After playing the scariest mission in Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, I now need CDPR to create a full-fledged survival horror RPG

Like Johnny Silverhand, Somewhat Damaged has been living rent-free in my brain since I graduated Cyberpunk 2077‘s DLC last week. The Phantom freedom The mission seemingly comes out of nowhere, not just because you’ve turned your back on one of the most net-savvy people in the entire game, but because you believe that here in Dogtown such things as good deeds go unpunished.

As I sneak through the abandoned Cynosure facility while dodging a giant mech spider may not be for everyonemy horror junkie heart was immediately in the zone. The references to the space terror film Alien: Isolation are obvious, but in my opinion CD Projekt Red deserves kudos for delivering one of the best crafted survival horror levels in a non-horror game always. It showcases just another of many tricks the developer clearly has up its sleeve, and I’m here to rave about every detail Somewhat Damaged has to offer.

Well, shit

(Image credit: CD Projekt Red)

I’m sure the above feeling was true for many of us when we first delved into the depths of Cynosure in pursuit of Songbird after betraying her trust in Phantom Liberty. If the loss of communication with Reed isn’t enough of an indication that something sinister is afoot, the traces of Blackwall left by So Mi should be. Pools of black and red code collect like blood on the floor, walls, and wherever Songbird has touched as we chase them deeper into the facility. It’s not until we get into a control room, where she takes over the screens in front of us, which are in the same color palette of black and bright red light, that our fate is sealed.

Unpleasant, brutal and downright dark things can be found in the world of Cyberpunk 2077 The aspiring mayor Peralez and his wife are mind-controlled to that one cyberpsycho encounter with Bloody Ritual. But Somewhat Damaged is the first time that terrible themes become the stuff of real horror games – right down to the inability to fight back. Trapped in Cynosure, the presence of V and Songbird triggers the facility back to life – as well as a giant, mechanical spider-like robot named Cerberus that sets out to hunt down the intruder. Performing a one-hit-kill attack and being seen is equivalent to instant death.

Moments of powerlessness are rare and are usually only reserved for the odd mission where V is forced to give up his weapons to get into a nightclub. However, here, in the presence of the newly awakened Cerberus bot, we have access to our weapons, quickhacks or Sandevistans if we want to use them. They would simply be completely pointless, because the best thing to do here is to hide from the danger rather than face it. Cerberus is a manifestation of all the techno warnings you’ve heard so far on your cyberpunk journey: the embodiment of man-made technology that replaces its creator and becomes a monster itself. After all, no amount of chrome can turn you into an impenetrable machine – unless you’re Lizzy Wizzy – and now all that’s left is that most human of emotions: fear.

Keep running

Phantom Liberty screenshot from the main mission Somewhat Damaged of the robot Cerberus attacking V

(Image credit: CD Projekt Red)

“Somewhat Damaged” isn’t just intended to punish and catch us off guard, it’s also a massive rip-off of those in power.

The total 180-fold combat approach throughout the duration of this mission is what makes it such an exciting experience. Any survival horror fan probably had the same reaction as me when they realized what was going on: a moment of excitement followed by the activation of muscle memory. Staying out of the robot’s sight is easy enough if you remember the cat’s cardinal rule: and-mouse horror games. Namely, to listen and avoid actively looking at the matter. Hugging and walking around pillars while keeping Cerberus safely on the other side is usually enough to stay out of sight, and luckily for us in Cyberpunk, audio cues let you know how close you are to the lurking enemy – and luckily it’s a bit stupid.

But “Somewhat Damaged” isn’t just meant to punish us and catch us off guard, it’s also a massive rip-off of those in power. The decisions made in Phantom Liberty stand out from Cyberpunk’s other missions simply because they are all so morally gray. In Dogtown there are no right or wrong answers, no pure good or pure evil – as is often the case in the base game. Rather, the shades in between are what’s most important in this warring city-state, as is V’s interpretation of them in keeping with his own values, beliefs, and ideals.

Somewhat damaged is at odds with this ethos, as it reads – at least to me – like a clip behind the ear of CD Projekt Red. Putting players who chose Reed over So Mi through such an ordeal, everything, takes away what we knew about cyberpunk and throws it headfirst into a horror game, it’s not hard to see why it can feel like you’re being punished for making a categorically wrong decision. Reed ultimately represents the power of NUSA, and handing over a living breathing songbird to President Myers leads to one of the most sobering and bleak The end of Cyberpunk 2077 from all. Somesomething Damaged is compensation that gives the betrayed So Mi one last chance to show V why they made the wrong decision. We are then offered a moment of redemption as she begs to be put out of her misery. Whether V accepts it or not is part of the horror; You and Songbird are both doomed, staring down the barrel of your own unfortunate mortality. Haven’t you been through enough down here? thingOr do you stick to your guns and trust NUSA?

Now, on my second playthrough of Cyberpunk – yes, in a row – I’m kind of sad that I won’t be able to play Somewhat Damaged this time. Although I’m grateful to have experienced it for the first time, I hear CDPR’s message loud and clear. I’ll do better with Songbird now, I promise – just don’t get me started on Cerberus. That being said, if the developer ever feels like throwing us horror fans another bone in the cyberpunk sequel Project Orion (or a brand new IP), I’m confident it will work effortlessly.

Check out more like this best role-playing games play next, from The Witcher 3 to Baldur’s Gate 3

Well, shit

Recent Posts