I'd argue each CDPR game improves on the one before including cyberpunk, but since it was a new franchise and perspective it was like creating witcher 1 all over again except...
The combat offered more choice that the witcher games, better 3d level design, pretty solid endings (better than deus ex, and mass effect).
And I'm quick to forget that Witcher 3 had some nasty bugs at launch, too. I was stuck with at that damn giant in the ice cave for like a month before they fixed it.
I distinctly remember it taking at least until the first expansion for it to be considered one of the greats. GOTY Awards have never been a true tell for quality of a game in my opinion.
I think it took a month for it to be polished enough. I remember this because it was when cdpr spun its upcoming patches into a great pr move by calling them “free dlc”. I think it was like 11-12 weeks of continuous “dlc” and Reddit was eating that up and dunking on other devs while praising the game to be the best game of all time. I legitimately remember post on Reddit showing some glitches in the game and comments saying something like “the game is glitchy, but at least it’s just funny glitches and nothing game breaking”. Also, first expansion came out 5 months after the release, so it still tracks that the game was patched up somewhat quick.
I love 2077 but CDPR keeps on ruining my modded excellence with worthless patches. I wish they'd just give up and leave it to the many amazing modders to add content and fixes. 🤷♂️
I play the deus ex games over and over and cyberpunk surpases them IMO.
DE does less with more, but 77 offers better combat, exploration, and better relationships. The stuff with megan reed in the first was ineffective, but the characters you meet in 77 jackie, panam, judy hit much more. you not only explore more characters, but yourself more than jenson ever does.
if you watch this small clip you'll notice how deus ex rarely allows you to enter/exit important buildings via glass windows. in 77, while your cannot enter your apartments that way you can for many gig locations, but you might need the augs, or tech expertise to open a sliding window.
adding mods on PC that add hardcore, realistic hunger and sleep, vr and this clears the modern deus ex games. I do want Adam's story resolved though
Clearly you haven't tried Mankind Divided, but hey there are 2 indie games in development called Peripeteia & DeepState if you don't mind the retro-graphics