Preplay Review
This is a little review I want to do before playing the new game Cyberpunk 2077. To make it clear, I do not yet own the game and all of my analysis on it is from an outside perspective of someone who doesn't have the game yet. Likewise, I wasn't a part of the hype train either, I didn't much take note of Cyberpunk 2077 till around 2018 when I found out about it and it's predecessor table top game, Cyberpunk 2020.
Graphics
From a first look I see a beautiful game that, while may not meet some people's expectation, I feel like is exceptionally beautiful. Between the implementation of ray tracing and the immense implementation of things like bump maps and normals all coming together in a well crafted environment and it looks amazing, even on a stream that had to use lower quality for streaming reasons.
Game Design
As far as the game design elements, it seems like a well thought-out game as far as the environment goes. There seems to be many little things scattered about to encourage you to try out a talent and it also includes a save system which allows you to throw down saves when ever. This can be a bit jarring for people who are used to the use of respawn points like in other Open World RPGs or general Open World Games, for example the use of hospitals as respawn points in single player GTA V or the respawning nearby in the GTA V Online.
Along with that, the game seems to really keep well to it's Retro 80's style aesthetics, a style I personally love due to my love of the look of Neon blanketed cities that come alive at night like a personal project I am working on. The outfits are quite fitting as well, having high levels of tech implemented into some while others show of the change of how people see decency or outfit based freedoms along with self confidence.
With that said though, there is another thing I will touch on and that is the design of Items and Combat. When it comes to the combat and items the game takes a much more looter-shooter approach, as many say, having weapons that you just toss aside for better weapons. The game also has crafting which seems to be falling into the same trap as crafting in most RPGs where the reward is no where near worth it. I will have to play it myself to know for sure, but I do have some suggestions on how to improve this system coming up with my next topic.
Mods and Customization
Mods, Mods, Mods! I love mods and Cyberpunk 2077 gives me chills of excitement to bite into with the rest of the modding community. While this game is released, there will definitely be many modders (including myself) who are gonna flock to the game to expand it in their own visions from mods that will add quests, to followers, to weapons, to armor. Mods will come and it will be amazing when they do... or If they do. The thing is, the game is new and not many people will be modding it right off the bat, but if CDPR releases something to allow us to mod it easily there will be many, many, many mods to come.
To continue my thoughts on the items, if CDPR does not go about changing the crafting system and item systems there will definitely be mods that will come in to change it themselves. I personally would like to see the ability to make modular weapons that you can customize to your own liking and upgrade as the game goes on with your own signature design... perhaps even call it just that, signature weapons... No one tell Ubi though or they may have a cow about it (Cough, Division 2, Cough). Likewise, I envision that there will be mods to overhaul fashion in the game, allowing you to change your character's appearance separate from their stats and maybe even add new types of equipment like collars or arm guards.
Along that same vein, I do hope that some options to change the GUI comes up some time cause it will probably help out a lot of people including those who are partially or fully color blind.
Expectations and Closing Statements
I think I am gonna have quite a lot of fun with this game, when ever I do get it, and I do feel like CDPR are definitely not done with it yet. If I am to predict their next actions, they are probably focusing work on taking out bugs and fixing up some story elements, making their strengths stronger, and probably will work on the other bits that are lacking later.
As for my expectations, I do feel like Cyberpunk 2077 will be a new game I add to my "Thousand of Hours Played" list as I take to the streets of Night City and take to the code of the game. Who knows, I may even make some outfits of my own in the game from a certain project I am working on, since they'd probably fit so well.
but that's all for now, So I will see you in Cyberpunk 2077, Samurai.
Thanks for Reading and Keep Howling, Wolves.
