Of the many mechanics CD Projekt Red sharpened betweenThe Witcher 3andCyberpunk 2077, moment-to-moment combat might be the most significant. Indeed,Cyberpunk 2077has perhaps the best combatof any game by CDPR, with strong, visceral shooting mechanics, unique abilities such as quickhacks and sandevistans, and progression systems that allow for diverse, expressive builds.
But if there’s one corner ofCyberpunk 2077’s combat sandbox that’s in need of improvement, it’s melee combat. Using blades, blunt weapons, and fists inCyberpunkdoesn’t feel particularly bad—it can actually be quite fun, especially if one plans a melee build properly. But melee never quite feels as robust or satisfying as shooting, often boiling down to button-mashing and stun-locking enemies. There are technically parry and block moves available to the player, but these rarely need to be utilized, especially since most enemy encounters are gunfights. This can sometimes make melee-only builds feel more like a novelty than a viable, comprehensive playstyle, and there are stepsCyberpunk 2077’s sequel can take to remedy this.
How Project Orion Can Improve Cyberpunk 2077’s Melee Combat
CD Projekt Red Could Kill Two Birds with One Stone by Making Project Orion Third-Person
Many ofCyberpunk 2077’s melee shortcomings can be attributed to the inherent difficulties of designing such mechanics in a first-person game. The third-person perspective offers far greater freedom with these sorts of systems, as the player’s field of view isn’t dictated by the avatar’s simulated vision. It’s also hard to design things like hitboxes in a first-person game, since the player-character’s physical presence is less defined. This is why a game likeGod of WarorDark Soulswouldn’t function well in first-person, as most of the player’s engagement with the game world hinges on the flexibility and physical rules that a third-person camera provides.
But maybeCyberpunk 2077’s sequel, currently codenamedProject Orion, will embrace third-person gameplay. It’s highly unlikely that the sequel will be exclusively third-person, of course—first-person gameplay is a core part of theCyberpunk 2077identity—but it wouldn’t be surprising if it included a third-person mode, channeling the likes ofSkyrim. The lack of this alternate option is something that manyCyberpunk 2077players have lamented, and CDPR clearly made some concessions to remedy this, including the third-person mode on a motorcycle and third-person cutscenes duringCyberpunk’s many endings. A dedicated third-person mode would just be the natural progression of this.
Even Without a Third-Person Mode, Project Orion Can Improve Melee Combat
Implementing a third-person mode in a gameas ambitious asProject Orionis much easier said than done, so it might be best to temper expectations in this regard. Having said that, there are a number of great sources of inspiration if CDPR is looking to give melee combat a punch-up in theCyberpunksequel, with some of the best including:
Assuming that CDPR wants toelevateCyberpunk 2077’s meleerather than reinvent it,Indiana Jones and the Great Circle,Avowed, andDark Messiahmight be the best games to learn from. These titles offer hard-hitting melee combat that hinges on satisfying physics systems, which helps every strike feel earned and weighty. Additional mechanics, like the option to switch stances or dual-wield unique weapon types (for instance, having a sword in one hand and a hammer in the other), could be nice ways to further build on these core concepts.
Cyberpunk 2077
WHERE TO PLAY
Cyberpunk 2077 is an open-world action-adventure from the creators of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, CD Projekt Red.Set in Night City, a megalopolis obsessed with power, glamour and body modification, you play as V, a mercenary outlaw going after a one-of-a-kind implant that is the key to immortality.Upgraded with next-gen in mind and featuring free additional content, customize your character and playstyle as you take on jobs, build a reputation, and unlock upgrades.The relationships you forge and the choices you make will shape the story and the world around you. Legends are made here. What will yours be?
