Welcome to our review of Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, one of the most anticipated DLC packs of the past few years and it is being sold at a premium. A premium that is easily defendable once you realize this is more than just another additional storyline, it is the full experience!
Phantom Liberty is a new spy-thriller adventure for Cyberpunk 2077. Return as cyber-enhanced mercenary V and embark on a high-stakes mission of espionage and intrigue to save the NUS President. In the dangerous district of Dogtown, you must forge alliances within a web of shattered loyalties and sinister political machinations. Do you have what it takes to survive?
From the start, it becomes clear that this new expansion is more than V bargained for… Straight from the start, you are almost killed when Songbird, a net runner tells you she has the solution to get you healed and she invites you to Dogtown. Where upon arrival, you see the president’s ship go down after being targeted by missiles. You jump into the action from the start by saving the president and trying to get her out of the ambush that is happening.
Shortly after saving her, you meet up with a former special agent who got previously burnt, but he is friends with the president and he joins the cause to get her out safely, well, not just her but also Songbird who seems to have disappeared in the midst of battle. Then it all seemingly becomes a race against time and will you and Reed have what it takes to survive this mess in Dogtown or will you end up losing all chances of getting rid of the relic inside your head?
Phantom Liberty is a really decent expansion pack with a little over 10 actual playing hours, which really makes it a fully-fledged length comparable to many full-length video games. On top of the original Cyberpunk, that is. What I truly loved about this expansion is just how you can take a car and drive from one side to the other as soon as you get permission to cross borders. Till then, obviously, it is a lot of sneaking around.
Now I have to mention one thing here, I originally loved the game back when it came out and about 2 months ago, I purposely played it again, with the intention of buying the DLC (we got a review code in full disclosure) and I just had a few moments at first where I was struggling with how to play. I just forgot how to play the game and I do recommend NOT diving straight in, but at least go outside town and do some basic maneuvering exercises. You will need to be used to the controls because you truly get thrown off the deep end when it comes to action.
I think the DLC takes about 2 hours in for the first real breather moment once you get to it. The rush of this add-on is very real and also very fun. And without going into too many details in regards to the story, it just doesn’t give you time to really relax until you are at the enemy’s headquarters trying to play a casino game with some incredibly cocky French twins, the girl of which tries to seduce you, well played, very well played.
In conclusion, Phantom Liberty brings us a full-length storyline at about half the price of a modern-day action game. It is basically one of the best DLCs I have ever played and it just shows what a promising idea the entire game was from the beginning, despite its notoriously rocky start.
