Cyberpunk 2077: A Stable Release Could Have Made It Game Of The Year
Cyberpunk 2077 could've been a strong contender for GOTY 2021 had it not been for its disastrous launch, which overshadowed its well-crafted features.
Cyberpunk 2077's tumultuous launch overshadowed many of the things the game does so well, so much so that a stable release could have potentially made it a candidate for Game of the Year. Although it wasn't nominated for such an award at The Game Awards 2021, it did pick up nominations for "Best Score and Music" as well as "Best Role-Playing Game". Cyberpunk should've received even bigger accolades however, and probably would have done had it not been for its controversial launch, which saw the game release with numerous bugs and errors across multiple platforms.
Approximately one year after its rocky launch, many players have decided that Cyberpunk 2077 deserves a second chance and are now revisiting the game. Although virtually every player encountered bugs when the game was released, some players (mostly on PC) were fortunate enough to experience a relatively smooth initial playthrough. Last-generation consoles like the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One suffered the most, with players on older hardware reporting frequent crashes and frame-rate issues in addition to the bugs that PC players were experiencing. While these issues were frustrating, especially considering the hype and delays surrounding the game's launch, they overshadowed many of the things that Cyberpunk 2077 does so well.
There's no denying that Cyberpunk 2077 still has a ton of room for improvement, but there are also many great aspects and features of the game that were seemingly buried in the controversy surrounding its launch. Even in its current minimally patched state, Cyberpunk 2077 was the most played Steam game of 2021. It's clear that gamers are willing to give Cyberpunk 2077 another shot, as players have been spending more time in Night City than they have since launch week and are now discovering all that this game has to offer. CDPR crafted a gripping main story while creating a massive, and detailed, open world populated by memorable characters in Cyberpunk 2077, and - had its launch been bug-free - it's possible its GOTY prospects would've been much stronger.
As soon as players create their character and select their respective life paths, they are immediately thrust into the world of Night City. CDPR did a great job of creating an immersive world with a rich back story that was integrated seamlessly into its environment. Players slowly and naturally absorb the culture of Night City, and it's on them to infer the meaning of slang terms like choom, iron, and chrome. Little information is provided regarding the turf each gang controls in Cyberpunk's Night City, so it's up to V to tread softly in different territories.
There's no handholding in Cyberpunk 2077, as CDPR has players gradually obtain bits of information through conversation as they piece together the history and setting of Night City. This is one of the things the game does so well, and it's used to create an immersive, slow-paced story-driven RPG. Unfortunately, there's nothing more immersion-breaking than bugs, which Cyberpunk 2077 had plenty of at launch, and this meant that the game's environmental storytelling was difficult to appreciate.
One feature that could have potentially put Cyberpunk 2077 in contention for Game of the Year is its main story. In Cyberpunk 2077, protagonist V's consciousness is slowly being overwritten and replaced by that of anti-Corpo, underground rocker, Johnny Silverhand. As V and Silverhand's minds slowly begin to fuse, it becomes increasingly clear that V has limited options as well as time. Losing one's own consciousness to an invasive presence is truly a terrifying concept, and Cyperpunk 2077 wastes no time in letting players know that the stakes are high. Additionally, there are many hidden choices in Cyberpunk 2077 that affect the outcomes of certain quests, as well as the overall story.
Another thing Cyberpunk 2077 gets right is allowing players to determine the course and nature of their relationship with Silverhand through a series of dialogues that occur at certain intervals of the main storyline. Keanu Reeves gives an outstanding performance as Johnny Silverhand, accompanying players throughout their journey while constantly reminding V that his ever-burning disdain for the Arasaka Corp continues even in the digital afterlife. Players can choose to resist Silverhand's looming presence, causing tension within the already complicated relationship, or they can choose to embrace him. The latter option will eventually lead to the opportunity to collect Johnny Silverhand's items in Cyberpunk 2077, like his Porsche 911, pistol, and samurai jacket.
Allowing players to briefly play as Silverhand through a series of flashbacks (triggered by the integration of the relic with V's mind) was also a great move by CDPR. It allows players to see firsthand the events of that infamous night where Johnny attempted to destroy the Reliquary Database inside Arasaka Tower, as well as a glimpse at the Night City legend Adam Smasher long before he was 96% cybernetic. Experiencing a past version of Night City and seeing moments like this added so much to the concept of the city having an actual history, filled with legends like Smasher and Morgan Blackhand.
Gigs and side quests in Cyberpunk 2077 are plentiful, and they aren't just for gaining experience points and acquiring gear. Many side quests feature complex, dynamic, characters and their quality of narrative often rivals that of the main storyline. The transition between Cyberpunk's main story and side-content is relatively seamless, which is illustrative of how well crafted and memorable its side-missions are. The presentation is always strong, and most of the side jobs are well worth exploring.
One such memorable side job in Cyberpunk 2077 is the Sinnerman side quest which is made available to players upon completion of Life During Wartime. In this side job that ultimately leads to one of Cyberpunk 2077's best moments, V is hired to kill an already incarcerated man, Joshua Stephenson, while he is being transported by the NCPD. After catching up to the transport, assuming V decides not to kill Stephenson, the quest will continue and V will learn all about the crimes and desired goals of the twisted individual.
V learns that Stephenson is a convicted murderer turned devout-born-again Christian. Rather than be executed through traditional means for his crimes, Stephenson has struck a deal with an entertainment studio to create a braindance of himself being crucified. In one of the most disturbing moments of Cyberpunk 2077, V is given the option to assist in the creation of the braindance by performing the actual crucifixion, hammering the nails into the wrists and feet of Stephenson. By daring to explore such heavy religious themes, CDPR made the Sinnerman side job truly unforgettable.
It's unfortunate that many of the great aspects of Cyberpunk 2077 were buried beneath a disastrous launch. However, many players who gave up on the title initially are just now discovering all the positive things that the game has to offer. CDPR is still hard at work making improvements to the game, and with the current-gen versions of Cyberpunk 2077 for Xbox Series X/S and PS5 set to release in the first quarter of 2022, revisiting Night City has never sounded so enticing.