Best Of 2023: Cyberpunk 2077: Breaking The Cycle In Phantom Liberty’s Ending

(spoilers inside for Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty; TW: dialogue of suicide)

Two fugitives are using a monorail. They’ve escaped seize. They’re dwelling free. Both of them are drained, bloody, bruised, however hopeful. The monorail is about to take them to freedom, to a spot the place none of their immeasurable crimes matter, the place life can have worth once more, the place they will each begin anew.

Except, no, they can not. One of them is a liar. The lie means solely considered one of them will get to be free. They each deserve it, have skilled immense quantities of ache to get it. But just one. The liar has fallen unconscious. The different has a option to make.

And at that second, for the primary time, I truly pause Cyberpunk 2077 throughout a dialogue choice, mere moments from Phantom Liberty’s ending, to significantly take into account the ramifications of what occurs subsequent. Some minutes later, I make a cellphone name. And as the ultimate few hours of the sport play out, a monologue involves thoughts.

“The hardest thing for me was leaving the life. I still love the life. We were treated like movie stars with muscle. We had it all just for the asking….Anything I wanted was a phone call away. Free cars. The keys to a dozen hideout flats all over the city. I’d bet 20, 30 grand over a weekend, and then I’d either blow the winnings in a week or go to the sharks to pay back the bookies. Didn’t matter. It didn’t mean anything. When I was broke, I’d go out and rob some more. We ran everything. We paid off cops. We paid off lawyers. We paid off judges. Everybody had their hands out. Everything was for the taking. And now, it’s all over. And that’s the hardest part. Today, everything is different. There’s no action. I have to wait around like everyone else. Can’t even get decent food. Right after I got here, I ordered spaghetti with marinara sauce, and I got egg noodles and ketchup. I’m an average nobody. I get to live the rest of my life like a schnook.”

That monologue, for these unaware, is how Martin Scorsese’s crime drama masterpiece Goodfellas ends. Henry Hill, a high-ranking gangster, turns rat on his pals, goes into witness safety, and his final punishment is….residing a fairly decent–if boring–life within the suburbs. It’s truly a reasonably widespread motif in Scorsese’s work, for normie life to really feel like consignment to limbo. Similar fates await Ace Rothstein in Casino, Jordan Belfort in Wolf of Wall Street, Frank Sheeran in The Irishman, hell, even Sebastião Rodrigues in Silence. Purgatory is the place the overwhelming majority of us stay our each day lives, by no means to achieve absurd, ecstatic highs or terrifying, bloody, brutal lows. It’s not framed as a contented ending or a downer ending, sometimes. It’s simply an ending, as ignominious as most of us will ever expertise, notable solely due to the distinction in the place these characters have been.

That’s not an ending you usually see in a online game, for fairly apparent causes, actually. Especially within the AAA area, this can be a medium that tends to place a premium on participant energy and freedom, and only a few builders making an attempt to max out their viewers needs to damage the enjoyable by making the participant really feel like a schnook. Even in FromSoftware titles, whereas they’re definitely gonna make you earn it greater than most video games, by the point you take on Gwyn or Radagon and the like, all the participant’s progress counts for one thing on the subject of feeling such as you’ve introduced some measure of the world to heel. No matter what is perhaps taking place in cutscenes when the participant has no management, the final word level of video games so foundationally targeted on the amassing of unbelievable energy and road cred is to unleash it on a hostile-but-vulnerable world.

When it got here to the ultimate notes of Cyberpunk 2077, nevertheless, CD Projekt RED thought completely different.

To recap: outdoors of Phantom Liberty, none of Cyberpunk’s endings are notably glad, which is, to be honest, very a lot within the spirit of the style. The Relic caught in V’s head has resurrected Keanu Reeves’ Johnny Silverhand as a kind of digital ghost in concept, however in observe, he is extra of a digital tumor. His existence means our protagonist, V, will die. The “happiest” ending within the vanilla recreation entails leaving Night City altogether with the rough-and-tumble nomad, Panam, who perhaps may know any person who might help with V’s Johnny Silverhand downside some day. It’s hopeful, however in sort of a shallow method, except you’ve got romanced Panam. The most narratively satisfying ending is the one the place V will get to go on a bloody rampage via Arasaka Tower. It ends with V nonetheless at demise’s door, however about to go do a wild heist out in area for fortune and glory. At least you may go away a lovely corpse.

But now, there’s Phantom Liberty’s new ending, the one that really rolls credit for good when it is over. In Phantom Liberty, to maintain an extended and winding story quick as attainable, V is given one other method out of their predicament by a authorities agent named Songbird: Help save the president of the New United States after her airplane goes down within the uber-Libertarian stronghold of Dogtown, recruit Idris Elba’s retired superspy Solomon Reed to assist, and take out its despotic chief, Hansen. Do this, and the NUSA’s high scientists is not going to solely wipe V’s felony slate clear, but in addition get V’s Relic taken care of.

Fast ahead after lots of people die, some jaw-dropping betrayals occur, and Hansen is useless. V and Songbird have fairly widespread goal in needing to avoid wasting themselves from a lifetime of servitude and impending doom. As such, the participant can select to double-deal behind Reed’s again, and make a run for it with Songbird to get a remedy for each their afflictions, and a contemporary begin within the ultimate frontier. With all V’s skills, and Songbird’s massive cyberware ace up her sleeve, it appears fairly probably the 2 of them may make it.

That’s when the sport throws the curveball. After V and Songbird have had one hell of a shootout at a spaceport, and hop a monorail in the direction of a one-way ticket off of Earth, Songbird confesses in her half-dead delirium that sure, there is a remedy ready on the Moon all proper. But just one. Songbird’s been utilizing V to get her to the house stretch. After she passes out, V’s given the selection: They can let Songbird go, discover their very own strategy to freedom in one of many vanilla endings, or they will name Solomon Reed, and switch Songbird in.

There aren’t too many moments of Telltale-style ethical alternative in Cyberpunk 2077, however this one is especially ugly. Neither one feels nice within the aftermath, however in the end, I selected to name Reed. There wasn’t even spite in that call, although spite could be comprehensible. There are so only a few legitimately good, reliable individuals on this planet of Cyberpunk 2077, and for Songbird to have risked V’s life a number of occasions over simply to disclaim them salvation in the mean time of reality felt like a ultimate straw. I wasn’t even indignant at Songbird for searching for herself. I used to be drained. A really particular taste of drained, one I hadn’t felt for a recreation’s protagonist for the reason that ultimate days of 1 Commander Shepard. The exhaustion of watching a cycle of violence and avarice play out, time and again, and realizing it must be damaged.

But that is what video video games are, proper? That’s what life is, by proxy. Repetition. Consistency. Acceptance. And lastly, mastery. And when the circumstances change, repetition till the brand new turns into constant. But there is a battle when that mastery has to result in a second of revelation concerning the world outdoors of the participant and protagonist. Mass Effect’s Commander Shepard can kill all of the Banshees and Geth that they need, however mastery of the sport’s Vanguard or Engineer lessons does not imply a damned factor on the subject of making a alternative for the nice of the universe. That battle is an enormous a part of why many players rebelled in opposition to that ending within the second. Whether consciously or not, players wished their mastery over the sport’s fight to matter when it got here time to avoid wasting the galaxy. Meanwhile, Bioware wished the participant’s emotional funding in stated galaxy to find out how greatest to put it aside. Ne’er the twain shall meet.

Naughty Dog, however, wielded that single-minded obsession with killing one’s method out of an issue in opposition to the participant within the Last of Us video games. If you wanna kill so unhealthy, you and Joel/Ellie are going to stay with the burden of it. By the time TLOU 2has Ellie actually stranded on an empty purgatorial seaside with nobody left to homicide, it’s gone the time when the participant needs to be carried out with making an attempt to turn into a greater killer to turn into a greater particular person. That level would hit more durable if the participant had extra management over the place Ellie goes from there–or even a number of hours earlier, when she truly had the reliable choice of residing fortunately ever after. Still, the intention is obvious, and the lack to cease Ellie making the worst selections nonetheless leaves a long-lasting impression.

And so, V sat throughout from Songbird with a option to make. I referred to as Reed. Reed, who nonetheless holds a deep affection and sympathy for Songbird, and who guarantees, if V turns her over, to maintain her alive, and to maintain Songbird’s promise of a remedy. That scene is the final time we see Songbird, although Reed later assures V she’s alive. More importantly, Reed preserving his phrase means Songbird’s the final particular person V will ever must kill for. Ever. Credits roll, with an finish credit sequence that might’ve been ripped out of a Daniel Craig Bond flick. It’s a robust ending. But it isn’t the ending.

After taking a while to settle affairs–save Delamain’s AI, play one final gig with Kerry Eurodyne, spend the evening with V’s romance choice (Judy, in my V’s case)–Reed comes calling once more to settle up. The remedy’s prepared. But earlier than you get picked up, the 2 of you’ve got an ungainly dialog at a gasoline station as he prepares to place Night City within the rearview. Reed’s One Last Mission is over. He’s drained too. And as he rides off, non-committal on what the subsequent steps appear like, Johnny predicts his future: “He’ll hang himself.”

Johnny’s monologue–and Keanu’s efficiency of it–is unbelievable, however haunting. Reed’s a person with out goal now, his closest relationships now non-starters. If he had emotional intelligence, he’d take his bartender pal with him. But no. He’ll be alone. He’ll be empty. And on that day he realizes it, with nobody else to kill, Johnny says, he’ll kill himself.

I thought of this within the wake of Last of Us 2’sending as nicely. Just what precisely does Ellie’s life appear like when she leaves her home on the finish of that recreation? That query is why it is one of the affecting and hole endings in all of video games. Ellie’s not suicidal not less than. She’s upright, she’s strolling, and he or she goes into the unknown prepared for something. But I do not envy Naughty Dog’s job, in the event that they resolve to deal with it, looking for Ellie goal now that revenge is not an choice, and dealing extra demise is exhausting. More than a number of people have steered that is the place The Last of Us wants to finish, and there is not rather more that may be stated there. They’re not incorrect, although, many additionally stated this on the finish of the unique recreation, as nicely. What does a protagonist in a AAA online game do when energy is not the be-all, end-all of current?

And that’s what gamers get to search out out when Phantom Liberty ends.

V ultimately will get picked up by the NUSA to get the Relic eliminated. Johnny is pissed about going again to being nothing, however on the very least, he understands. And so, V is anesthetized, and goes underneath the knife.

The operation is profitable, however with a fairly gorgeous aspect impact. Removing the Relic apparently did everlasting and substantial harm to V’s cyberware, to the purpose that if V wished to put in a lot as a widget that confirmed them the time and climate, it would shut their total nervous system down. So away all of it went, and V wakes up in a sterile NUSA hospital, not simply fully powerless, however two years later. All of the most important NPCs, together with V’s love curiosity, have moved on. Judy, particularly, is already a married skilled, residing method the hell away from Night City.

When V can lastly stroll nicely sufficient to return to Night City, their first cease is to see about getting their cyberware reactivated by Vic the ripperdoc. It’s a no-go, and Vic’s store has been purchased by what appears to be Night City’s model of Best Buy’s Geek Squad. When V steps outdoors after, they’re stopped by two scumbags that, as soon as upon a time, V may’ve become pulled pork simply by them. Instead, it ends with V catching a fist to the face, and getting thrown down a flight of stairs.

The entirety of Cyberpunk 2077 has been in relentless, livid search of this actual second, the place V is not at risk of the Relic killing them useless on the drop of a dime. Mission completed. Now, the world at giant can kill them useless on the drop of a dime. CDPR may’ve left the sport proper there, with V misplaced within the gutter in bitter irony. Instead, we get a grace observe, one of many strongest in current reminiscence. V is saved by somebody you do not even actually take into account within the grand scheme of Cyberpunk’s story: Misty, the late, nice Jackie Welles’ ex. The final time you see her, she’s nonetheless sort of a new-agey head-in-the-clouds sort of woman working the entrance workplace at Vic’s place. Now, two years later, she’s just a little more durable, just a little gothier, however she’s additionally one thing we do not see in any respect all through the complete recreation: merciful.

When V hits all-time low, Misty sits subsequent to them on the steps, dusts them off, they usually discuss. About a number of issues. About the useless people alongside the best way. About how tousled Night City will be. About residing. Misty, who misplaced her job, her pals, and her lover, ought to’ve been a large number on the street two years later. Night City ought to’ve destroyed her. Instead, she’s on her method out, decided to maintain shifting, preserve strolling, preserve surviving. There are not any aspect missions in Misty’s future. There are not any area heists. There’s no climactic throwdown with Adam Smasher. There’s simply life. Misty will get to stay the remainder of her life as considered one of Henry Hill’s common nobodies. Unlike Henry Hill, when Misty says it–the method Erica Lindbeck performs it–it’s not a lament. It’s a possibility.

It’s been steered by many who Phantom Liberty’s new ending is CDPR in direct dialog with itself, a lot in the best way that GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2 are conversations with Rockstar. All three are in the end having the identical dialog, concerning the issues now we have to kill in ourselves in pursuit of the abhorrent energy wanted to achieve these video games. Even whereas residing past the regulation, each protagonist in these video games is shackled to completely different, extra nebulous masters, a whip that both works its servants to demise, or bores them to tears. Earning sufficient energy and cash and respect in any such recreation is rarely the aim, particularly in a recreation that by no means stops.

All of them are conscious of simply how a lot enjoyable that course of will be for gamers, however there’s something extremely numbing about it that may go away gamers blind to all the opposite issues that video games and life will be, the tales that may be informed. It’s unbelievable energy that stops feeling like energy after some time as a result of there’s nothing in distinction. If all of your issues will be solved with the nuclear choice, what sympathy or empathy is there with those that should make a residing within the blast radius? That would not simply make for a play expertise the place unattainable firepower stops that means something, however one which units the bar for pleasure so excessive that primary humanity cannot attain.

There’s a consolation in that, particularly to these for whom video video games are purely for escape, not storytelling. Power fantasy, by nature, requires nuance to die screaming. And that makes a conclusion like Phantom Liberty really feel all of the extra particular, one thing that feels loads nearer in tone to a Nier Automata than every other open world crime saga. Nier Automata, for individuals who do not know, actually ends on a sequence of sacrifices: first of the lives of its android protagonists in-narrative, then of the participant’s personal hard-earned save knowledge, to assist future gamers whose names you’ll by no means know, however whose sacrifices and encouragement empower you to face the unattainable job of the sport’s finish credit sequence as a neighborhood. It posits the pursuit of pure firepower as an act of willful psychological neglect, and that there is a entire different echelon of energy and functionality over one’s self and the world at giant that this sort of recreation ignores.

Part of the brilliance of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, the truth is, comes from the tacit data that David and his crew should more and more jettison humanity to turn into Night City legends. Phantom Liberty’s magnificence is in V needing to go the opposite course to outlive, to go in the hunt for one thing new and maintain onto it so long as attainable with out mendacity, dishonest, betraying, or killing to get it. That’s energy that video video games do not usually worth. In the very finish, Phantom Liberty prizes it like no different perk within the recreation.

The most fascinating components of Cyberpunk 2077 have V making an attempt to kindle one thing resembling neighborhood amongst their pals and colleagues. The circumstances of being an Edgerunner consistently strip that away. Eventually, after their dialog on the finish of Phantom Liberty, V says goodbye to Misty, she drives off, and after an unsure pause, V walks off into the din of humanity, as one other face within the crowd, a member of a neighborhood that should and completely will discover a strategy to survive in purgatory. And that is the best half. Now, all the pieces is completely different. There’s no motion. V has to attend round like everybody else. V is a mean no person. They get the privilege of residing the remainder of their life like a schnook.