Summary
SinceCyberpunk 2077first hit shelves and digital storefronts, there has been a lot of additional media taking place in the game’s universe. Novels, comic books, and even a popular Netflix show have allowed fans to further immerse themselves into the world of Night City. Unfortunately, there is one element that pops up in variousCyberpunk 2077installments that the sequel should avoid.
One of the recurring motivations for characters in theCyberpunk 2077universe is a desire to escape Night City. This takes on several forms from losing themselves in BDs to physically leaving the metropolis. An all too common element in many of the stories' endings is a major character literally going to space or the moon as an escape and is a story beat that has already overstayed its welcome.
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Cyberpunk 2077’s Most Common End Destination
While not everyCyberpunk 2077endingresults in the player going to space or the moon, they are something of a reoccurring destination in the franchise’s finale. The Sun ending is the first of these where V decides to partake in a heist of a place known as Crystal Palace Casino. A character known as Mr. Blue Eyes promises the protagonist a cure for their condition if they help him. The Devil ending also has V spending a good chunk of their time in a space station before it is revealed that their condition is incurable.
Perhaps the most notable ending involving space was in the Netflix show. WhileCyberpunk Edgerunners' ending left some questions unansweredit saw one of the main characters escape the metropolis. Sometime after the events of the climax, Lucy manages to get out of the city and takes a trip to the moon which had been her desired destination since the beginning of the series. This also turned out to be the destination of a major character from theCyberpunk 2077DLC.
A lot happens within the game’s expansion, and it turns out thatPhantom Liberty’s Songbird wasn’t that different from Lucy. One big thing that they had in common was a desire to escape which ultimately involved going to the moon. There is a lot of conflict and heartache to get there, but she can make it to the lunar destination if players opt to side with her. The problem is that the game and other media likeEdgerunnersrely a little too much on space as the ultimate escape and should avoid using it in the future.
Why Future Games Should Avoid Using The Moon for a Final Destination
There are a few key problems when it comes to the characters using space to escape. The first is that it’s quite literally just an escape. The world ofCyberpunkis that of a late-stage capitalism dystopia nightmare and one can’t blame a character for wanting to flee it. The downside to it is that by simply running away, they don’t really solve any of the world’s issues in a lasting manner. They only manage to get away and, for several of these characters, it comes at a very high price.
The other problem is that at this point, having the character head into space feels a little played out. With fourCyberpunkendings that involve space in some way, it’s a solution to the character’s problem that’s already been used up. If a potential sequel were to use this again it would do so at the risk of coming off as somewhat stale and repetitive.
Currently, there is very little known about what direction the next game will take. Thedirector ofCyberpunk 2077: Phantom Libertywill lead the upcoming projectand based on the reception to the expansion it’s likely the next installment is in good hands. But if the game wants to do something fresh and new, the sequel will have to avoid shooting for the moon.
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?
