CD Projekt Red is celebrating the company’s 20th anniversary this year, and with that, fans are celebrating alongside them. Many fans are thankful to CD Projekt Red and the team, for their iconic video game franchises of The Witcher and Cyberpunk. Many fans recognize The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt as one of the greatest games of all time, but can CD Projekt Red’s latest game beat their best?
There are plenty of things to love about Cyberpunk 2077. Of course, no one can deny the rocky release, but almost 2 years later, the game is in a much better spot and has extensive updates to further improve the base game. Cyberpunk 2077 does things better than The Witcher 3 and shows CD Projekt Red’s improvement over the years.
7 Choice Of Weapons
Although in context, having a steel sword and a silver sword made sense for The Witcher series, the lack of variety of weapons made some aspects of the combat feel repetitive. Although it was great fun, and crafting or finding new and unique swords could add to the experience, it wasn’t the same as the variety found in Cyberpunk 2077.
Players can truly fight their way in Cyberpunk. They can choose to use technology to shut enemies down, or use an assortment of different melee weapons, from vibrating sex toys to katanas. There exist plenty of unique weapons, like shotguns, pistols, and heavy machine guns. Enough weaponry to take on Night City alone.
6 Stealth Gameplay
There’s a lot more versatility of gameplay to be found in Cyberpunk 2077. Whereas Geralt had his Signs to mix the combat up, each V can crouch and sneak their way through segments of the game. Players can hack enemies, or distract them, to remain undetected and avoid a tense gunfight.
The inclusion of stealth is to the delight of many, as stealth gameplay is a sought-after mechanic, as it gives players the freedom to fight their way. Stealth gameplay adds unique opportunities to Cyberpunk 2077, one which The Witcher 3 lacks due to Geralt’s persuasion and sword skills.
5 Keanu Reeves
The talent of the cast behind The Witcher 3 cannot be understated. Each actor brings a great personality to the role that they play. However, there is one thing that The Witcher 3 lacks, and that thing is the iconic Hollywood actor, Keanu Reeves, known for his roles of Neo from The Matrix, and John Wick from the John Wick series. Keanu Reeves has a great list of credits, and Cyberpunk 2077 is one of them.
Cyberpunk 2077 features the iconic rocker boy and lead singer of the band Samurai, Johnny Silverhand. Keanu Reeves did the voice and mo-cap work of Johnny Silverhand, making for a great addition to the game thanks to his popular talent. Silverhand’s personality and charm explode thanks to Reeves’ performance, and it’s impossible to tell whether Silverhand is trustworthy, or selfish.
4 Fast Vehicles
Live fast, die young. It’s a motto to live by in Night City, with many vehicles featuring intense and high speeds across the streets of Night City. The game has a large open world, filled with dirt roads that players can drift across, and put the pedal to the meddle. With cars and motorcycles, players can feel the need for speed in Cyberpunk 2077.
The Witcher 3 features a loyal companion, Geralt’s horse, Roach. Roach is ridable and can have his speed and stamina upgraded through different saddles. As fun as it is to find Roach on a roof, it doesn’t compare to the top speeds achieved by one of Cyberpunk 2077’s best vehicles.
3 First-Person
There is a constant debate about what experience is better for a game. The divide between first-person fans and third-person fans is well known, but Cyberpunk 2077, works incredibly well as a first-person game. Gunplay works wonderfully in the first-person camera, as players are restricted to see what the character does, and not behind them without looking.
Although the game was originally conceived to have the option of third-person and first-person, the latter works just fine in Cyberpunk 2077 and adds to the immersion. The Witcher 3 has great immersion, but the player resumes a third-person display, which is perfect for that specific game.
2 Character Customization
One of the most anticipated features of Cyberpunk 2077 was character customization. Considering The Witcher series was Geralt’s story, it was nice for players to experience their own story, as their own V. The game allows for a great length of detail in customization, from tattoos to the shade of lipstick.
Players can change their appearance in their home mirror, and get the fine details of their appearance just right. Players can create the perfect V for them, with new hair, colors, and even nails. The selection of customization is greatly varied, with each V looking unique to the players’ preferences.
1 Thought-Provoking Story
On the surface, Cyberpunk 2077 may just seem like a game about a mercenary in a dystopian future looking to make a name for himself in a city. Yet, the game is so much deeper than that. The game is about bonds of friends and lovers, how to handle grief and the desire for fame, and most importantly, the desire to live when faced with a time limit on life itself.
There are some great and in-depth themes explored in Cyberpunk 2077, and the multiple avenues of dialogue and endings make each experience unique and centered around the player. The game teaches valuable lessons about living with an uncurable, deadly illness and finding what to do with what time is left. Will the player become a Night City Legend, or fade away?
Cyberpunk 2077 is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.