Now that the dust has settled, I was thinking of giving some feedback and hopefully constructive criticism because even though I think it is a good game, I can't help but feel disappointed by what it could have been instead of just a good game.
So, let's start with the positives, I always find it the most helpful:
1. World building, NC itself. Casting aside performance issues which forced some changes like less crowd density or bad driver AI, I think CDPR really nailed the characters, attitude, atmosphere and artwork of NC. I especially feel in love with the way different districts are part of the same city yet are so different. The transition between these areas is really natural, the verticality makes sense it just feels like a real city. Just like Novigrad, CDPR really knows how to make a city feel alive.
2. Voice acting, quality of writing for the quests themselves. Both secondary and main quests are very well written, the music is on spot and the visual representation of some of them including the cinematics (won't mention any to avoid spoilers) are quite impressive. The various accents different characters have is a nice touch, I really feel like I am talking to an actual Haitian when talking to that specific faction. There's also a lot of grim quests, with pretty grim outcomes and characters that would make most people throw up, taboo subjects which are not afraid to show the dark side of things or people. That's great, keep this atmosphere coming!
3. Combat, skill trees and weapons. While it obviously needs some fine tuning and balance, the system is pretty deep, interesting and offers different ways to play the game. It's especially interesting that builds can be specifically tailored to certain weapons and I am not saying the classic pistol / shotgun / rifle thing but actual perks (or even mods) that are useless with using certain weapons but godlike of others. A small example, just think of the impact an epic Crunch +dmg mod has on a x20 pellet type gun compared to how useless it is on a sniper rifle. You can spice that up by using specific cyber implants. Again, very deep, fun and diverse system, just needs more tuning and perhaps even more crazy types of weapons.
Now the negatives.. or not really negatives per say, just stuff the I feel is missing:
1. Where are all the different factions? I played nice with the Militech chick because I was hoping to get a job. Voodoo Boys? Why not? Or Netwatch. Or maybe a gang of smuggling / raiding nomads which you can do all sorts of heists and runs with? You know, sort of like the train job but more than 10 minutes? Or the starting mission as a nomad? But like a whole pathway to progress through not just some side missions here and there. I honestly imagined that different powerful factions in NC would have their own way of helping you out with your condition and that working with or for them will each be a way to progress to the final act.
2. The time skip from origin story to the actual game. I feel like that whole flash back thing should've been an act of its own and getting famous enough to be approached by people like Dexter would be its goal.
3. Events. The Witcher 3 had a lot of these really nice moments, sort of like a break from the action, a chance to get to know your companions or even set some things straight. Remember the parties Geralt had to attend or was made to? Or that moment in Kaer Morhen when you just get drunk with your buddies? Those simple life moments, which allow you to really connect with the NPCs? Where are these in Cyberpunk? The closest thing I got the things I mentioned was the small pre-gig meet you have with Dex in the club when you can chill around and have a drink with your crew. Where's my corporate ballroom party? Why was I not invited
4. Which ties me in to this next point. While I enjoy most of the side content / main missions in the game, I really wish there were more Gigs, Heists or w/e which where a larger in scope. More like the Dex mission. I would have loved to be able to for example rob an armored money truck but also do the actual groundwork for it first like having info on the route, finding a driver, planning an escape route and a safehouse etc.
Hopefully the Cyberpunk universe will keep expanding both in NC and beyond it. I plan on holding Takemura up on his offer to show me what real food is