The highly anticipated Cyberpunk 2077 expansion Phantom Liberty has finally been released on September 26, 2023. This DLC marks the conclusion of story and content updates for Cyberpunk 2077, as the developers at CD Projekt Red have decided to shift focus to the sequel. In this comprehensive review, we will take an in-depth look at all the key elements of Phantom Liberty, including the narrative, new features, gameplay, and our overall verdict.
Story and Narrative
One of the most crucial aspects of any game is its narrative, and Phantom Liberty delivers superbly in this area. The DLC revolves around a new zone called Dogtown, located near Pacifica but distinct from the rest of Night City.
The main story continues V’s pursuit to cure themselves of the relic, slowly killing them by hosting Johnny Silverhand’s personality. Players are thrust into an engaging spy thriller plot involving new characters like Solomon Reed and President Rosalind Myers of the New United States.
V must work to rescue the president from Dogtown kingpin Kurt Hansen while still seeking a cure. The premise kept me hooked throughout to see what would happen next.
Layered choices are presented that influence relationships and open new quests, maintaining Cyberpunk’s focus on consequence-driven storytelling. Both new and existing players can easily follow and enjoy the gripping narrative that Phantom Liberty provides.
New Features and Content
A plethora of new additions are introduced with the DLC beyond just the central story. Dogtown itself is a sizable new explorable zone with its own distinct aesthetic. New vehicles, like cars, can be stolen across the city via an enthralling side quest line. Fashion items and a relic skill tree granting abilities are accessible.
However, the first-person perspective meant visual customization held little motivation for me.
The approach to armour linked to cyberware over clothes is a smart adjustment. Powerful new weapons, tech, and upgrades ensure players feel rewarding progress. Gigs pay out much more in Dogtown than other areas, incentivizing activities there. Overall, Phantom Liberty maintains Cyberpunk’s hallmarks while significantly expanding the content on offer.
Gameplay and combat
Combat itself sees a new layer with the debut of vehicular fighting. However, the main story provides few instances requiring this outside of likely more frequent opportunities in new playthroughs. Otherwise, combat remains as fluid and impactful as ever in Cyberpunk.
The limited Relic skill tree favours melee-oriented players with its perks like improved Mantis Blades and Gorilla Arms abilities, despite my gun-focused preferences. Yet alternatives exist for ensuring something for all, like detecting weaknesses.
Overall, the expansion maintains Cyberpunk’s fun and impactful moment-to-moment gameplay while offering new tactical layers.
Side Quests and World Interactivity
Fixer Mr. Hands from Pacifica plays a role in V’s storyline. Most of Phantom Liberty’s 17 side missions stem from this character, providing good variety. Consequences of choices inevitably arise, whether socially or by opening new missions. This maintains Cyberpunk’s interactive, open world, where player agency matters.
Final Summary
Phantom Liberty is no mere added questline, but a transformative piece that completes Cyberpunk 2077 into the experience fans have always wanted. For those yet to play, getting both the base game and DLC is now essential.
Night City as a whole feels grander with Dogtown’s addition. Over 50 hours spent across my initial playthrough and now with Phantom Liberty, Cyberpunk truly feels like a new game thanks to the deep mechanical and content changes Update 2.0 and this expansion provide.
CD Projekt Red has delivered on their promise to revitalise Cyberpunk. Fans will find immense value in reliving or starting fresh to take in everything on offer.
Phantom Liberty serves as a superb conclusion to Cyberpunk’s saga, transforming what was before into what is now undoubtedly one of the finest open-world RPGs available.
