Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty is a fitting conclusion to arguably the most infamous game release in recent memory. This expansion contains the best of Cyberpunk 2077, condensed into a 10-15 hour adventure. On top of that, it includes numerous gameplay updates and improvements that help strengthen and streamline the core mechanics. Phantom Liberty is part of a full package, and moreover.

With Phantom Liberty, Cyberpunk 2077 ends its arduous journey. It may not live up to what was promised in the game's charming E3 2018 trailer, but there's no denying that, in its current form, it's one of the best RPGs ever released. from our Cyberpunk 2077 review in 2020, We've come a long way. If you haven't played Cyberpunk 2077 yet, this is your chance to do so.

Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty is not only a fantastic expansion, it completes the redemption arc of Cyberpunk 2077. It is truly one of the best PC games ever, the best Xbox Series X game, and the best PS5 game. To find out why, read my full review.

Dogtown, the setting of Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, was formerly a closed-off district of Pacifica. Pacifica was the most lawless and rundown district in the Night City, but Dogtown borders on a post-apocalyptic hellscape. After the orbital shuttle of the President of the New United States crash-lands in Dogtown, protagonist V is tasked with retrieving her.

Depending on his play style during the main game, V is by no means a good citizen, but he has a powerful motivation to rescue the president. Namely, the possibility of preventing her death from the biochip implanted in her brain.

This is V's driving force in the main game, but a new character named Songbird provides a more tangible means of achieving that goal. Of course, it's not easy, as V has to fight an army of ex-militia soldiers led by the de facto dictator of Dogtown, a man named Kurt Hansen.

Phantom Liberty plays out like a cyberpunk-infused techno-spy thriller, with twists and turns throughout its labyrinthine narrative. Along the way, we meet a number of morally gray characters, such as the aforementioned Songbird, FIA's Solomon Reed, played by Idris Elba, and Alex, as well as a number of supporting characters.

The plot is very fast-paced, with small skips that keep you guessing what will happen next. Nevertheless, there are plenty of slower moments and some introspection that allow us to learn more about Dogtown and the people involved. Story-wise, "Phantom Liberty" does well enough.

Speaking of fleshing out the world, the side quests in "Phantom Liberty" not only help with world-building, but also provide an excellent self-contained narrative. I won't spoil it, but there are a few missions I'm still considering. It's not surprising, as it was generally the case in "Cyberpunk 2077," but it's great to have such engaging side quests.

The only complaint I have is that Phantom Liberty is somewhat out of tune tonally with the rest of Cyberpunk 2077. Considering that it has been years since its release, it is not surprising that this expansion feels out of place. While this is not a major detriment, it is clear that Phantom Liberty was developed long after the release of the main edition.

The "Phantom Liberty" expansion would have sufficed, but CD Projekt RED has given up on completely overhauling the important gameplay mechanics that affect "Cyberpunk 2077" as a whole. You don't have to buy "Phantom Liberty" to enjoy the new mechanics completely free of charge. Cyberpunk 2077 was already in good shape last summer, but update 2.0 has allowed the game to reach its potential even further.

Parks and skills have received the biggest overhaul; once 2.0 is activated, gameplay begins. 0 update, most of the previous perks and skills will not exist, and skill points will be returned. This gives you a chance to build a new V from scratch, with skills that fit your preferred playstyle. I went with a gunslinger build, but there is also the option of a hacker or ninja. Best of all, skills can be reset at any time without penalty.

"Phantom Liberty" has a new Relic skill tree featuring entirely new perks that can complement existing perks. For example, players with melee builds can employ new abilities in the Mantis Blade and Gorilla Arm, while stealth players can use the emergency cloak that makes them invisible.

Relic points can only be obtained from hidden locations in Dogtown or from songbirds, but this is an interesting experiment in acquiring skills. Overall, Relic Points add to the already strong customization options of the game.

The cyberware and armor system has also been significantly revamped; V is now limited in the number of cyberware he can wear at one time, depending on his level. However, the higher the V levels, the more (and better) cyberware it can use.

This forces them to prioritize certain cyberware over others, which can be frustrating in the moment, but rewarding once they reach the required level. Armor is now linked to cyberware instead of clothing. This allows the wearer to wear whatever they want without fear that their defenses will be compromised.

Other overhauls include a new GTA-like police system, where officers will escalate their responses based on your actions. In addition, you can now fight in vehicles by shooting guns and using weapons mounted on the vehicle. Shooting a gun will drain your stamina, which will make tense gunfights even more harrowing. These gameplay changes make Cyberpunk 2077 even more engaging.

Although the cyborg is a different cyborg since its release, what remains the same is the excellent presentation of the film. There is a reason why this game is one of my main games when I test the best gaming laptops and the best gaming monitors. Cyberpunk 2077 is a marvel to behold.

I played Cyberpunk 2077 on the best gaming PCs and PS5 (after the update) and the game looks amazing on both platforms. Of course, the best visual experience is on a high-end PC with maximum ray tracing and other graphics effects. But even if you are playing Cyberpunk 2077 on Steam Deck, your eyes will not be disappointed.

Phantom Liberty is set in Night City, which you are free to explore at any time, so it has the same graphical fidelity as the main game. Dogtown is even more devastated than Pacifica, and everything from bombed-out tenements to gorgeous skyscrapers is rendered in stunning detail.

Even if Dogtown is not always appealing, whenever I wasn't involved in a gunfight with crazy gangsters and soldiers, I made sure to take in every sight. The attention to detail is awe-inspiring.

I have been playing "Cyberpunk 2077" since its release and it is one of the strangest journeys I have ever seen in a game. I won't go into all the underhanded details, but suffice it to say that the patches and updates that have followed have finally made the experience as good as one could hope for in 2020.

In 2022, I said the best time to play "Cyberpunk 2077" was now.

This DLC is going to be the end of Cyberpunk 2077 and I can't think of a better conclusion. I have always enjoyed this action RPG, even when it was plagued by glaring bugs and glitches. But now I can wholeheartedly recommend this exceptional experience to anyone.

Cyberpunk 2077 is without a doubt one of the best games of this generation.