Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty – A Game Changer?

Phantom Liberty isn’t just DLC; it’s a transformative expansion for Cyberpunk 2077. It overhauls core mechanics, introduces a gripping new storyline centered around political intrigue in the dangerous district of Dogtown, and provides a new ending to the base game. This expansion also introduces new characters, expands the arsenal, increases the level cap, and refines gameplay based on player feedback.

Diving Deep into Dogtown: A New Cyberpunk Experience

Phantom Liberty plunges players into the walled city of Dogtown, ruled by Kurt Hansen. This new location offers a stark contrast to the rest of Night City, with its own distinct culture, power dynamics, and dangers. Here’s what you can expect:

• A Gripping Narrative: At its core, Phantom Liberty is a spy thriller. V is tasked with saving the President of the New United States of America after her aircraft is shot down over Dogtown. You will be immersed in a web of deceit, alliances, and moral compromises.

• New Characters: The expansion introduces a cast of memorable characters, including Solomon Reed (played by Idris Elba), a veteran FIA agent with a troubled past, and Song So Mi (Songbird), a gifted netrunner with her own agenda. The choices you make regarding these characters will heavily influence the story’s outcome.

• Expanded Arsenal: Dogtown’s black market setting allows players to acquire new and powerful weapons, including prototypes and experimental technology. This expansion provides plenty of ways to adapt your playstyle and overcome the district’s challenges.

Core Gameplay Overhaul: The 2.0 Update and Beyond

Alongside the new story content, the 2.0 update significantly improves the base game experience. These changes are available to all Cyberpunk 2077 owners, even without purchasing Phantom Liberty.

• Revamped Perks and Skills: The progression system has been completely overhauled, allowing for more diverse and specialized character builds. The new perk tree encourages players to invest in specific skills and create unique playstyles.

• Vehicle Combat: The ability to engage in combat from vehicles adds a new dimension to Night City’s already chaotic streets. You can now shoot enemies from your car or even engage in car chases, making traversal more engaging.

• Improved AI: The behavior of both enemies and the police has been improved. Law enforcement will now respond more realistically to crimes, and enemies will use tactics to try and outflank you.

• Cyberware Limits: The new cyberware system introduces a limit to how much cyberware V can install, forcing players to make more strategic decisions about their augmentations. This encourages you to optimize your build and consider the trade-offs between different cyberware options.

Endings and Choices: Shaping V’s Destiny

Phantom Liberty offers multiple endings, and your choices throughout the expansion will determine V’s ultimate fate.

• Four Main Endings: Depending on whether you side with Songbird or Reed, you’ll experience one of four different endings to the Phantom Liberty storyline.

• A New Ending for the Base Game: Siding with Reed and the FIA unlocks a completely new ending for the base game, offering a potential resolution to V’s core conflict with the Relic.

• Meaningful Choices: The dialogue options you choose during the critical missions “Firestarter” and “Killing Moon” will have a significant impact on the outcome of the story and the fates of the characters involved.

Additional Content: Weapons, Cyberware, and More

Beyond the core story and gameplay changes, Phantom Liberty adds a wealth of new content to Cyberpunk 2077.

• New Weapons and Cyberware: Discover new and powerful weapons and cyberware modifications. The new Integumentary System cyberware, in particular, can significantly enhance V’s defensive capabilities.

• Collectibles and Secrets: Dogtown is filled with hidden secrets, including new Tarot cards to add to your collection.

• Increased Level Cap: The level cap has been raised from 50 to 60, allowing players to further develop their characters and unlock new skills and abilities.

Is Phantom Liberty Worth It?

Phantom Liberty adds a captivating spy thriller storyline to Cyberpunk 2077. Coupled with the massive changes included in the 2.0 update, this makes it a must-have for fans and newcomers alike. It addresses many of the original game’s shortcomings and elevates the overall experience to new heights. The team at Games Learning Society love the immersion of the Phantom Liberty! Learn more about the intersection of games and learning at GamesLearningSociety.org.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Does Phantom Liberty change the base game?

Yes, significantly. The 2.0 update, which is available even without purchasing Phantom Liberty, overhauls core gameplay mechanics, including perks, skills, AI, and vehicle combat. Phantom Liberty itself adds a new storyline and ending to the base game.

2. What does Phantom Liberty add to Cyberpunk?

Phantom Liberty adds a new story set in Dogtown, new characters, new weapons, vehicles, cyberware, an increased level cap, and a new ending for the base game (depending on your choices).

3. Does Phantom Liberty improve the base game?

Absolutely. Phantom Liberty addresses many of the criticisms of the original game, providing a more polished, engaging, and immersive experience. The 2.0 update also greatly improves core gameplay features.

4. Does Phantom Liberty fix glitches?

Yes, many glitches have been addressed. The patch accompanying Phantom Liberty focuses on fixing several issues, including a particularly annoying glitch that caused visual artifacts during dialogue with Johnny Silverhand.

5. Will Phantom Liberty increase the level cap?

Yes, the level cap is increased from 50 to 60, granting players an additional 10 attribute points to further customize their characters.

6. How many endings does Phantom Liberty have?

There are four main endings to the Phantom Liberty storyline itself. Furthermore, your choices within Phantom Liberty can unlock a new ending for the entire Cyberpunk 2077 experience.

7. How do you get the secret ending in Phantom Liberty?

To unlock the new ending for the base game, you must side with Solomon Reed during the critical choices in Phantom Liberty.

8. Does Phantom Liberty have new cyberware?

Yes! Several new cyberware options have been added, including new Integumentary System cyberware that greatly increases V’s defensive capabilities.

9. Can you save Alex in Phantom Liberty?

Alex’s fate depends on your choices during Phantom Liberty. To keep Alex alive, you need to side with Songbird during a key decision point.

10. Will there be new weapons in Phantom Liberty?

Absolutely. The lawless setting of Dogtown allows players to acquire a variety of new and experimental weapons.

11. Does Phantom Liberty add a new romance?

No, Phantom Liberty doesn’t introduce new romance options. However, previously romanceable characters (Judy, Panam, Kerry, and River) have new dialogue and content within the expansion.

12. Should I start Cyberpunk over for Phantom Liberty?

If you’re entirely new to Cyberpunk 2077, it’s recommended to start the game normally and progress through the early chapters before starting Phantom Liberty. This will allow you to familiarize yourself with the world and characters.

13. When should you play Phantom Liberty?

It is generally recommended to play until you unlock the Act 3 mission “Nocturne Op55N1” before beginning Phantom Liberty, if you want to see the impact the DLC has on the end of the main game.

14. Can V live in Phantom Liberty?

One of the endings introduced by Phantom Liberty offers a potential scenario where V can live, although it comes at a significant cost.

15. Who should I side with in Phantom Liberty: Reed or Songbird?

There’s no definitively “best” choice. The decision to side with Reed or Songbird has significant consequences and impacts the fates of the characters involved. Each choice leads to different endings with their own advantages and disadvantages. Ultimately, it comes down to your personal preference.