Cloudpunk: The award-winning indie game just got a whole lot better
- Developer: ION Lands
- Publisher: Merge Games
- Release date:19th August 2022
- Genre: Action adventure
- Platforms: PlayStation 5
- Reviewed on: PlayStation 5
- Game Supplied by: Publisher
Cloudpunk PS5 Update Review
Back on the 26th of October 2020, we here at Total Gaming Addicts reviewed the award-winning Indie game, Cloudpunk. We were highly impressed by the fully realised cyberpunk world and the interesting story that followed.
I gave the game an 8 out of 10 but commented that “Cloudpunk is pure gentle escapism that would score higher if the technical presentation of the game worked better than it currently does.”
For PlayStation 5 owners, that time has come. As of the 19th of August 2022, a free update was released for owners of the game that would hopefully address these issues.
Having replayed the entire game, I’m happy to confirm that the update has made a huge difference in how the game performs. Some of the new features were excellent, but others not so much.
The first and most critical aspect that has been improved upon is the previously appalling frame rate. This really hindered the original version, but playing the game from start to finish on the PS5, I never once had any performance issues. The constant drizzle of the ever-falling rain didn’t interfere with the visuals anymore and served as a constant reminder that the game engine could now cope. The only technical issue I experienced was that halfway through a conversation the game froze, and it wouldn’t let me finish the conversation or back out. However, shutting the game down and restarting placed me back a few moments before the same conversation, and I managed to carry on with no issues.
The 4K 60 fps visuals accentuated the game engine’s performance, with no pop-in or jagged movements, and the improved draw distance enhanced the smoother sharper visuals even more. Although the game isn’t the most technically advanced with blocky buildings, environments and characters, it was still noticeable how things had improved with a sharper resolution. The extra detail in the game’s visuals, especially in the reflections of puddles, and even the ability to see each raindrop splash on the ground and leave ring marks, was excellent. The only new feature that didn’t quite hit the mark for improvements was the softer volumetric lighting. This gave the game a little bit too much of a soft-lighting feel, but where it excelled was in the spotlights of searching police cars or other vehicles looking around in the dark.
The games cockpit view was also a little disappointing, as although it really added to the atmospherics of the game by putting you in the seat of Rania, who can now hear the patter of rainfall on the roof of her HOVA, the view out of the cockpit was limited and the range of the radar too small. Added to this, the highways were very busy, and with no local radar showing where other vehicles were, it was far too easy to damage the HOVA because you didn’t see them. You’d then have to spend precious money repairing it, just for trying to play the game from an in-cockpit POV. It’s a neat idea but, without a viewpoint adjustment or any thought given to enhancing the radar, it hasn’t worked that well.
Summary
Now that the technical side performs as it should, this is most definitely closer to the developer’s original vision. With further updates coming for Xbox consoles, too, there really is no better time to experience the story of Rania, and her one night delivering for Cloudpunk.
