Dogtown is a mess. It’s a literal walled-off scrapheap where the law doesn’t exist, yet it’s the backdrop for some of the most sophisticated storytelling CD Projekt Red has ever attempted. If you're playing the Phantom Liberty expansion, you’ll eventually hit a wall. Or rather, a mission that feels less like a video game and more like a high-stakes spy thriller. It’s called I've Seen That Face Before Cyberpunk players often call it the "turning point"—and for good reason.
This isn't your standard "go here, shoot that" gig.
Honestly, the mission is a masterclass in tension. It marks the moment where V stops being just a mercenary and starts playing at a level of international espionage that usually gets people killed before they can even blink. You’re hunting the twins, Aurore and Aymeric Cassel. They aren't just targets; they’re the key to infiltrating Kurt Hansen’s inner circle. But getting to them? That’s where things get messy.
The Setup: Why This Mission Matters
To understand why everyone talks about I've Seen That Face Before Cyberpunk fans know it’s the lead-up to the climax, you have to look at the stakes. Solomon Reed—played by Idris Elba with a level of weariness that feels earned—needs you to hijack a car. But not just any car. You’re looking for a specific Sport 2. This is the moment where the game asks you to stop being loud.
You spend a lot of time waiting.
It’s a deliberate choice. The game forces you to sit on a vantage point, scanning traffic, listening to Reed’s banter. It builds this specific kind of dread. You’re looking for a very specific license plate. When you finally spot the twins’ car, the game doesn't just hand you a win. You have to tail them. If you’ve played Cyberpunk 2077 since launch, you know the driving physics have been... controversial. Tailing a car in Dogtown's crowded, narrow streets is a genuine test of patience.
Most people fail this the first time because they get too close. Don't do that.
The Twin Dynamic: Aurore and Aymeric
The heart of I've Seen That Face Before Cyberpunk centers on the personality of the Cassel twins. They are French netrunners, high-flyers, and deeply cynical. When you finally get into their car—after some creative trunk-climbing—you aren't just a passenger. You’re a parasite. You are literally downloading their personalities, their mannerisms, and their biometric data.
It is deeply uncomfortable.
The dialogue here is sharp. Aurore is flirtatious but dangerous; Aymeric is the cold, calculating brother who sees through the BS. While you’re hiding in the trunk, you have to toggle between their conversations and Reed’s instructions. It’s a sensory overload. You’re trying to sync your "identity blinders" while they talk about their past, their deals, and their disdain for the world.
There's a specific moment where Aurore mentions their history in Western Europe. It’s flavor text, sure, but it’s the kind of world-building that makes the expansion feel lived-in. They aren't just villains. They’re people who played the game and won, only to realize the prize wasn't worth the cost.
The Moral Pivot Point
Then comes the "abandoned parking garage."
This is the part of I've Seen That Face Before Cyberpunk that leaves a bad taste in many players' mouths. And that’s by design. Reed and Alex meet you there. The plan was always to take the twins' identities. But the way it happens is brutal. There is no boss fight. There is no grand struggle. It is a clinical, cold execution.
Reed doesn't hesitate. Alex doesn't blink.
It’s a reminder that the New United States of America (NUSA) isn't the "good guy" in this story. They are just another faction with better PR. Watching Reed handle the bodies while you prepare to literally wear their faces via the Behavioral Imprint-Synchronized Technology (BIST) is chilling. It shifts the tone of Phantom Liberty from a fun heist to a grim political tragedy.
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Navigating the Technical Hurdles
Let’s get practical for a second because this mission can actually be quite buggy. If you're looking for the car and the quest marker isn't updating, you aren't alone. This is a common hiccup in the 2.0 and 2.1 patches.
- The Vantage Point Glitch: Sometimes, Reed won't trigger the next line of dialogue when you're looking through the binoculars. If this happens, save and reload immediately. It usually forces the script to catch up.
- The Trunk Sequence: When you’re prompted to get into the trunk, make sure you aren't in "combat mode" from some random street brawl you had three blocks back. The prompt simply won't appear if the game thinks you're still fighting.
- Scanning the Plates: You need to scan the cars specifically as they pass a certain point. Don't just look at them; hold the scanner until the data actually registers.
The BIST technology itself is a cool gameplay mechanic. It changes your UI. It changes how people react to you. But the game doesn't hold your hand through the transition. You have to pay attention to the twins' files. If you don't know who they are by the time you reach the Black Sapphire, you’re going to blow your cover.
The Identity Crisis
Why is it called I've Seen That Face Before Cyberpunk? Aside from the obvious reference to the Grace Jones song (CDPR loves their music references), it’s about the loss of self.
V is already dying. Johnny Silverhand is already eating away at their psyche. Now, you’re adding a third layer: a fake identity programmed into your brain. The mission forces you to wonder how much of "you" is left. When you look in the mirror after the surgery, you don't see V. You see a dead person's face.
It’s a heavy-handed metaphor, but in the context of Night City, it works perfectly. Everyone is wearing a mask. Whether it’s chrome, a corporate suit, or a literal digital skin, nobody is who they say they are. Reed is a ghost. Rosalind Myers is a shark in a dress. You’re just the latest actor on the stage.
Key Strategy for the Drive
When you finally take control of the car with the twins inside (remotely, via Reed), the physics change. The car feels heavier. It's sluggish.
The trick is to not over-correct. The game wants you to drive "normally" to avoid suspicion, but the controls make it feel like you're driving on ice. Just stay in the lane. Focus on the dialogue choices. You have to keep the conversation going to keep the upload steady. If you stay silent for too long, the connection dips. It’s one of the few times in the game where your dialogue speed actually impacts a meter on the screen.
What This Mission Unlocks
Once you finish I've Seen That Face Before Cyberpunk, the game opens up its final act. You get the Charon Integrated Silicone Suit. It’s fancy. It’s expensive. It’s what lets you walk into Kurt Hansen’s party without getting shot on sight.
But you also get something else: a permanent sense of distrust toward Reed.
Up until this point, you might have thought Reed was your mentor. After the garage scene, you realize he’s a tool. He does what he’s told, no matter how ugly it gets. This mission is the prerequisite for "Firestarter," which is arguably the biggest branching path in the entire game. Your choices here—how you interact with the twins and how you respond to Reed’s coldness—set the emotional stage for whether you betray Reed or stay loyal to the mission.
Actionable Steps for Your Playthrough
If you’re about to start this mission, or if you're stuck, here is how you handle it like a pro:
- Clear your schedule: This isn't a 5-minute quest. Between the tailing, the trunk sequence, and the long cutscenes, give yourself a solid 40 minutes of uninterrupted time.
- Read the twins' files: Before you enter the car, open your shard menu. Read everything about Aurore and Aymeric. Their background in the "Le Coq Hardi" and their history with the French intelligence services isn't just flavor—it helps you pick the right dialogue options later.
- Manual Save: Save before you get into the trunk. The driving sequence can occasionally glitch, and you don't want to lose 15 minutes of progress because a civilian car clipped your bumper and sent you into the stratosphere.
- Listen to Johnny: He has some of his best cynical commentary during this mission. He hates what’s happening, and his insights into the "spook life" are actually pretty grounded in the lore of the 2020s.
- Watch the Mini-map: During the tailing section, the "safe distance" is larger than you think. If the red icon starts pulsing, back off immediately. The mission fails instantly if they spot you.
The brilliance of this mission isn't in the gunplay. There barely is any. It’s in the quiet, uncomfortable moments. It’s in the realization that in the world of high-level espionage, the most dangerous weapon isn't a Mantis Blade or a Railgun—it's a convincing lie and a dead man's face. Take your time with it. Let the atmosphere sink in. This is the peak of Phantom Liberty’s "spy-thriller" identity. Once you cross this line, there is no going back to being a simple street kid from Heywood.