I know: there are some bugs. The last-gen console launch was bad. The police system is rubbish. BUT if you're playing on PC and are want a rich, immersive, story-driven, characterful RPG in the best cyberpunk open world ever made, you owe it to yourself to play this at least once - preferably more. I have just finished my third playthrough and I am holding myself back from starting again. I feel that this game deserves serious love, whatever its flaws. Don't soak up the hate: allow yourself to enjoy this masterpiece. PROS: - A drop-dead gorgeous cyberpunk city, even on my mid-range PC with no raytracing. Each side alley, marketplace, club, and highway oozes cyberpunk aesthetics. - Characters that are superbly acted, well-written, and realistically animated. These characters are going to stay in my mind for a long time. - A lore-rich world, thanks to decades of the tabletop RPG. - Genuinely impactful choices, both in terms of your own role-playing and in terms of the wider story arcs. - Great to replay thanks to divergent playstyles and two different voice actors for the main character. I have tried a sniper, a stealthy hacker, and a melee-based cyborg ninja. A different experience each time. - If you take your time, do the side quests (almost all of which are unmissable) one playthrough can last 100 hours. - The soundtrack and score are incredible. - A range of divergent end-game scenarios, with different consequences. - Enjoyable combat, both in terms of melee and ranged weapons. - Driving is actually really fun if you use a controller, and many of the cars and bikes are excellent. CONS: - The main story's urgent pacing felt a bit at odds with the opportunities for open-world exploration. - The police AI definitely sucks (but unless you're trying to murder civilians for some reason, it won't bother you - seriously, this isn't GTA!). - There are some bugs, but I rarely game-breaking. In short, if you like Deus Ex and Blade Runner, you NEED to play this game.
