Summary
Back in 2020,Cyberpunk 2077was one of the most anticipated games of the year. However, instead of being the RPG that would change the world,Cyberpunk 2077ended up being a massive disappointment at launch. It was filled to the brim with bugs, was lacking in many areas, and was even unplayable on certain hardware. While CD Projekt Red could have just moved on after that, it took the time to fix the game. And three years later, players everywhere seem to be flocking to it once again.
Over the last couple of weeks,Cyberpunk 2077saw two massive updatesthat have helped bring it closer to the game that was promised. Not only did the 2.0 update completely overhaul much of the game, but the Phantom Liberty DLC has also added to the title considerably. Finally, players can experience this fantastic title with little to no issues, which is great to see. It is so good that it is a shame that many games do not get a similar redemption, especially when their foundations are as strong asAnthem’s were.
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Anthem Next Could Have Been on Par With Phantom Liberty
It is no secret thatAnthemwas incredibly disappointingwhen it launched back in 2019. It was supposed to be this massive new online multiplayer game from the creators of the critically acclaimedMass EffectandDragon Agefranchises. The graphics were beautiful, the concept sounded fascinating, and the gameplay was not half bad. However, everything about the game left much to be desired.
Upon release, players quickly realized thatAnthemwas lacking in many areas. Its core gameplay loop was boring, its story was bland, it was filled with technical issues, and it was built around an insane grind. While the flight and combat systems were fun, almost everything else about the game was not. Because of this, it instantly fell flat with audiences and ended up being a commercial disappointment for the studio.
BioWare may have announced that it was going to completely reinvent the game, but those plans will never see the light of day. As of February 2021, all futuredevelopment ofAnthemhas been canceledas the studio moves onto other projects. Players who were excited to see whatAnthem NEXTcould be will never get that opportunity, which is a shame. Even though much of the game was boring, there was still a ton of potential for a fun game within.
WhileCyberpunk 2077andAnthemmay be quite different games, it seems like they went through similar troubles at release. Both were marred with technical problems and their core gameplay was not very fun. However, unlikeAnthem,Cyberpunk 2077got the opportunity to reinvent itself.The 2.0 update and Phantom Libertyhave helped make the game a much stronger experience, and they have not only expanded the story immensely but have also fixed most of the game’s biggest issues. This has led to a massive redemption for the title along with a resurgence in its playerbase, which is somethingAnthemwill never get to experience.
Anthemmay have been left to gather dust, butCyberpunk 2077’s updates show that parts of what BioWare had planned may have been able to fix the game. While no one can say for certain as the studio never really shared many of its plans, there was still a chance it could have experienced a resurgence if it was given the chance. Maybe the concept will be able to live on someday, be it through another studio or an entirely different game, but fans may not want to hold their breaths.
Cyberpunk 2077:Phantom Libertyis available for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
MORE:Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty Still Seems to Suffer From the Same Problem as Fallout 4
