Not the same game it was at launch
Let's just get this out of the way: Cyberpunk 2077 at launch was a mess. Everyone knows it. But the PS5 version in 2024 is, honestly, a different story. CD Projekt Red spent years patching, rebuilding, and eventually releasing a proper next-gen update. The result is a game that runs smoothly, looks stunning, and actually delivers on most of what was promised back in 2020.
I sat down with it over a long weekend last winter. Night City at night, rain on the neon, the DualSense haptics kicking in during a firefight. It genuinely got its hooks in me. The main story is darker and more personal than most open-world RPGs dare to be, and Phantom Liberty, the expansion included here, is excellent. Idris Elba is great in it, for what it's worth.
Who this is for (and who it isn't)
If you already own the base game, you're really just paying for Phantom Liberty here, so weigh that up. But if you've never played it, the Ultimate Edition is the obvious way in. Everything in one box, no faff.
It's not for everyone, to be fair. The open world can feel overwhelming, the side quests vary wildly in quality, and some of the RPG systems are shallower than they look. But for story, atmosphere, and sheer visual spectacle on PS5, not much comes close right now.
At this price, with the expansion included, it's a solid pick up. Not perfect, but well worth a few evenings of your time.
