Cyberpunk 2077

Always. Choose. Female. V.

Do you go for the bland but perfectly serviceable choice or the truly excellent one?

Fem-V is up there with Cassandra. It's a night and day difference to the male actor's performance.

Scrap it and start again imo.

I wouldn't call male V bland, he sounds like a twat

Finished this off last night, now having done the main game ending and going back to do the Phantom Liberty one.

The game itself is pretty good. No idea what it was like pre the 2.0 patch, but they have a really solid RPG system combined with some pretty good missions. It feels like there is plenty of choice in how you can go about building your character and there is a fair amount of options from the skill trees when combined with the implants you can add on top. I can imagine there are some crazy builds out there. The weapon selection is great too. Missions could have perhaps been a little more flexible in their level design, but there are all pretty engaging to play, even the side ones.

But what really blew me away was just how damn good the sci-fi was. There is some proper brain bending ideas in here. And not just one or two, but multiple as you go through both the main missions and the side missions. From the central plot of having another dead persons persona living in your head to the idea of brain dances that let you experience the sensations and emotions of someone else. The boxing duo that shares a single mind to a politician that is having his brain not only manipulated but literally altered by unknown forces. The game just constantly throws new stuff at you. Sometimes these might be things you have seen before, but even then it is done well and with real flair.

I was always a bit down on The Witcher 3 and felt like the hyperbole around it was inflated, particularly the writing. It was good, but outside of the Bloody Baron and one or two other moments I thought it was mostly just fine. But this was consistently great to excellent, with very little below that. I am more of a sci-fi guy then a fantasy guy, so perhaps I'm just seeing here what others saw there, but this feels like such a big leap up for them in terms of writing quality.

It is still a bit ropey in places. I had a few bugs here at there, such as my date with Judy getting muddled as it was also mixing it with a conversation with Silverhand. Or the time I had people get in two separate cars as part of a scripted mission, attempt to drive off only for them to then drive into each other and one get stuck. Nothing game breaking, but stuff your would expect from open world games 10 years ago that you never see now.

Those are pretty minor in the great scheme of things though and I absolutely loved my experience with this. Really looking forward to give the anime Edgerunner a go now.

Edgerunner is excellent. Enjoy.

Now you mention it

Don't they also say that it will affect more than just the av?

But we do not see any consequences outside that little moment.

Absolutely, I think it's mentioned in one of the loading screen broadcasts but nothing is seen at all in game.

I hope that's one area where Orion improves - I absolutely *don't* think the player character should be the MVP in NC, all their actions should ultimately be a ripple in the ocean, but it would be amazing if big actions had some transient effect on the world.

The EMP does have a big effect for you in the mission beyond just downing the chopper though. It also cuts out comms which is the whole reason you can't warn the Aldecaldos.

But, yeah, more wider repercussions beyond the current missions from your actions would be good. Narratively you have quite a bit at some places (such as after the conclusion of the DLC in Dogtown where you can choose the next leader), but outside of some radio broadcasts you don't really see the impact. I expect much of that was down to them just not having the time to implement that stuff. Even with the patched up version and despite loving it, it was clear the game had been rushed in a few places.

One thing that struck me during the 6th Street party mission was that I would love to see a CD Projekt Red take on Fallout (that clan felt like one that would thrive in a lawless post apocalypse). It would obviously be very different to the Bethesda style, but I could see it being an excellent interpretation of that world.

Starting my 3rd play through on my 3rd platform. PS4 launch day, series x on next gen launch day and now on pc with everything on the highest setting. Oh my lord it is glorious, if only I had the patience to have waited for this to have been my first experience of the game in its full glory. Having the world fully reflected in a glass skyscraper is incredible. Seems like a generational leap from the current consoles.

Still playing this myself (PS5) nearing the end of the main game with some major side quests to do but then I'll be going into the DLC.

Maybe I should have gone into dog town sooner and got some of the weapons to use in the rest of the main game but then again I'm taking some good stuff with me into the DLC.

Nitrous
Yeah, you definitely should've gone in sooner. You also get to unlock some fairly handy skills. Mainly melee focussed, but there's a ridiculously OP one that adds an exploding weak point to enemies.

Just finished the intro (7 hours in, the relic heist).
It’s such an easy 10/10 for me. It’s just so incredible. Rockstar make their world more interactive but I think this one is my favourite of them all. It’s also a constant graphics porn situation which I’m spending half the time drooling at the visuals/presentation. Thoroughly enjoyed escaping the hotel only using the throwing knife I found on Saburo Arasaka. I may have took about ten reloads to accomplish but I wanted to escape like a ninja as last time it was a messy gun battle all the way.

God damn the combat is so good now. I enjoyed the combat on release but now it’s just so much fun with all the new perks and weapons.

Currently have upgraded lots on the throwing weapons tree and it’s devastating but also a lot of fun. About to unlock in air dash as well that should make my throwing knife build even more crazy.

I think even as a jack of all trades build you can still easily get to the endgame but the level of domination available if you really lean in to a combat specialisation is amazing.

I tried to play as a non net runner on my last playthrough but not having the ability feels like I've lost an arm.