Beginner’s Guide to Cyberpunk 2077

Understanding the Setting

Night City: Cyberpunk 2077 is set in Night City, a sprawling urban environment that embodies the spirit of a dystopian future. The city is divided into multiple districts, each with its unique culture, factions, and aesthetic. Familiarize yourself with key areas such as Watson, Westbrook, Santo Domingo, The Badlands, and City Center, as each district plays a vital role in narrative progression and gameplay.

Lore: Before diving into gameplay, it’s important to grasp the backstory. Cyberpunk 2077 draws inspiration from the tabletop game Cyberpunk 2020. The world is characterized by corporate greed, rampant crime, and technological advancements that have transformed society.

Character Creation

Choosing Your Lifepath: At the start of Cyberpunk 2077, players choose a Lifepath: Nomad, Street Kid, or Corpo. Each path significantly influences your backstory and relationships with various NPCs throughout the game. Nomads are rugged outsiders, Street Kids know the ins and outs of Night City, and Corps are entrenched in corporate politics.

Character Customization: After selecting a Lifepath, players can customize V, the protagonist, in great detail. Customize not only their appearance but also attributes like Intelligence, Reflexes, Technical Ability, Cool, and Body. These attributes determine skills and impact combat effectiveness, hacking abilities, and dialogue options.

Key Gameplay Mechanics

Combat and Stealth: Players can engage in combat using various weapons, including guns, melee weapons, and cyberware. The game encourages players to experiment with stealth, allowing for different approaches to situations. Use distractions, hacking, and environmental opportunities to bypass difficult encounters.

Cyberware: Cybernetic enhancements play a crucial role in gameplay. Through the use of different cyberware options, such as enhanced reflexes or damage resistance, you can tailor V’s abilities to fit your playstyle. One popular choice for beginners is the Sandevistan, which allows you to slow down time during combat.

Skill Trees: Investing in skill points is essential as they allow V to unlock various abilities across different categories: Combat, Technology, and Stealth. Even though players can specialize in a category, it’s wise to mix skills for more versatile gameplay.

Navigating Night City

Quests: The game features main quests, side jobs, and gigs. Paying attention to side missions enhances your understanding of Night City’s lore and allows access to unique weapons, gear, and valuable experience points.

NPC Interactions: Engaging with NPCs can provide crucial information, opportunities, and side quests. Develop relationships and make choices that can significantly impact the game’s narrative. Notably, how you interact with characters can lead to varying endings.

Map Exploration: Night City offers a detailed map filled with various points of interest. Utilize the map to track quests, discover gear locations, and find fast travel points. Exploring the city will often reward players with valuable loot and unique encounters.

Crafting and Upgrades

Crafting System: Collecting items is essential to crafting. Players can gather materials from various sources, including vendors, scavenging, or dismantling unwanted weapons. Learning to craft weapons, upgrade clothing, and create consumables can enhance gameplay.

Upgrading Weapons and Armor: Use blueprints found throughout Night City to upgrade weapons and gear. Different types of armor provide various bonuses, so choosing the right equipment for your playstyle is crucial for success.

Vehicles and Fast Travel

Vehicle Customization: Vehicles are an integral part of navigating Night City. Players can purchase and customize their cars, optimizing speed, durability, and aesthetics.

Fast Travel Options: While driving is an enjoyable way to experience the world, fast travel can save time. Locate fast travel points on your map for quick navigation.

Hacking and Netrunning

Netrunning: For players who enjoy tech-based gameplay, hacking is an exciting aspect. By accessing the Net, players can manipulate environments, turn off security, and gain an upper hand in combat situations.

Breaching Protocol: This mini-game allows you to hack into systems to unlock various bonuses. Utilize your Intelligence attribute to succeed in this area, making V a formidable force.

Weapons and Gear

Weapon Types: The game features an extensive array of weapons, each classified into categories: rifles, shotguns, handguns, and melee. Each weapon has unique mods and customization options that impact performance during combat.

Clothing Items: Gear does not only serve a protective function but also impacts V’s appearance and sometimes boosts special abilities. Be on the lookout for unique items and legendary gear.

Factions and Reputation

Factions: Night City is home to numerous factions, each with its complexity and conflicts. Understanding these factions—like the Maelstrom gang or the Voodoo Boys—can help you navigate relationships and quests.

Reputation System: Your actions influence your reputation with different factions and characters. Choose wisely; decisions can have long-term effects on relationships and quests.

Engage with the Community

Online Communities: Cyberpunk 2077 boasts a passionate player community, sharing tips, strategies, and creative builds. Engage with forums, Reddit threads, and dedicated Discord servers.

Modding Community: The modding community for Cyberpunk 2077 is vibrant, offering enhancements, cosmetic changes, and gameplay improvements. Explore options that can personalize your gaming experience.

Tips for Beginners

1. Take Your Time: Rushing through the main story may cause you to miss out on rich side content. Explore as much as possible.

2. Save Often: Utilize manual saves frequently, especially before making critical decisions or tackling challenging missions.

3. Experiment with Playstyles: Try different weapons and combat approaches, from brute force to stealth tactics, to discover what works best for you.

4. Focus on Dialogue Choices: Engage deeply with conversation trees that can impact future gameplay, allowing you to create a more personalized narrative.

5. Learn the Crafting System: Mastering the crafting system early will help you accumulate valuable resources for customization and upgrades.

By exploring Night City and understanding the complexities of its inhabitants and mechanics, you can create a unique and fulfilling experience in Cyberpunk 2077. Enjoy becoming a part of this rich and vibrant world!