It is a miracle that Cyberpunk 2077 is on a Nintendo console at all. I thought it would be an impossible task, but the Switch 2’s impressive specs and CD Projekt Red’s hard work have made it happen. Frankly, I’m impressed at how well Cyberpunk 2077 runs on the Switch 2, to the point that whenever I see it in motion, I genuinely have to take a moment. This is not even remotely the same as the Switch’s blurry Witcher 3 port, which was just good enough. This is the full-fat Cyberpunk 2077 experience on Nintendo hardware.
However, as easy as it is to get overwhelmed by the technical prowess of Cyberpunk 2077 on the Nintendo Switch 2, one can’t forget that, behind all the beautiful visuals and stable framerate lies an unfortunate issue. This may not be experienced by those who are trying Cyberpunk 2077 for the very first time, but anyone who is revisiting Night City will likely notice it immediately. Cyberpunk 2077’s biggest issue hasn’t been fixed on the Nintendo Switch 2, and frankly, I am extremely doubtful it ever will be.
Cyberpunk 2077 On Switch Is Amazing
It Runs Practically Flawlessly
Cyberpunk 2077 running as well as it does on the Nintendo Switch 2 is genuinely a miracle. Of course, I would never go as far as to say that it looks as good as the PlayStation 5 or PC versions of the game, both of which I’ve sunk numerous hours into and thus know their versions of Night City extremely well, but it does look extraordinary. Whether it’s docked or on the handheld, CD Projekt Red has pulled off some impressive technical wizardry with its port of Cyberpunk 2077, and it should be exceptionally proud.
Naturally, Cyberpunk 2077 outperformed The Witcher 3, at least when it comes to their launch success on Nintendo platforms, which shouldn’t come as a surprise. While I didn’t feel it was worth buying a Switch 2 just for Cyberpunk 2077, those who have only ever owned a Switch, or don’t have the fortune of owning a ROG Ally, will have either never played it or experienced it on a handheld, so this version is perfect for them. I won’t say a handheld is necessarily the best way to play Cyberpunk 2077, but it always feels incredible to do so.
There was every possibility that a Nintendo Switch 2 port of Cyberpunk 2077 could have gone the same route as the game’s PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions, but thankfully, that isn’t the case. It’s illustrative of just how powerful the console can be in the right hands and gives me hope for future third and first-party Switch 2 games. However, as much as all of this is amazing for those who’ve never played Cyberpunk 2077, as someone who is revisiting it for the umpteenth time, the game’s main flaw has become even more apparent on the Switch 2.
Cyberpunk 2077 Isn’t Very Replayable
It Doesn’t Encourage Different Playstyles
It may be somewhat of a controversial opinion, but I don’t find Cyberpunk 2077 particularly replayable. This is coming from someone who has, indeed, replayed the game many times, attempted numerous different play styles, approached missions in every way possible, and ventured into every nook and cranny tucked away in the vast Night City. I’ve played the DLC, tried it on different consoles, and still, I find that, despite how huge and long it can be, Cyberpunk 2077 just doesn’t have the replay value that some of the best RPGs ever made have.
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To be clear, this is something that became apparent on my second playthrough and only became more obvious and frustrating the more I played it. I just find the Switch 2 version exacerbates it even more, as it’s considered the Ultimate Edition of the game, and thus the best it will likely be. Cyberpunk 2077’s lack of replayability stems from two main points. The first is just how linear its main story is, as, while featuring multiple endings for its protagonist, it never feels substantially different regardless of which dialogue options you pick.
Simply put, while there are different outcomes for what can happen to V, the journey to that point always takes the same road. Fortunately, Cyberpunk 2077’s narrative is incredible, one of the best in all gaming, and thus a joy to experience every time. But the fact that you more or less know what you’re getting yourself in for from start to finish, at least in my experience, nullifies the surprise and joy I can get out of it. Cyberpunk 2077 feels exactly the same, at least narratively, in my first playthrough as it does in my sixth or seventh.
Cyberpunk 2077 doesn’t encourage being evil; in fact, there really is no incentive for it.
The other issue with Cyberpunk 2077’s replayability is its total lack of role-playing options. V has their own personality, and while you can pick certain options that slightly influence it, and even change your clothing, V will almost always feel like a virtuous and morally good character, even when you don’t want them to be. That’s because Cyberpunk 2077 doesn’t encourage being evil; in fact, there really is no incentive for it. It is the game’s greatest flaw and a frequent point of frustration for me, even despite my overall admiration for the game.
Cyberpunk 2077 Needs To Push Other Playstyles
It Should Encourage Being Evil
Cyberpunk 2077 should have encouraged more evil, villainous, or just criminal actions, especially considering the whole point of Night City is that it is a breeding ground for morally ambiguous folks. The fact that the police were an afterthought in Cyberpunk 2077, only really becoming a more prominent feature in later updates, is surely evidence of how CD Projekt Red never really intended players to be evil or do something bad. The game funnels you into completing its mostly linear narrative and engaging in its plethora of side content, all of which feels like standard RPG fare.
Again, it is all expertly written and enjoyable, but it feels antithetical to the roleplaying experience that Cyberpunk 2077 sold itself as. The marketing pushed the idea that you could choose your path, and yet there are literally no incentives for committing crimes, nor many crimes you can actually commit. You can, for example, steal cars, but you can’t then store them or keep them to use later, and you have your own cars on call at any given time, which will appear at the press of a button. Cyberpunk 2077 is not GTA, and that’s partially a problem.
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Of course, there is the upcoming Cyberpunk 2077 update, which could add more villainous content to the game, although it seems highly unlikely. Regardless, that lack of diverse roleplaying opportunities means that there’s little replay value to be found in Cyberpunk 2077, even on the Nintendo Switch 2. The handheld form factor is a neat novelty, but once it wears off, it is still the same Cyberpunk 2077 you know and love. Cyberpunk 2077 is an amazing game, including on the Switch 2, but I think I may finally be done replaying it.
Cyberpunk 2077
Systems
8/10
- Released
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December 10, 2020
- ESRB
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M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Engine
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REDengine 4
- Cross-Platform Play
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ps, xbox, pc
- Cross Save
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yes
