Cyberpunk 2077’s Project Orion is Itching to Ditch Crafting

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The game Cyberpunk 2077 shines in multiple aspects as a role-playing game (RPG) and has made significant strides since its release. The skill tree perks and attributes yield impressive effects, dialogue options during conversations can be tailored to the player’s chosen backstory or Lifepath, and there is an extensive collection of tiered weapons and cyberware for players to tinker with and develop satisfying builds. However, one aspect that could be seen as a benefit in Cyberpunk 2077‘s RPG mechanics might not become truly advantageous until late-game progression when players have reached a plateau and no longer find looted items significantly different or superior to their current equipment.

In essence, the crafting aspect in Cyberpunk 2077 doesn’t offer significant rewards or play a substantial role over time, and removing it entirely in Project Orion could potentially enhance the gameplay experience. After updates 2.0 and Phantom Liberty, Cyberpunk 2077 has evolved to such an extent that crafting as a whole is no longer essential unless players are committed to maintaining a favorite Iconic weapon, and even then, they can usually manage with the weapon’s initial tier when found.

Crafting is More or Less an Afterthought Now in Cyberpunk 2077

In the expansive open world of Cyberpunk 2077, players are often prompted to embark on side quests freely and straight away, allowing them to amass an impressive collection of weapons, gear, resources, and money even before Keanu Reeves’ character, Johnny Silverhand, enters the scene. The game encourages exploration, letting players roam Night City and its surroundings at their convenience. Depending on the number of Gigs, Side Jobs, and optional missions they take on, as well as how thoroughly they explore Night City, players may find themselves with a variety of top-tier Iconic weapons to switch between, a good selection of cyberware enhancements, and be well-equipped for Act 2.

In Night City, a single gaming session could yield an entire collection of weapons, accessories, parts, and in-game currency for the players.

Holo calls significantly motivate the importance of side missions, and exploring nearby locations such as ongoing NCPD Assaults in Night City ensures that players will never run out of items to loot. Dead bodies and defeated enemies can be repeatedly plundered for powerful weapons and modifications. Any unwanted or excess items can be dismantled for crafting materials, used to upgrade cyberware components without buying a higher tier, or sold for eddies.

To put it simply, improving something can serve as a valid reason for gathering component items, while creating something completely new may lead to decreasing benefits if the required blueprints aren’t found specifically.

Crafting is Cyberpunk 2077’s Least Engaging Feature

In simpler terms, you can’t just chat with an NPC or visit a landmark to craft in this game. Instead, players have to navigate to specific places like ripperdocs if they want cyberware installed or upgraded. However, the process of crafting happens hidden away in a separate menu and doesn’t involve much interaction with the open world or immersive role-play experiences that bars, markets, and other locations typically offer for regular resource purchases.

In a game like Cyberpunk 2077, valuable specs and components often get lost amidst the various items players collect from containers. Over time, it becomes less beneficial to gather anything that doesn’t have the Tier 5 icon (represented by an orange icon), as these are the most valuable. This problem is worsened because Cyberpunk 2077 lacks a New Game Plus mode, which could provide a higher level of progression without making it too easy to become overpowered during regular gameplay.

Crafting is a gentle activity that individuals can engage in if they choose, with no compulsion involved. Furthermore, certain items fabricated from blueprints are valuable assets. However, in the presumably final version of Cyberpunk 2077, crafting has already become obsolete, and CD Projekt Red has demonstrated that it can thrive without this feature in the franchise’s future.

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2025-01-14 01:07