Cyberpunk 2077: Night City through photo mode
On which platforms did we capture the images?
The following images were captured on Google Stadia with performance preference set on "Graphics".The only one in vertical format was instead immortalized on PS4 Pro.
A photo mode with highs and lows
If we remove the current misadventures on consoles, Cyberpunk 2077 is a true graphic and artistic gem. Night City pulses with life and neon lights; each district expresses its personality in ways that are always surprising and peculiar.The models, despite everything, manage to leave their mark, very often thanks to the magnificent lighting system (sometimes afflicted by some glitches, but almost always appreciable) and micro-expressions that manage to capture the feelings and emotions that the latter try to hide from the engulfing city.
Consequently, for all lovers of virtual photography, this universe is certainly an extremely prey succulent. The photographic mode of the game meets these seemingly insatiable needs with great determination and desire to deliver a respectable photographic experience. However, once you try it yourself, the first disappointments begin to arise.
Let's start with very little freedom of movement. That's right: it is possible to move the camera only around V, without ever having a way to move away from the main character. This may not seem like a problem at first, but it begins to become once we intend to photograph a subject in front of our alter ego's cone of vision.
If this happens, the most immediate solution to the problem is that of eliminating V from the scene with the appropriate command, otherwise it would cover your subject with his body.
This system was obviously designed with the priority of immortalizing our character and making him the protagonist of the shot. However, it affects the freedom one has in capturing landscapes, supporting actors and everything that surrounds V. A choice that clashes with the philosophy of freedom of choice that the game seems to pursue from the very first seconds of the game.
Another lack is the ability to rotate the camera by ninety degrees, which precludes the making of vertical format shots and forces you to use the panoramic format (even if, at times, you can "get around" this limit with a little 'of fantasy).
In addition to these two, mammoth flaws (because some filters are missing is not a problem, but limiting the choice of players so much is), the photo mode still has many goodies, starting with a staggering amount of poses and chock full of pop culture quotes.
The depth of that system is almost unique, with the choice of two main categories: "Inactive" or "Action". The first provides poses to be used in moments of tranquility, while the second is dedicated to the most excited moments, with the possibility of showing one of the three equipped weapons and, in addition, adding the backfire that comes out of the gunshot. In both cases we will also have the possibility to change the expressions of the face regardless of the pose.
Also add the possibility to rotate and move the character in the surrounding space, regardless of where it was when it was activated the photo mode. This is extremely useful, for example, if you want to place V against a wall; this tool will allow you to measure the distance to the millimeter, so as to avoid unpleasant interpenetrations.
Continuing, we also have a vast selection of filters and an even larger collection of frames and stickers. The latter can be freely positioned on the screen, a bit like we have already seen in Marvel's Spider-Man.
A peculiar element is, instead, the presence of the backgrounds, which allows you to isolate V from the scene and insert it into an empty space, inside which the lighting is even repositioned (depending on the selected background).
As we said, these elements highlight the desire to make our character the favorite subject of the shots, even if the world that surrounds the latter gives exactly the opposite desire.
It should also be emphasized the possibility of saving up to three presets, so as to be able to access them more easily, without having to search for the various parameters each time .
For the rest, we find the basic elements of the photo modes that we have come to know, including the possibility of adjusting the depth of field at will and the various settings to adjust contrast, brightness, exposure. tion and so on.
What to photograph in Cyberpunk 2077
Although the developers wanted to give a lot of prominence to V, we would like to tell you that it is by no means the privileged subject of the game. First come vehicles, certain supporting actors (like Jackie, Takemura, Judy and Johnny Silverhand) and, of course, Night City, in its futuristic and dystopian beauty.Breathtaking practically throughout the day, the best times to capture the cities are certainly those in the evening, when the neon lights of the city begin to become the primary lighting source. But you don't have to wait until late to immortalize the streets lit up by shop signs.
In some areas, in fact, the buildings begin to pile up on top of each other so much that, once you enter the tangle alleys and squares, you will feel like you are living in a world never illuminated by sunlight.
Our advice remains, as always, to play with lighting, especially in the case of Cyberpunk 2077, where plays an almost central role in the effectiveness of certain scenes.
Also, never disdain the game environment that surrounds you. Look around often: you could find formidable points of view even in the most unlikely places.
Whether it's a glimpse, a portrait or a shooting, the possibilities are really many; you just have to adapt to the restrictive camera movements and be able to squeeze the best out of the tools at your disposal.
This was our brief guide to Cyberpunk 2077 photo mode. It is certainly not the definitive photographic mode, but, despite everything, it knows how to be appreciated, especially in the small details, which are used to immortalize the furniture of a home or the almost imperceptible expressions on the face of a citizen of Night City.
Let us know what you think and share your best shots with us!
