Summary
Cyberpunk 2077featured several outcomes for V at the end of the base game’s story, but nothing highlighted the importance of choice like thePhantom LibertyDLC. As the only expansion forCyberpunk 2077,Phantom Libertybrought a thrilling new chapter to life, as characters Solomon Reed and Songbird presented a difficult choice for players to make. The crossroads the DLC brings V to is a compelling arc in the expansion’s story, and it could have been just the beginning of what is to be expected withCyberpunk 2077’s sequel, Project Orion.
As an immersive RPG, player choice is a given inCyberpunk 2077, but it didn’t exactly meet the high stakes that many were hoping for. The base version of the game tasked players with making some big choices, butPhantom Libertyquickly raised the stakes.Project Orion will likely improve onCyberpunk 2077’s best ideas, andPhantom Libertyfelt like a test run for emphasizing the consequences of a player’s actions.
Phantom Liberty Was a Fascinating Demonstration of the Consequences of Player Choice
Choosing Between Reed and Songbird
The main conflict inPhantom Libertyis presented with players having tochoose between helping Reed or Songbird. Songbird is in search of a cure for her Blackwall infection, but Reed believes she needs to be held captive for her own safety. Both choices have their valid points, but the most fascinating part of this decision is just how vastly different the outcomes are.
Despite the game’s immersion,one of the biggest criticisms ofCyberpunk 2077is that one’s decisions in the base game didn’t feel like they had a huge impact. The biggest example of this is right at the game’s beginning when choosing life paths. Whether a player chooses Corpo, Street Kid, or Nomad doesn’t offer too much of a difference or affect how NPCs interact with V. However,Phantom Liberty’s diverse outcomes could be CD Projekt Red experimenting with serious choice consequences.
If playerschoose to trust Songbird, V is eventually faced with killing Reed and helping Songbird board a shuttle so she can go find her cure. However, if players side with Reed, there are two paths given. Players can make a deal with Reed to exchange Songbird for a Relic cure. This leads to V getting the chance to go to Washington D.C. for surgery, which makes it impossible for them to handle combat Cyberware, leaving V living a life off the grid. The second option features Songbird going berserk. V eventually captures her and returns her to NUSA custody. This results in a reward for heroism from President Myers and a promise of a cure from Reed.
Phantom Liberty Was Just a Warm-Up
ThePhantom LibertyDLC offers three major outcomes for V and the characters involved in the expansion’s story. Depending on what path players choose, there can be special weapons players are locked out of using and even a new ending to the base game could be missed.Phantom Libertyactually delivers on the promises ofCyberpunk 2077’s choice-focused gameplay, which is fascinating for a DLC.
Now that there is proof that CD Projekt Red can nail an intense choice-based story, it’s likely that Project Orion will takePhantom LIberty’s diverse outcomesand bring them to the next level. Now thatCyberpunk 2077has been able to rise from the ashes of its controversial launch, Project Orion is the chance for CD Projekt Red to make the game its predecessor was originally meant to be. It’s currently not clear how deep Project Orion’s choices will go, butPhantom Libertyoffers a thrilling preview.
