 2077 together with Phantom Liberty, taking into consideration all the changes been made, I'd give this package a top rating. It’s such a fantastic world to sink into, with hours and hours of content.
An incredible and unique experience, that really isn't like anything else out there.
