Cyberpunk 2077 Gameplay Reveal: 48-Minute Walkthrough
Two months ago, those attending E3 tradeshow were afforded a behind-the-scenes demo of Cyberpunk 2077 by developer CD Projekt Red. Finally, that same footage has been made available to the general public today. Here is the link. I do recommend that you watch the entire video and assimilate the details. Because, I’m sure there’s going to be a great deal of hyperbole, bluster and hype going around in the next 48 hours regarding the Cyberpunk 2077 Gameplay Reveal on You Tube. I’m sure there’ll also be a handful of professional malcontents who’ll immediately look to find fault or take a critical posture because, hey, that’s what some folks do. Speaking as a mature player of games, who takes a calm and measured approach to marketing and tries not to get sucked into the hysteria that can sometimes arise from the wider community, I must say I am intrigued by what I’ve seen so far.
I was very impressed by CD Projekt Red’s last game, The Witcher III: Wild Hunt. I liked the open world, the aesthetic of the game and its level of complexity. It managed to balance the technical requirements of an RPG, with gear, skills points and system progression and ensure that it didn’t tip over into an excess of resource management. But above all I loved the story. It eschewed the binary morals of other games and offered us a world of hard decisions, complexity and consequences. And this is what appears to be at the heart of Cyberpunk 2077. Furthermore, the Gameplay Reveal seems to indicate that there are multiple paths to take with each mission that shape the outcome of content later in the game. Again, the balance between systems, the complexity of combat and narrative progression seems to be appropriate. As for the issue of first person perspective that has already been hotly debated, it seems to be justified from what I’ve seen. The way it reverts to third person for cutscenes and exposition looks like a good compromise.
I suspect that as well as a lot of hype, Cyberpunk 2077 is also going to encounter a lot of controversy as it’s release date gets close. The game is overtly political (by the developers own admission) and will explore a great deal of adult and challenging themes. Violence, transhumanism and evolving human identity will not be welcome in some quarters. And anything of a sexual nature always ruffles the feathers of the usual suspects. Oh, I’m certain that Cyberpunk 2077 will be pilloried in corners of the gaming community. Another potential issue is going to be the games minimum specifications. I think this may be the title that will force me finally replace my current four-year-old PC. However, I shall temper my modest enthusiasm, with a pinch of cynicism that I’ve learned the hard way after thirty plus years of gaming. “There’s many a slip between cup and lip” as the old saying goes. So, for the immediate future, I’ll remain just “interested” and content to just, watch, wait and reflect upon Cyberpunk 2077.
