There’s no easy way to say this, but Cyberpunk 2077 is a pretty spectacular disaster. The glitches and bugs notwithstanding, the game that was years in the making was a substantial disappointment for gamers who do not own high-end PCs or use older hardware. Not to mention, some quests wouldn’t start properly, the AI was quite shoddy, players didn’t have as many customization options as NPCs, and the game also got trans representation wrong.
But, some gamers have pointed out that the graphics, gameplay, and combat systems are quite advanced and actually quite satisfying. Amid all these polarized perspectives, the question has to be asked, is Cyberpunk 2077 Game Awards worthy? In the modern era of gaming, games can’t just be flashy or exhilarating, they have to be culturally relevant and engaging on every level. In 2021, could Cyberpunk 2077, essentially being an early access game, nab the coveted Game of the Year award? We explored this further
Too Frustrating: The Gear Customizations Are Inconvenient
Cyberpunk 2077’s hype was anchored hugely by the promise of super customizations, but, after the game was released, players realized the lack of options in costume and gear. This is not a straightforward problem, per se, as the issue is quite manifold. There are a huge number of gear and costume options for non-player characters and in several sizes. But, in many cases, even after a player has reached the maximum amount of street cred, they are stuck with the same jackets, helmets, and shirts, only in different colors.
Players have also demanded a better-planned gear catalog, that doesn’t make them choose between being effective and looking awesome, as they almost always look ridiculous when trying to keep up with max armor while simultaneously acquiring new gear. It’s important to note that GOTY judges the overall experience the game offers, and Cyberpunk fails to deliver on some aspects, especially as the trailer had promised.
What Works: The Main Quest Is Engaging
In spite of all the criticism on various levels, hard-core gamers who were ready to invest quite a bit of time in the game agree that the main storyline is the best part about Cyberpunk 2077, and not the side quests. Despite the threaded writing, the relationship between V and Johnny Silverhand (Keanu Reeves’ mercenary) it's filled with possibilities and camaraderie.
Plus, the storyline has been designed to encourage exploration and to help gamers keep on track to finish the story, especially Night City, which has been curated to make the gameplay more satisfying.
Too Frustrating: The Boring Open World Holds The Game Back
The Game Awards is keen on rewarding developers and creators who have upgraded their genres to make them more engaging and have made the experience more seamless. In many ways, it’s about recognizing the features that push the format forward and make better content. But, Cyberpunk completely drops the ball in terms of innovation, especially with its open-world format.
The city is acutely flashy and robust in terms of visuals... until one starts engaging with it. There are so few shops you can buy things from, and there are almost too many NPCs behind stalls, but they aren’t selling anything, there’s isn’t enough credible real-world connection that can engage the players.
What Works: The Gigs Help The Overall Character Progression
It’s common knowledge that GOTY has a whole category dedicated to the Best Role-Playing Game. In this category, the jury is looking to identify the games with feature-rich player character customizations, which essentially makes the experience more immersive. Cyberpunk does take some credible leaps in this direction; the gigs, for instance, which let the player do some ‘chores’ and earn eurodollars to get upgrades, are very helpful.
Someone may ask a player to place a tracker or smuggle someone, through; these standalone ‘gigs’ are independent from side quests and make the gameplay really fun besides being beneficial to the player.
Too Frustrating: The Plot Is Shallow And Gimmicky
Cyberpunk 2077 was built up to be a grand tale akin to the likes of The Witcher 3, and that definitely didn't turn out to be the case. In fact, it’s somewhat hard to take it seriously as a nominee for GOTY. Not every game has to have a messaging or a comprehensive sense of community, but Cyberpunk has been marketed for too long as the next big thing in gaming, the Neo from The Matrix. It can’t afford to piggyback on some Twitter hashtags to seem cool and carry on with a rocker boy-esque Keanu Reeves. It needs more heart, and at least some form of worldliness, and it’s not too much to ask for considering how dystopian games have managed to do it over and over again.
What Works: Realistic Combat
Cyberpunk actually has an excellent combat system for an RPG; it’s realistic and mindful of manual engagement. Certain limitations have been deliberately put in place to make it more realistic and satisfying. Not every gun shoots the same way every time, just like in real life, and, at times, it can take more than one shot to kill an enemy.
The combat difficulty is very restrained but effective; modding and finding stronger guns lets players aim better. Even if players want to steer clear of guns, the stealth mode is great.
Too Frustrating: Not A Balanced Gameplay
Despite great combat design, the AI needs a lot of work in Cyberpunk, especially in terms of enemy scaling. For pro gamers who are quick with devising strategies for role-playing games, Cyberpunk’s challenges may seem too easy. The game lets players become overpowered too easily, which is bizarre, as it also features an upgrade system.
To put it simply, the combat can seem too easy irrespective of the choice of weapon unless one chooses to shift modes and start from ‘Very Hard.’ Yet, therein lies the problem; players should be able to steadily graduate from one level to the next, and this aspect really hampers the overall gameplay.
What Works: Choices Matter And It Elevates The Experiences
This is a pretty crucial and applauded aspect vis-a-vis Cyberpunk’s RPG design; in any RPG, the choices need to make actual changes in the play, and not just superficial ones.
In Cyberpunk, actions matter a lot. Players can experience that just from the opening section itself, and, when it comes to genre-focused and mission-led games, this aspect definitely makes it very thrilling, as it says a lot about each player’s tactics and reactions, and, in a broader sense, distinguishes one player from the next.
Too Frustrating: The Bugs And Performance Issues (Obviously)
The fact that the game had so many hilarious glitches and bugs in the first place can single-handedly disqualify it from running, especially when one looks back at how long it's been in the making. But, the fact that it’s practically unplayable unless it’s on high-end PCs makes it very difficult to consider it seriously for the GOTY.
The glitches are so spectacular and funny that it made way for a maelstrom of jokes and memes on Twitter, notably about the bad motorists who yell at the players for their own bad driving—though, as a side note, CDPR does have major patches coming this year which promise to fix these issues.
What Works: The Replayability
Cyberpunk 2077 is definitely one of the most replayable games of this decade; it’s chock-a-block with entertainment, players can start afresh and make different moves, but the replayability is primarily about trying different builds. Players can go back to hidden quest options to see what they’ve missed. Players can opt for different kinds of combat in each round, and they can even switch lifepaths or genders, which essentially lets them have entirely new experiences. Bugs and issues aside, the replayability makes Cyberpunk a great investment.