Cyberpunk 2077: A Beautiful Game With Poor Pacing
I recently finished playing Cyberpunk 2077 after months of gaming. Despite my excitement for the Phantom Liberty DLC, I was disappointed by the sudden ending of the main quest. However, the game has many other exciting features to offer.
You can easily spend 100 hours exploring Night City, completing gigs, side quests, and NCPD scanner missions. Although the main quest can be completed in under 20 hours, this is not a problem. As a games journalist, I prefer shorter run times so I can stay up to date with various titles.
However, poor pacing in Cyberpunk 2077 is a major issue for me. Once you meet Hanako, the game abruptly ends. This lack of closure is jarring because most story-critical NPCs appear for a single mission and then disappear until the end of the game.
I believe that developing deep relationships with characters and allowing players to forge bonds should have been a priority. For example, after receiving help from Viktor and Misty early on, players never see them again. I feel that having more missions requiring interactions with these characters could have added depth to the story.
The montage with Jackie and V climbing the ranks of the underworld should have been a playable first half of the game. This would have allowed players to witness V’s relationship with the city and its inhabitants grow, making the abrupt ending more impactful.
With the upcoming Phantom Liberty DLC, I hope it addresses this issue and provides a new ending that allows V and Johnny to coexist. It would be great to have an ending that lets players indulge in the game’s distractions in a more immersive way. However, given past disappointments with Cyberpunk, I won’t hold my breath.
Despite these flaws, I plan to take my time with Phantom Liberty and savor the gameplay. I’ll continue to imagine V’s story beyond the terminal ending, ensuring she takes care of herself and maintains relationships with other characters. Who says video games ruin your imagination?
Cyberpunk 2077, Phantom Liberty, main quest, storyline, NPCs, poor pacing, relationships, immersion.