Cyberpunk 2077 was one of the most, if not the most, anticipated video games of 2020. Ever since its 2012 announcement, fans of the game have been following its rocky development. Its release date being delayed to 2020 did nothing to put a damper on the hype.

Features such as a large, open-world map and a multitude of side quests and crime make the game comparable to the well-known Grand Theft Auto Franchise, if it was set fifty years into the future, of course. 

Given that CD Projekt Red, the company behind the game, had almost a decade to build up excitement for it, the game had no problem selling copies within its first week of release. However, what people ended up getting ended up being more of a shiny neon city filled with bugs and weak AI. NPCs on the street feel stiff and disappear out of nowhere more than they interact with the player. Players who purchased the game on PS4 and Xbox One were treated to even more bugs and poor game performance. The combat within the game feels very copy-paste, although, that’s not to say it isn’t fun. 

With all of that being said, the game isn’t entirely a basket of cons. The game’s plot, although not what I expected, feels well-thought-out and fun to play. The game’s central characters tend to be likeable, and the boss fights are just challenging enough. If your console or PC can handle it, the game’s graphics are well-done and nice to look at. 

In terms of environment, Night City comes across as somewhat average. The ambience of a bustling futuristic city is there, but a lot of the scenery feels the same. The different sectors of the city all have their own feel to them and are all run by different gangs. One gang in particular, the Tyger Claws, comes across as somewhat of a campy, somewhat stereotyped take on a Japanese gang, with its members wielding katanas and wearing heavily stylized clothing. The society presented in the game definitely comes across as a superficial, sex-obsessed, and violent society that’s fixated on technology, affluence, and power. 

Overall, I’d give the game a solid 7/10. Despite its many flaws, I’ve still had a lot of fun throughout my 35 hours of playtime on the game. Whether or not it’s worth the hefty $60 price tag is up to the buyer, although they should probably hold onto their money if they have an older console.