In this one respect, I think CDPR might've been
too thorough for their own good. From what I recall, the studio actually consulted some urban planners when they were doing the layout for the city. Now, when you're a professional, you instinctively gravitate towards applying your skills correctly, and - this is pure speculation on my part - this might be exactly why Night City doesn't look as
intimidating as you might've hoped. For instance, an important aspect of urban planning is controlling for street width when setting out height guidelines for buildings to ensure adequate levels of sunlight throughout the day. And when you look at Night City, bingo, you see a lot of wide boulevards and ample breathing room.
What you
don't see is the city looming over you. Ever. Sure, you've got your megabuildings, but you're never boxed in between them, you never feel like they're "pressing down on you", you're never really forced to take in their scope. Night City is, with some indulgence, well designed, but that actively works against it and this is why I said that NC reminds me more of Fukuoka in Ghost in the Shell, which was decidedly on the less miserable side of cyberpunk fiction.
Now take a look at these photos of the
former Walled City of Kowloon for what
no urban planning looks like: