Time is up on the review embargo for Cyberpunk 2077, ahead fo the game’s release on 10th December for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC. However, as much as we’d love to share our opinions and give a verdict today, we can’t do that for one simple reason: we haven’t played the game.
We also aren’t alone in that fact, in the realms of gaming websites. As you can see for the reviews below, it seems that CDPR have restricted access to the PC version of the game, with console code having to go through several extra layers of certification before it can be pushed live. We requested PS4 code for review, and once it arrives, we’ll get to work reviewing the game as soon as we’re able to.
For now, we can share some of the opinions that have been released. The running theme? It’s very good, but it’s also pretty buggy, which has affected scores to varying degrees.
VG247 – PC – 5 Stars
In the midst of such intense anticipation and scrutiny, it’s easy to get carried away with what Cyberpunk 2077 could have been. The final experience might be more familiar than many predicted, with plenty of elements that aren’t perfect, but it’s dripping with detail and engaging stories. With so much to see and do, Cyberpunk 2077 is the kind of RPG where you blink and hours go by, which is just what we need to finish off 2020.
PC Gamer – PC – 78/100
Cyberpunk 2077 is a game about V coming apart at the seams, in a city coming apart at the seams, in a game coming apart at the seams. Play it in a few months.
The Gamer – PC – 5 Stars
I’m V and the game is Silverhand – I can’t get Cyberpunk 2077 out of my head. I’ve had it a week and played 70 hours, which is probably about as healthy as scooping out my face and replacing it with electronics, but it didn’t feel like work. Like a digital personality loaded onto a biochip, it felt like stepping into another life for a while. It’s a life I can’t wait to relive.
Gamespot – PC – 7/10
it’s hard to get into Cyberpunk 2077’s world in general. So much of it is superficial set dressing, and there’s so much happening all around you–ads going off at all times, gunfights breaking out in the streets, texts coming in about cars you’ll never buy–that a lot of the game feels superfluous. The side quests and the characters they showcase are the shining beacon through the neon-soaked bleakness of Night City, and they give you room to explore the best the core RPG mechanics have to offer. These are what carried me through an otherwise disappointing experience.
IGN – PC – 9/10
Cyberpunk 2077 throws you into a beautiful, dense cityscape and offers a staggering amount of flexibility in how you choose to take it from there.
Gamesradar – PC – 5 Stars
Cyberpunk 2077 is a paragon of open-world gaming, offering the kind of freedom to explore and define your character that provides a new pinnacle for the genre. It takes everything we celebrate about open-world games, and learns from it, implementing best-in-class variations in a world that’s so dense and detailed. Add in the human-like level of reactivity and emotional depth that it brings to its narrative, and it all combines for the most spectacular experience. Take a trip to Night City immediately.
Game Informer – PC – 9/10
Cyberpunk 2077 is dark and disturbing at times (frighteningly so), but the majority of its content is fascinating, and loaded with depth through the various RPG systems and lore. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Night City, and Johnny Silverhand is a great partner to see the sights with.
Windows Central – PC – 5 Stars
Cyberpunk 2077 is an open-world masterpiece that features some of the most immersive and liberating storytelling this industry has to offer. With full freedom to choose V’s personality, looks, and gameplay style, Cyberpunk 2077 gives the player an unrelenting amount of control in a world that delivers dozens upon dozens of hours of high-quality content. Cyberpunk 2077 is a mammoth achievement and solidifies CD Projekt RED’s place at the top of the pile.
True Achievements – PC – 4.5 Stars
It might not reinvent the genre in every aspect, but for a fantastic story, an insanely detailed word, and brilliant dialogue, you’ve got to try it. The achievements will likely take you quite some time, mind: in over 30 hours of playtime, I unlocked six.
RPG Site – PC – 9/10
Right now, Cyberpunk is therefore a game that ultimately falls short of the heady heights CD Projekt RED set for itself with The Witcher 3 – though that is mostly down to clear struggles with the source material and the previously-mentioned raft of bugs and issues. Hopefully these are fixed in time. It remains a mind-boggling achievement, however – and a game whose influence is likely to be felt for years to come.
Regarding the delay on console version reviews, CD Projekt Red have notably been in mandatory crunch for the last few months, pushing hard to finally complete a game that has been delayed several times. It was even delayed after it had gone ‘gold’, pushed back from a November release to 10th December. All of that combined with the additional certification that console games and updates go through (not to mention that the PS4 and Xbox One are going to be several technical steps behind the game on PC) has likely had CDPR reticent to hand out review codes for consoles.
Incidentally, CDPR have publicly asked members of the public not to stream the game before launch to preserve the story for those eager to play the game on day one. This was necessary because Best Buy started delivering console collector’s edition versions of the game to some buyers ahead of time. It’s from this that we know the game has a huge 43GB Day One patch, that it’s total install footprint in around 60GB, and that there is a Quality mode and Performance mode for the graphics on next-gen platforms.
stormy
Seems to be quite divided on opinions.
‘Gamespot – PC – 7/10
it’s hard to get into Cyberpunk 2077’s world in general. So much of it is superficial set dressing’
‘Windows Central – PC – 5 Stars
Cyberpunk 2077 gives the player an unrelenting amount of control in a world that delivers dozens upon dozens of hours of high-quality content.’
Hmmmm…
Guess I’ll hopefully find out on the PS5 on Thursday.
stormy
Although Metacritic is actually more positive. Currently 90 for PC.
homerjnick
So because of the patches I intend to wait until they are patched…a strange concept for sure but I’ve played a few games now on launch day plagued by bugs which get patched and it sours the playthrough for me.
I’ll easily wait a few months…