Highlights
- The 2.0 update and new Relic upgrade system in Cyberpunk 2077 have significantly improved the game, but the inclusion of Relic upgrades contradicts the main story's message.
- The Relic in V's head is slowly taking over their body, so it's strange that the game encourages players to make it stronger through the new perk system.
- While the new powers and upgrade system are engaging and fun for players, it doesn't align with the dangerous nature of the Relic as portrayed in the base game's story.
Thanks to Phantom Liberty and the massive 2.0 update, Cyberpunk 2077 feels like a completely different game now. These updates have expanded and overhauled many of the game's systems so that it can finally be the RPG that was promised back in 2020. This is great to see, yet one addition feels off. While Cyberpunk 2077 may feel like a stronger game because of it, the addition of Relic upgrades goes against everything the main game would have players believe.
Not only did Cyberpunk 2077's 2.0 update overhaul the game's leveling system, but Phantom Liberty introduced the new Relic upgrade system. This system gives players who are willing to track down Data Terminals in Dogtown new abilities to play with. These abilities go a long way towards giving players more functionality in combat, which they should find extremely useful. However, its inclusion also seems to not be what V would want, which may break some players' immersion a bit.
Powering Up Cyberpunk 2077's Relic Feels Wrong
Cyberpunk 2077 players should know all too well what the Relic inside V's head is by now, as it is the focal point of the main story. After a failed heist results in V being left for dead in a landfill, they are brought back to live via this relic. Shortly after, they are greeted by Johnny Silverhand who serves as their constant companion throughout the rest of the game. From there, the entire focus of the story is trying to get the Relic out of V's head while dealing with all sorts of shenanigans along the way.
Cyberpunk 2077's Relic may give players their own personal Keanu Reeves, but the device is killing V. Slowly, Johnny Silverhand's persona is taking over V's body. If they are not careful, he will replace V. However, Phantom Liberty would have players believe that the Relic can be useful via these new Relic perk points. Instead of removing it, the game wants players to make it stronger, and that seems a bit strange.
While the new Relic perk system gives players a lot more tools to play with, it does not make much sense from a story perspective. The Relic is like a lethal tumor, and so it feels illogical to make that tumor bigger. It is slowly killing V, but instead of trying to rip it out, V has decided to make it even more powerful. This may not actually cause Johnny Silverhand to rewrite V faster, yet it feels like it really should have.
Increasing the Relic's power almost feels like upgrading Baldur's Gate 3's brain parasite. In that game, players can consume other brain parasites to make theirs stronger. While it also gives players more powers to play with, it too feels like a threat to the main character. That parasite may ultimately turn them into a Mind Flayer, so the last thing they should be doing is making it stronger. And yet, that is a major part of the game's progression.
From a meta sense, having these new powers and a new upgrade system gives players a lot more to engage with. It not only gives them a reason to explore Dogtown to its fullest, but these new powers can be a lot of fun in combat. However, it also makes no sense within the confines of the base game's story as players were led to believe this Relic is too dangerous to keep. While that dissonance does not ruin the experience, some players may find it a bit jarring when they first jump in.
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty is available for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
