Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty

 

🕶️🔫 Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty – PC Review (Played on RTX 3050 + i5 13th Gen)

🔍 Overview

Phantom Liberty is a massive story expansion for Cyberpunk 2077, released alongside the transformative Update 2.0. Set in the lawless district of Dogtown, it introduces a spy-thriller narrative, new weapons, characters, and systems — all centered around espionage, betrayal, and survival.

With Idris Elba joining Keanu Reeves in a star-studded cast, Phantom Liberty delivers a gritty, tense, and cinematic experience, blending action-RPG mechanics with the vibes of a spy drama — and yes, it runs well on your mid-range PC.

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🖥️ Performance on My Gaming PC

Specs Used:

• GPU: RTX 3050 8GB

• CPU: Intel i5 13th Gen

• RAM: 16GB DDR4

• Storage: SSD

• Resolution: 1080p

• Settings Used: Medium–High Mix + DLSS Balanced

🎮 FPS & Stability:

• 50–60 FPS stable in Dogtown on Medium-High with DLSS

• Indoor missions & stealth areas: 60+ FPS

• Explosions and heavy combat: occasional dips to ~45 FPS

• DLSS helps smooth out the denser zones

• No crashes or major bugs post-patches

• 2.0 overhaul optimizes CPU load, helping your i5 13th Gen perform better

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🌆 Dogtown: A New Frontier

• Dogtown is a self-contained warzone: militarized, lawless, and full of corruption

• Controlled by Colonel Hansen and his Barghest gang

• New vertical level design with underground markets, bunkers, black-market vendors

• Packed with side content, gigs, mini-bosses, and unique vendors

• Dogtown has its own identity, mechanics, and vibe — gritty and dangerous

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🎭 Story & Characters

• You’re working undercover to save the President of the NUSA after an air crash

• Mission: infiltrate, extract, and survive — spy-thriller style

• Idris Elba as Solomon Reed is phenomenal — stoic, emotional, and nuanced

• Songbird (a new key character) adds moral depth and emotional stakes

• Choices heavily impact the story — with brand-new endings for V’s journey

• More dialogue-driven, morally grey decisions than the base game

• Main story is ~15–20 hours with multiple endings depending on your choices

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🔫 New Gameplay Systems & Features

• Relic Skill Tree (exclusive to Phantom Liberty):
  ✅ Bullet deflecting
  ✅ Sandevistan chain kills
  ✅ Optical camo enhancements
  ✅ Smart weapon upgrades

• Cyberware system revamped:
  ✅ Cyberware now tied to your body stat
  ✅ Overclocking lets you burn health to boost hacks

• New boss fights, enemy types, and smarter AI in combat

• Stealth is more viable with new tools like silenced pistols, spy grenades, and cloaking

• Vehicle combat integrated — shoot from cars, use mounted weapons

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💣 Weapons, Gear & Customization

• Tons of new gear:
  ✅ Iconic weapons
  ✅ Cyberware
  ✅ Outfits

• Black market vendors sell illegal mods and rare tech

• Customization lets you further tune your build, whether you're a Netrunner, Brawler, or Stealth Operative

• Idris Elba’s side missions unlock exclusive rewards

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🎧 Sound & Atmosphere

• Sound design is razor-sharp — from whispering conversations to booming gunfire

• Music is cinematic and moody, matching the spy-thriller tone

• Voice acting (especially Idris Elba and Songbird) is exceptional

• Atmospheric noise in Dogtown: sirens, drones, distorted propaganda broadcasts

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🔁 Replayability

• Main story: 15–20 hours, longer with exploration

• Two major endings + alternate final endings for the entire game

• Side quests, gigs, repeatable bounty missions, and relic hunts

• Builds with relic tree can completely change your playstyle

• More content in one DLC than many full games

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👍 Pros

• Flawless performance on RTX 3050 (with DLSS)

• Dogtown is a bold, gritty, and fresh new setting

• Amazing story, especially with Songbird and Reed

• Relic system adds new depth and build variety

• New boss fights and spy-thriller tone are refreshing

• Real impact on Cyberpunk 2077's endings

👎 Cons

• RTX 3050 still can't handle Ray Tracing well

• Some side gigs are still fetch-quest-style

• Limited new vehicles or large-scale city changes outside Dogtown

• Tougher combat may challenge casual players on lower builds

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✅ Final Verdict

Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty is not just an expansion — it’s a reinvention. With top-tier performances, gripping storylines, and deep new gameplay systems, it elevates the Cyberpunk experience in every way. On your RTX 3050 + i5 13th Gen, it runs smoothly at Medium–High settings with DLSS, giving you both cinematic thrill and tactical gameplay.

Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)
🕶️ Must-play for RPG lovers and Cyberpunk fans — the best version of the game yet.