I really liked the story and the art style in this game. Gameplay wise it's what you'd expect from a point-and-click adventure. For me the puzzles were just hard enough to keep it interesting, and for the most part the solutions are logical / relatively intuitive. If you get stuck your snarky sidekick can give you some hints. Depending on a choice you make fairly early on in the game, your chances of getting the the whole story may be DENIUR. Also beware that the game autosaves every time you move between rooms, so you can lock yourself in pretty easily. There are a surprising number of ways to end the game, and if you're not attentive to small details esp near the end you may miss out on the 'best' ending. I liked it enough I've played through it twice.
Before you sit down to play Cyberpunk 2077 do yourself a favor. Go do the dishes. Walk your dog. Make lunch for tomorrow. Check all your messages. Check off every single productive thing you need to do for the rest of the day. Eat something, hydrate, use the restroom. Pour yourself a nice glass of brandy (or beverage of your choice), enough to calm the nerves and soothe the senses. Is it dark out? You've come this far, may as well wait for night to fall. Dim the lights. Put your phone on silent. If you need to remember to go to sleep at a decent hour set an alarm so you won't have to check the clock. Purge your life of all distractions and interruptions. Do whatever you have to do to convince your brain that you have earned a moment in time free of intrusive thoughts about real life. Set aside this hour or two not to casually dip your toes in an entertainment product, but to partake of a carefully crafted experience. Put on your headphones and fully immerse yourself in Night City. Connect with your character. Put yourself fully in their shoes. Want what they want. Think about their background, the brutal world they live in. Sympathize with their motivations. Dream of getting rich and becoming a Night City Legend. Now you are ready to pursue the story. For your efforts, your reward will be panic, adrenaline, occasional relief, and a genuine concern that your heart should not be pounding that hard. The main plot has very carefully curated moments of extreme tension. The sound design in these moments is masterfully done to push you over the edge into raw panic. Some people will complain that not every far flung corner of the massive open world kept them continuously entertained, but that does not matter to me. If you have ever wanted to experience the pants-shitting terror of being on the receiving end of a heist gone wrong, do your prep-work and experience the very well told story of this game.
I have been playing video games for 27 years give or take. Throughout that time my list of "Top X Games" has always been in constant flux. I first played The Longest Journey in 2007, and it has held the number 1 spot on the list since. It has held on to its position as king of the hill for eleven years because of superb storytelling, fantastic characters, and a well realized and immersive world. I made my girlfriend, who had never played a point and click adventure in her life, try TLG. It is now her favorite game too. Can I guarantee you will love it that much? Nope. But you sure as heck won't find a recommendation like that on Call of Honor 4: Medal of Duty.
