I have a strange relationship with Cyberpunk 2077. I played about 50 hours of the title back at launch, which – if you remember the state of the game – was no enjoyable feat. However, I never finished it. I returned once the game had been overhauled, diving headfirst back into Night City, but again, I couldn’t finish it. Just last year, I made my way through the game once more, getting as far as the final few missions of the story, but lo and behold, I never finished it.
Now, I feel the itch, and with the Nintendo Switch 2 version bringing the game back to the spotlight for a while, I’m only more tempted. But should I, when I know I’ll never finish it?
It’s An Astounding RPG, And I Have Every Reason To Love It
I don’t dislike Cyberpunk 2077. There’s never any central thing that turns me away each time, and I think it’s a brilliantly crafted RPG from the studio of The Witcher 3. But as much as I try, as many attempts as I give it, I just haven’t been able to have a complete experience with it. I haven’t even gotten to the point of seeing any of the game’s Phantom Liberty DLC for myself.
Phantom Liberty is included in the Nintendo Switch 2 edition of the game, but I’m still unsure if I should try it on that platform or just stick with the visually stunning PC version.
I always tell myself that I’ll do it, I’ll get stuck in and experience the whole world, the vast amount of side content, and that I’ll wrap up the story once and for all, but I never do; I either end up taking on a bunch of side quests before getting distracted by other games, or I focus solely on the story to the point where I feel like I’m forcing myself to see the narrative for the sake of it, rather than for the experience. Or maybe I’ll just play the opening of the game once again, only to drop off shortly after.
Maybe This Time Will Finally Be The One
I keep looking at Cyberpunk 2077 in my Steam library, and it keeps looking back at me. We both know what’s about to happen, but we doubt it’ll amount to me finally completing the game. But who knows, perhaps this time I will; I could try a completely different approach to the game, turning up the difficulty and forcing myself to be more tactical, having the game be more rewarding than ever. I could mod the game to run as a VR experience, as many have done, and immerse myself in Night City like never before.
Looking into it, VR sounds like it might make for an incredible part-VR experience, as motion controls aren’t an option, but the game’s first-person perspective lends itself well to the platform.
Or maybe I’ll just have to accept that it’s a game I’ll love and hold highly, but was never something I could live in – just visit. Night City is a destination for me, something I admire and love to experience, but not somewhere I’ve been able to fully live in yet. I’ll keep giving it a go, and am eager to try these new approaches, but I don’t hold out much hope for the long-term resolution.
Cyberpunk 2077
- Released
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December 10, 2020
- ESRB
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M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol