Overall Rating:
Demo: 4/10
Official Paid Release: 2/10 NOT PLAYABLE
As an adult themed game, CyberpunkXXX enters a crowded arena dominated by titans like Cyberpunk 2077, Cloudpunk, both of which have set high expectations for the cyberpunk genre from an adult to immersive gaming perspective. While this demo shows potential, it also highlights significant areas that need improvement before it can truly compete. I'm a huge follower of the genre and really delved into as much of this game as technically possible for this feedback. That said, the following review was written on a curve taking into consideration that this is a demo, and may change at any given moment during its life cycle and product delivery.
CHARACTERIZATION (0/10)
Where is the "XXX" in the title of this game? The game sourly lacked the flagrant and gratuitous sexual content befitting its name. The demo would have probably passed the litmus test if I was able to interact with prostitutes, or random pickup patrons in the various clubs around the city. While I'm not asking for GTA5 style engagements - the game delivered more of a "Cyberpunk" clone than the sexualized advertisement of "CyberpunkXXX" in my book. Add to this, the lack of character creation in this game significantly detracted from the immersion by limiting my ability to forge a connection with narrative and the world around me.
Personally, I prefer the strong heroine or transexual protragonist, especially given that this is 2064 and sexual preferences should be completely blurred by this time. The presence of male and female washrooms however seem to suggest the game developers were not aligned with the current and evolving trend. (e.g. NYC 2024 and many bathrooms are unisex).
The absence of this personalization (and having started with a 20 ton gumshoe detective) made it nearly impossible for me to invest anything emotionally much less feel like I'm part of a bigger story if any.
ATMOSPHERE AND AMBIANCE (5/10)
The introduction of the game does somewhat of a job of establishing a cyberpunk ambiance, with corpo effects creating a moody backdrop. However, the sound design is a mixed bag; while the background announcements is familar, the background noises can become monotonous.
The character's idle stance is acceptable, but movement feels sluggish, making navigation less enjoyable. The character's backward walking animation is particularly jarring compared to a more fluid about-face motion. The character comes across (and sounds) like 20 tons of wet garbage and metal. This is probably why I die just jumping from a railing 10 feet in the air. Again, very jarring.
GRAPHICS AND INTERACTIVITY (0/10)
The tech graphics are decent, yet they don't quite stand out in a genre where visual fidelity is paramount. Unfortunately, immersion suffers due to the inability to interact with the NPC's, which could have enhanced the gameplay experience. For now the NPC's appear to be simple objects for affect and just as shallow as the overall game. Additionally, the collision effects are absurd; cars can hit the player without any damage to the character, which disrupts the sense of realism.
Similarly, shooting a robo-cop at point blank range yielded no damage. There is zero immersion between myself and the robo authoritans that seem to do nothing more than shoot me for no apparent reason. The citizenry are empty shells, each and every one of them running around for their lives presumably.
NOTE: Upon installing the paid version of the game I discovered the Y-Axis is permanently in reverse making the game unplayable (for me), and therefore receiving the lowest rating for this section of the review. The demo did NOT have this bug, which indicates perhaps the devs were not careful to preserve the working branch of this game vs. the sandbox or demo version. Very disappointing as I was hoping to explore some more and mete out potentially more content to experience and offer feedback.
COMBAT AND GAMEPLAY MECHANICS (3/10)
Combat mechanics are familiar and functional, with dodging and fighting combos being hit or miss depending on how close or far you are from the enemies. The initial fight scene feels clumsy and unecessarily challenging, especially without a weapon, which undermines the game's thematic introduction.
Trying to be like Elden Ring without the pre-game fear that players are imbued with prior. Weapon management is very poor, glitchy with poor ammo reload options and frustrating interaction mechanics. The AI also leaves much to be desired; instances of police androids fighting each other are amusing but detract from the intended gameplay experience.
SOCIAL INTERACTION AND ENVIRONMENT (3/10)
The social interactions are awkward, with NPCs lacking eye contact, human gestures, and mouth movements during dialogue, making conversations feel lifeless. The game does allow for exploration of random clubs and apartments, which is a highlight, particularly in the Paradise Club, where the music is lively and the dancers are veluptious and visually appealing.
The clubs however could use far more NPC populations with various interactions like drinking, flirting, dancing, smoking, and the random in-fighting. Moreover, the absence of ambient music in other areas and the repetitive subway sound effects from the beginning diminish the overall experience. The lack of interaction with NPC's seriously detracts from the "XXX" part of the game or intention.
WORLD DESIGN AND DETAILS (3/10)
The subway Mario Brothers transition to the Cyberpunk city was obsurd. The world feels very underpopulated, with too few citizens on the streets (maybe 2-5 people per city block), leading to a sense of emptiness and an over ambitious map filled with shiny Unity spawned objects and nothing more. The fixed rear camera view while driving is extremly frustrating and needs significant refinement. Interaction with vehicles is insanely rediculous with zero realistic physics driving it.
I ended up abandoning the car and simply run around to complete quests. Moreover, the visible stars in the cityscape is disappointing; a true cyberpunk environment should evoke the atmospheric gloom yet a hint of hope for humanity like in Blade Runner, which is replete with with cloudy skies and persistent rain. Add to this the large advertisement airships (typical of nearly all Cyberpunk Genre) and this could make a difference. I like that there is opportunity for real world adult advertisements to be placed.
If the developers created AI interfaces for the NPC's this would propel the game in the stratosphere, but again it is asking alot from such a very limited in size and scope.
FINAL THOUGHTS
While CyberpunkXXX has moments of promise in spirit, it requires substantial work to become a viable contender in the cyberpunk genre. With focus on actual interaction between sexes and addressing the frustrating bugs. Sadly, I did not complete the game out of sheer frustration initially, and do not think it's worth the sticker price at this time.
However, I did pay the premium to help the fledging indie get off the ground. I do know developers that can help with the shortfall and would be more than happy to collaborate if not donate more to the cause with evidence of progression. The potential for engaging AI interactions could elevate the game significantly, but as it stands, the demo feels more like a rough draft slapped together than a polished product. With improvements in movement, combat, and social interactions, this game could carve out its niche in the cyberpunk landscape. For now, the game will serve as a huge reminder of the challenges that come with stepping into a highly interactive 3D genre that has already set a high bar since the release of Cyberpunk2077 despite its disasterous entry in the playing field.
Finally, I do want to follow this game development closely as it does show promise and would like to continue being part of QA or Player Testing group.
