Our latest look at Cyberpunk 2077 continues to impress. CD Projekt Red’s next big game shaping up to be one smart, gripping action-RPG. Deus Ex fans in particular should be paying close attention.
We got our first look at the gritty world of Pacifica, the southernmost district of Night City, and a hotbed of gang warfare dominated by the Voodoo Boys.
CDPR played a new infiltration scenario using two distinctly different character builds, swapping back and forth to demonstrate how different abilities can radically change the experience. At times, they almost played like two entirely different games.
A hacker-focused character used stealth to evade enemies, disabled cameras, and could access “backdoor” stations to gain control over local security systems. He was armed with a nanowire, which doubles as a weapon and a remote hacking apparatus; toss it at an enemy’s head to access his or her systems, or use its keen slicing edge to pop off limbs in melee combat.
Meanwhile, a brute force-focused character pried open fortified doors or overpowered enemies, carrying them as a human shield. Clash with a sentry turret? Block its oncoming fire with a hapless enemy’s body, then rip off its machinegun at close range for some extra firepower.
This variety is possible thanks to fluid customization that enables players to mix and match abilities to suit their play style. A CDPR spokesperson said the studio’s goal is to create “maximum freedom” in customization. One example: it’s possible to complete the entire game without killing a single human.
The game’s expansive perk tree includes a slew of combat-focused skills (blades, melee, sniper rifles, shotguns, handguns) as well as other physical characteristics (athletics, assassination, cold blooded). We don’t yet know exactly how these will all interact, but it should provide a formidable foundation no matter your preferred play style.
The game’s attention to detail continues to impress, and help increase immersion in the game’s sprawling world. Spoken languages are translated in real-time via your character’s built-in HUD. While exploring the Voodoo Boys’ turf, their subtitled Haitian Creole shifted seamlessly into written English, adding convincing futuristic flair.
Cyberpunk 2077’s freedom of cybernetic character customization and fluid tactical approaches makes it one of the most enticing games coming to PS4 next year. CD Projekt Red’s dystopian future arrives April 16, 2020.
