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I don't want it to be a porn game, but I do find it stupid if a game has people working who sell their bodies and they aren't attractive, whereas story characters are. It's just lazy, or some weird hangup on the part of the developers. There are plenty of games where there is no sexual element, unlike Cyberpunk, where characters are more attractive.
It wasn't a graphics only guide but a variety of mods, but most of it isn't applicable any more. Wait a little while and I'll make an updated mod list. Let's see what is still needed because CDPR have integrated or copied some functionality from the better mods into 2.0. The cooler stuff now that I'm looking for is factions, (additional) enemy variety, clothes effects, cars and cars mods (this used to exist), and whatever remains of the QoL category.
Here is my old mod list you can find back in this thread about 100 pages:
Tools 03 Native Settings UI 1.9-3518-1-9-1662578960
Tools 04 cybercmd-5176-0-0-5-1663023319
Tools 05 red4ext_1.9.0.zip-2380-1-9-0-1667929438
Tools 06 ArchiveXL-4198-1-1-6-1667930607
Tools 08 TweakXL-4197-1-0-8-1667930610
QoL 23 No Intros
Tools 10 Material and Texture Override-5266-1-1-1663492843
Tools 12 RadioExt 1.1-4591-1-1-1654513806
Tools 13 nullCookedApps_patch_1.5-3051-1-0-1-1646324271
Audio 02 High Heels Sound-6081-1-1666557301
Audio 03 Arasaka AI speaks japanese (for CP77 english localization)-5852-1-0-1665669175
Audio 04 Arasaka workers and others high japanese speak japanese (for english CP77 localization)-5945-1-0-1666011243
Audio 05 Hanako (proxy) speaks japanese (for english CP77 localization)-5852-1-0-1666018105
Audio 06 Hanako Arasaka speaks japanese (for CP77 english localization)-5852-1-0-1665669021
Audio 07 Oda speaks japanese (for english CP77 localization)-5863-1-0-1665703752
Audio 08 Takemura speaks japanese (for english CP77 localization)-5863-1-0-1665703643
Audio 09 Yonirobu Arasaka speaks japanese (for CP77 english localization)-5852-1-0-1665669112
Audio 10 Valentinos speak Spanish-5699-1-1-1665310522
Bugfix 01 Simple Gameplay Bug Fixes-4519-1-0-1654146957
Gameplay 04 Lifepath Bonuses and Gang-Corp Traits-2217-3-5-2-1664931503
Gameplay 05 Disable Highlighting Through Walls-3314-1-0-1634365196
Gameplay 08 Reduced Loot-2678-1-8-0-1651322685
Gameplay 11 StreetStyle_1-5-5-v2-2975-1-5-5-1663792433
Gameplay 12 Challenging Breach Minigame-3661-1-1-0-1645051075
Gameplay 14 StreetStyle Patches - Edgerunners-5380-1-1-1666440271
Gameplay 17 Corrupt NCPD 1.3-4510-1-3-1660405863
Gameplay 25 craft_restrict-3970-0-15-1646403959
Gameplay 27 Unequip Mods Mod-2358-1-6-1662720282
Gameplay 28 Only Smartweapon Crosshairs 1.0h-5434-1-0h-1665159510
Gameplay 30 Average Hackers-4880-1-0-1658427255
Gameplay 31 Breach Takedown-4808-1-0-1657519192
Gameplay 32 Lynx Paws Reimagined-4479-1-0-1-1652004746
Gameplay 33 Silent Silencers and Throwing Knives-4070-1-2-1-1664833865
Gameplay JWL 01 Cyberpunk Blackwall-5814-1-3-0-1667102316
Gameplay JWL 02 Better Netrunning-2302-0-5-2-1664769803
Gameplay JWL 03 AI Netrunners Enhanced-2468-1-4-1-1665878203
Gameplay JWL 05 Discard Ammo On Reload-2819-1-2-3-1625248878
Gameplay JWL 06 Manual Reload-2804-1-2-4-0-1664563314
Gameplay JWL 08 SDO - Scissors Difficulty Options-4408-1-1-1654146164
Gameplay JWL 09 Sensible Stamina and Athletics-2861-1-6-0-1662509880
Gameplay JWL 10 SystemEx-3158-1-0-5-1665053547
Graphics 01 LOD Patch - All 5x-3631-4-0-1663897438
Graphics 02 Just shiny hair change-237-1-02-1608145039
Graphics 14 CP2077 Better Finer Rain V3.8-2001-3-8-1665761340
Graphics 21 NextGenVegetationLOD-3627-1-6-1641654904
Graphics 24 Extended and Improved Headlights 1.1-5013-1-1-1661016001
Graphics 26 Main NPC Breast Physics-3900-1-1-1645493309
Graphics 27 Citizen Breast Physics-3900-1-1-1645895901
Graphics 28 HairMaterialRetouch-2577-1-0a-1653997102
QoL 04 Cyber Vehicle Overhaul-3016-1-6-1666643507
QoL 05 Extra Vehicle Controls 2.0 Hotfix-3225-2-0h-1660752972
QoL 06 Street Vendors v1.2.7-2894-1-2-7-1667069027
QoL 07 flib's UI Improvements-2729-1-6-0-1663626480
QoL 09 Hide Read Shards-2820-0-3-1660038302
QoL 11 Pocket Radio 1.4-2925-1-4-1654461999
QoL 12 Custom Map Markers-3819-1-1-2-1667152807
QoL 14 Appearance Change Unlocker-3850-2-1-3-1664123326
QoL 16 Militech Grenade Surplus-6058-1-0-1666468618
QoL 17 Game time tweaks - Longer nights-870-0-2-1617043010
QoL 18 Erok Driving Tweaks - With Enabled Differenital-2948-1-01-1645639056
QoL 19 untrackQuestByRightClick-5177-1-1-1663101133
QoL 25 Talk to Me-5534-1-2-1664653200
QoL 26 Disable 2D And 3D Effects For UI And Disable Chrom Ab-2648-1-2-1645930832
QoL 27 No Camera Auto Centering - FPP-2169-0-7-1648127540
QoL 28 No Camera Auto Centering - TPP-2169-0-7-1648127554
QoL 29 Real Vendor Names-4941-1-3-0-1659900243
QoL 30 Stash Filters-5298-1-0-0-1663660416
QoL 31 Crouch vignette effect remover-535-2-1665998718
QoL 32 Enhanced Vehicle Camera v1.4.0-2202-1-4-0-1639081021
QoL 34 Filter Saves by Lifepath and Type-3400-1-1-1-1658443447
QoL 35 Stand Still Please-4714-1-3-0-1667937628
QoL 36 JB Third Person Mod V127 - version 1.6-669-V127-1662540143
QoL 40 VirtualAtelier-2987-0-3-1-1665819746
QoL 41 Alvarix Custom Store - Atelier-4602-2-3-1666692130
QoL 42 Dressify 2 - External Store-4969-1-01-1660278312
QoL 42 Dressify Main Stores (Heywood and Westbrook)-4969-1-02-1660278199
QoL 43 Rockergirl Atelier-4717-1-4-1661998101
QoL 44 NC Fashion Virtual Atelier-4805-2-8-1666534695
QoL 45 ND_female_virtual_boutique-5114-1-2-1667119249
QoL 48 Outfit and Accessory Catalogue - THE VIRTUAL ATELIER-4241-1-1648633694
QoL 49 Clothing Set and Recolor Catalogue - THE VIRTUAL ATELIER-3720-1-1642306760
Vehicles 01 Virtual Car Dealer-4454-1-3-2-1664104972
Vehicles 02 Car Modification Shop-4034-1-1-0-0-1659638578
Vehicles 04 BikeOverhaul1.81boosted-5167-1-81-1665779104
Vehicles 05 Drive Carefully-5438-1-1-1664301242
Vehicles 06 Immersive Driving v1.6-5293-1-3-1664721456
Vehicles 08 1.6 Neon Rims Color Control-4204-1-2-2-1663964886
Vehicles 09 - Car Pack-4625-1-8-0-1657275733
Vehicles 10 - Corpo Pack-4539-1-0-0-1653158149
Vehicles 11 - Gangs Pack-4509-1-1-0-1656843110
Tools 09 input_loader.zip-4575-0-0-7-1668016732
QoL 39 HystAtelierStore-6015-1-04-1668013388
Graphics 25 Player underwear removal extended CET edition 1.6.4. Game v1.6 and v1.61 only-4605-1-6-4-1667951671
Gameplay 16 Vehicle Combat-3815-1-22-1659209042
Tools 07 mod_settings.zip-4885-0-0-9-1668045078
Gameplay JWL 07 Ped Damage Overhaul 2077-5066-1-20-1666795147
QoL 08 Muted Markers-1727-1-8-3-1667590586
QoL 10 Limited HUD-2592-2-5-1-1666795652
QoL 13 Always First Equip-2557-1-10-1-1665819021
QoL 15 everything off-4389-1-0-1650568161
Tools 11 Appearance Menu Mod-790-1-16-2-1668123354
Vehicles 03 AMM Car Modification Shop-4446-0-1-2-1665632955
Graphics 19 Eye Adaptation - Vignette OFF - Sharpening OFF - Diverse Weather Transitions-6282-1-69-61-1668257096
QoL 50 SE7EN - Virtual Atelier-6360-1-1668302429
QoL 24 Simple Flashlight 2.3-2913-2-3-1668428514
Gameplay JWL 04 Wannabe Edgerunner-5646-1-5-1-1668697564
QoL 33 Enhanced Craft-4378-2-1-1-1668758878
Vehicles 07 Realistic Car Crashes-5402-1-1-1668977216
Gameplay 29 Missing Persons - Fixers Hidden Gems-5058-1-1-5-1668969671
Tools 01 Cyber Engine Tweaks 1.61 - fix 1-107-1-21-1-1668271994
Tools 02 redscript-1511-0-5-8-1663418970
It wasn't a graphics only guide but a variety of mods, but most of it isn't applicable any more. Wait a little while and I'll make an updated mod list. Let's see what is still needed because CDPR have integrated or copied some functionality from the better mods into 2.0. The cooler stuff now that I'm looking for is factions, (additional) enemy variety, clothes effects, cars and cars mods (this used to exist), and whatever remains of the QoL category.
Here is my old mod list you can find back in this thread about 100 pages:
Tools 03 Native Settings UI 1.9-3518-1-9-1662578960
Tools 04 cybercmd-5176-0-0-5-1663023319
Tools 05 red4ext_1.9.0.zip-2380-1-9-0-1667929438
Tools 06 ArchiveXL-4198-1-1-6-1667930607
Tools 08 TweakXL-4197-1-0-8-1667930610
QoL 23 No Intros
Tools 10 Material and Texture Override-5266-1-1-1663492843
Tools 12 RadioExt 1.1-4591-1-1-1654513806
Tools 13 nullCookedApps_patch_1.5-3051-1-0-1-1646324271
Audio 02 High Heels Sound-6081-1-1666557301
Audio 03 Arasaka AI speaks japanese (for CP77 english localization)-5852-1-0-1665669175
Audio 04 Arasaka workers and others high japanese speak japanese (for english CP77 localization)-5945-1-0-1666011243
Audio 05 Hanako (proxy) speaks japanese (for english CP77 localization)-5852-1-0-1666018105
Audio 06 Hanako Arasaka speaks japanese (for CP77 english localization)-5852-1-0-1665669021
Audio 07 Oda speaks japanese (for english CP77 localization)-5863-1-0-1665703752
Audio 08 Takemura speaks japanese (for english CP77 localization)-5863-1-0-1665703643
Audio 09 Yonirobu Arasaka speaks japanese (for CP77 english localization)-5852-1-0-1665669112
Audio 10 Valentinos speak Spanish-5699-1-1-1665310522
Bugfix 01 Simple Gameplay Bug Fixes-4519-1-0-1654146957
Gameplay 04 Lifepath Bonuses and Gang-Corp Traits-2217-3-5-2-1664931503
Gameplay 05 Disable Highlighting Through Walls-3314-1-0-1634365196
Gameplay 08 Reduced Loot-2678-1-8-0-1651322685
Gameplay 11 StreetStyle_1-5-5-v2-2975-1-5-5-1663792433
Gameplay 12 Challenging Breach Minigame-3661-1-1-0-1645051075
Gameplay 14 StreetStyle Patches - Edgerunners-5380-1-1-1666440271
Gameplay 17 Corrupt NCPD 1.3-4510-1-3-1660405863
Gameplay 25 craft_restrict-3970-0-15-1646403959
Gameplay 27 Unequip Mods Mod-2358-1-6-1662720282
Gameplay 28 Only Smartweapon Crosshairs 1.0h-5434-1-0h-1665159510
Gameplay 30 Average Hackers-4880-1-0-1658427255
Gameplay 31 Breach Takedown-4808-1-0-1657519192
Gameplay 32 Lynx Paws Reimagined-4479-1-0-1-1652004746
Gameplay 33 Silent Silencers and Throwing Knives-4070-1-2-1-1664833865
Gameplay JWL 01 Cyberpunk Blackwall-5814-1-3-0-1667102316
Gameplay JWL 02 Better Netrunning-2302-0-5-2-1664769803
Gameplay JWL 03 AI Netrunners Enhanced-2468-1-4-1-1665878203
Gameplay JWL 05 Discard Ammo On Reload-2819-1-2-3-1625248878
Gameplay JWL 06 Manual Reload-2804-1-2-4-0-1664563314
Gameplay JWL 08 SDO - Scissors Difficulty Options-4408-1-1-1654146164
Gameplay JWL 09 Sensible Stamina and Athletics-2861-1-6-0-1662509880
Gameplay JWL 10 SystemEx-3158-1-0-5-1665053547
Graphics 01 LOD Patch - All 5x-3631-4-0-1663897438
Graphics 02 Just shiny hair change-237-1-02-1608145039
Graphics 14 CP2077 Better Finer Rain V3.8-2001-3-8-1665761340
Graphics 21 NextGenVegetationLOD-3627-1-6-1641654904
Graphics 24 Extended and Improved Headlights 1.1-5013-1-1-1661016001
Graphics 26 Main NPC Breast Physics-3900-1-1-1645493309
Graphics 27 Citizen Breast Physics-3900-1-1-1645895901
Graphics 28 HairMaterialRetouch-2577-1-0a-1653997102
QoL 04 Cyber Vehicle Overhaul-3016-1-6-1666643507
QoL 05 Extra Vehicle Controls 2.0 Hotfix-3225-2-0h-1660752972
QoL 06 Street Vendors v1.2.7-2894-1-2-7-1667069027
QoL 07 flib's UI Improvements-2729-1-6-0-1663626480
QoL 09 Hide Read Shards-2820-0-3-1660038302
QoL 11 Pocket Radio 1.4-2925-1-4-1654461999
QoL 12 Custom Map Markers-3819-1-1-2-1667152807
QoL 14 Appearance Change Unlocker-3850-2-1-3-1664123326
QoL 16 Militech Grenade Surplus-6058-1-0-1666468618
QoL 17 Game time tweaks - Longer nights-870-0-2-1617043010
QoL 18 Erok Driving Tweaks - With Enabled Differenital-2948-1-01-1645639056
QoL 19 untrackQuestByRightClick-5177-1-1-1663101133
QoL 25 Talk to Me-5534-1-2-1664653200
QoL 26 Disable 2D And 3D Effects For UI And Disable Chrom Ab-2648-1-2-1645930832
QoL 27 No Camera Auto Centering - FPP-2169-0-7-1648127540
QoL 28 No Camera Auto Centering - TPP-2169-0-7-1648127554
QoL 29 Real Vendor Names-4941-1-3-0-1659900243
QoL 30 Stash Filters-5298-1-0-0-1663660416
QoL 31 Crouch vignette effect remover-535-2-1665998718
QoL 32 Enhanced Vehicle Camera v1.4.0-2202-1-4-0-1639081021
QoL 34 Filter Saves by Lifepath and Type-3400-1-1-1-1658443447
QoL 35 Stand Still Please-4714-1-3-0-1667937628
QoL 36 JB Third Person Mod V127 - version 1.6-669-V127-1662540143
QoL 40 VirtualAtelier-2987-0-3-1-1665819746
QoL 41 Alvarix Custom Store - Atelier-4602-2-3-1666692130
QoL 42 Dressify 2 - External Store-4969-1-01-1660278312
QoL 42 Dressify Main Stores (Heywood and Westbrook)-4969-1-02-1660278199
QoL 43 Rockergirl Atelier-4717-1-4-1661998101
QoL 44 NC Fashion Virtual Atelier-4805-2-8-1666534695
QoL 45 ND_female_virtual_boutique-5114-1-2-1667119249
QoL 48 Outfit and Accessory Catalogue - THE VIRTUAL ATELIER-4241-1-1648633694
QoL 49 Clothing Set and Recolor Catalogue - THE VIRTUAL ATELIER-3720-1-1642306760
Vehicles 01 Virtual Car Dealer-4454-1-3-2-1664104972
Vehicles 02 Car Modification Shop-4034-1-1-0-0-1659638578
Vehicles 04 BikeOverhaul1.81boosted-5167-1-81-1665779104
Vehicles 05 Drive Carefully-5438-1-1-1664301242
Vehicles 06 Immersive Driving v1.6-5293-1-3-1664721456
Vehicles 08 1.6 Neon Rims Color Control-4204-1-2-2-1663964886
Vehicles 09 - Car Pack-4625-1-8-0-1657275733
Vehicles 10 - Corpo Pack-4539-1-0-0-1653158149
Vehicles 11 - Gangs Pack-4509-1-1-0-1656843110
Tools 09 input_loader.zip-4575-0-0-7-1668016732
QoL 39 HystAtelierStore-6015-1-04-1668013388
Graphics 25 Player underwear removal extended CET edition 1.6.4. Game v1.6 and v1.61 only-4605-1-6-4-1667951671
Gameplay 16 Vehicle Combat-3815-1-22-1659209042
Tools 07 mod_settings.zip-4885-0-0-9-1668045078
Gameplay JWL 07 Ped Damage Overhaul 2077-5066-1-20-1666795147
QoL 08 Muted Markers-1727-1-8-3-1667590586
QoL 10 Limited HUD-2592-2-5-1-1666795652
QoL 13 Always First Equip-2557-1-10-1-1665819021
QoL 15 everything off-4389-1-0-1650568161
Tools 11 Appearance Menu Mod-790-1-16-2-1668123354
Vehicles 03 AMM Car Modification Shop-4446-0-1-2-1665632955
Graphics 19 Eye Adaptation - Vignette OFF - Sharpening OFF - Diverse Weather Transitions-6282-1-69-61-1668257096
QoL 50 SE7EN - Virtual Atelier-6360-1-1668302429
QoL 24 Simple Flashlight 2.3-2913-2-3-1668428514
Gameplay JWL 04 Wannabe Edgerunner-5646-1-5-1-1668697564
QoL 33 Enhanced Craft-4378-2-1-1-1668758878
Vehicles 07 Realistic Car Crashes-5402-1-1-1668977216
Gameplay 29 Missing Persons - Fixers Hidden Gems-5058-1-1-5-1668969671
Tools 01 Cyber Engine Tweaks 1.61 - fix 1-107-1-21-1-1668271994
Tools 02 redscript-1511-0-5-8-1663418970
Gives terrible laziness to install 2.0 and play Phantom Liberty. Most of the mods I used probably will not work and my craft - based build will be shit. Agh, will need to start the game from start modless
The game was clearly de-sexed during one of the redevelopment cycles, back in the 2018 demo emphasis was made on V being able to have one night stands etc.
Jazz radio is objectively good, as it is almost fully licensed classics from the 60s and 70s (with a bunch by Miles Davis and one of John Coltrane's even).
The rest really depends on taste, although they certainly aren't the pinnacles of their respective genres and some tracks are objectively meh. Although honestly even Rockstar didn't have that good track selections after San Andreas, the (((labels))) probably smelled blood and it's likely that nowadays it is a lot more difficult/expensive to pull of a licensed selection the caliber of what Vice City or SA had. Not to mention Rockstar having it a bit easier due to going for historical periods.
Jazz radio is objectively good, as it is almost fully licensed classics from the 60s and 70s (with a bunch by Miles Davis and one of John Coltrane's even).
The rest really depends on taste, although they certainly aren't the pinnacles of their respective genres and some tracks are objectively meh.
It's absurd that in the era of synthwave renaissance they had so little actual ambient synthwave or just straight up synthwave stations. I get maybe they wanted to do their own thing, but the fact they had the legendary Powerglove of Blood Dragon fame make a track for them and then not use it shows the absolute dumpster-diving quality of their decisionmaking.
What's baffling to me is that in the era of synthwave renaissance they had so little actual ambient synthwave or just straight up synthwave stations. I get maybe they wanted to do their own thing, but the fact they had the legendary Powerglove of Blood Dragon fame make a track for them and then not use it shows the absolute dumpster-diving quality of their decisionmaking.
I think the main music guy from CDP wasn't a fan, there was one video with him about the soundtrack shortly before the game dropped where he said, while discussing the stylistic choices they were going for with the original soundtrack he was making, that "synthwave is not cyberpunk". Also FFS these people put that horrible Archive song in the original CGI trailer a billion years ago when they announced it.
The industrial outskirts and failed suburbs feel like a real fucking dump. Same for Pacifica or Jig Jig. I'd say they got the dirty look just right without veering into complete neglect that some people seem to expect from anything cyberpunk.
That's CP2022 though. It's very much Gibson's Bridge trilogy - gritty, dirty urban wasteland/jungle, without the noir elements people often associate with cyberpunk because they saw Blade Runner.
I'd agree he's a fine character, but his presence completely fucks the game in so many ways, it's kind hard for me to enjoy his presence on the screen.
The industrial outskirts and failed suburbs feel like a real fucking dump. Same for Pacifica or Jig Jig. I'd say they got the dirty look just right without veering into complete neglect that some people seem to expect from anything cyberpunk.
What's baffling to me is that in the era of synthwave renaissance they had so little actual ambient synthwave or just straight up synthwave stations. I get maybe they wanted to do their own thing, but the fact they had the legendary Powerglove of Blood Dragon fame make a track for them and then not use it shows the absolute dumpster-diving quality of their decisionmaking.
I think the main music guy from CDP wasn't a fan, there was one video with him about the soundtrack shortly before the game dropped where he said, while discussing the stylistic choices they were going for with the original soundtrack he was making, that "synthwave is not cyberpunk". Also FFS these people put that horrible Archive song in the original CGI trailer a billion years ago when they announced it.
In contrast to my previously statement, I'd say that cyberware capacity isn't actually too stingy, but I still think slots should be more gated based on attributes. I think that in general unless you're specifically aiming to get cybered to the gills, the capacity is intended to make it more that you pick a few worthwhile pieces.
Rolled new char again this time body+reflex and again the same thing. Mostly threading water with skills. Don't use malee hammers ? well that is 1/3 of tree gone. CDPR managed somehow to make worse gameplay.
There are levels of dystopian, Night City fits "all these technological marvels only brought more human misery" more than "this is literally hell and being transported to a post-apocalyptic setting would be an improvement"
I think you could make a dramatic difference in the feel of the place with relatively minor adjustments--make the nights twice as long, for example, add some sort of heavy pollution effect in the sky to make the days look less idyllic (or just make the days overcast).
Part of the problem is the glossiness of the presentation, IMO; the game is trying so hard to be beautiful that it's hard for a viewer to absorb it pessimistically. You need purposeful art direction to convey an oppressive or forbidding or distressing feeling; you can't just count on the fact that your cheerfully lit pixel slum--which the player has no need to visit for half the game--has super-high-detail trash piles.
There are levels of dystopian, Night City fits "all these technological marvels only brought more human misery" more than "this is literally hell and being transported to a post-apocalyptic setting would be an improvement"
If anything i actually love their take on cyberpunk. Unlike bladerunner etc. it shows that humanity under boot of corporations still have human spirit in them and fight against their life in one way or another. And it is the main theme of game as well reprented in Johny and V.
That being said for Cyberpunk 2088 i would love to see Tokyo. Judging by how it is described in C77 it could give megacity from BLAME! run for the money on how vile it is.
I think you could make a dramatic difference in the feel of the place with relatively minor adjustments--make the nights twice as long, for example, add some sort of heavy pollution effect in the sky to make the days look less idyllic (or just make the days overcast).
Part of the problem is the glossiness of the presentation, IMO; the game is trying so hard to be beautiful that it's hard for a viewer to absorb it pessimistically. You need purposeful art direction to convey an oppressive or forbidding or distressing feeling; you can't just count on the fact that your cheerfully lit pixel slum--which the player has no need to visit for half the game--has super-high-detail trash piles.
You can adjust that with weather mods. All the dystopian weathers are in the game as well as the more sunny ones, but they switch about and you may often miss the ones you prefer, but there are several mods that change the weathers more slowly, or more logically, or stick to one predominantly. However, having said that, I'm not sure if those sorts of things are updated for 2.0 yet.
Personally I find the dusty look and faded pastels of the game in the sunshine pretty pessimistic in and of themselves, and quite suitable for a post-war cyberpunk California in the daytime - so long as I get the rainy neon-lit nights as well, I'm good.
Certainly californian palm trees and sunshine don't help, blame that on cybernegro prime Pondsmith and globalwarmthinkery (maybe). He could have put Night City in Washington state rather than on the (central?) Californian coastline. At least make it rain or be foggy 90% of the time as people already mentioned.
If we're talking about dystopia in cyberpunk works I prefer visions closer to the dangerous crime-infested urban environment aesthetic things like Robocop or Death Wish had, which themselves were extrapolations of urban crime problems of the time in NYC and the like (part of the "punk" part, but also the bleak NO FUTURE part based on extrapolating then contemporary negative trends*). But you can't make a whole city look like Pacifica and still have corpos making large office skyscrapers and placing headquarters despite the commute to the office being a slalom between piles of human feces, trash and tents of the homeless. Deus Ex had it easy by showing just parts of the cities and always at night, although hong kong was noticably "cleaner" than the rest due to lack of the iconic barrel-fire hobos.
*most of which still apply, shit is just shinier and pollution is mostly outsourced to the third world.
So far more of the same if you ask me, and the DLC main quest commits the same sins the base game main quest has (too cinematic, but at least no brain dance sequences so far). Dogtown feels rather small as an area. I'm not too far into the main quest though (I think), mostly did sidejobs. Car jacking procedural jobs are a decent addition if you enjoy the driving and need a reason to do it (especially the timed variant), shame they're not in the base game. Just like for whatever reason they couldn't be arsed to put repeatable races into the game, wasted opportunity.
there are parts of the city which are run down, at the same time there are women everywhere in expensive tech taking selfies and what not. Delamain (?) is a privately owned limousine business, which means that enough people are paying for limousines? They have different premium plans even. Also it means that private, smaller companies are thriving. The guy with the malfunctioning Mr. Stud implant seems to have enough cash to worry about his dick size. etc. etc. etc.
Night City is really just a metropolis with cyberpunk tropes stuffed into it and exaggerated to the extreme for the wow factor, hence my complaint about the oversexualization. There is no feeling of moral degradation, Jackie is talking about god and honor etc.
Goddammit, playing this AGAIN lol. For all its faults, you really can't beat this game for fully-realized ultra-bleak cyberpunk dystopian atmosphere, there's nothing that compares.
I'm also constantly amazed that I can play this tolerably well on an ancient i3 6100 cpu @ 3.70Ghz with a GTX970, 16G Ram @ 1080p on High. Looks and plays okay (around 40fps ish) so long as I stick to netrunning/sniper hijinks and don't try to do too much twitchy-shootery stuff.
Mind you, I haven't gotten the DLC yet, that happy time might end if it's got much higher requirements.
