Is there room to tell a direct sequel to V's story?

[CS554]

I think that's a bullseye. It's also the heart and soul of what RPGs are all about. Moving forward, the best way to accomplish this is to let players continue with their own stories from the beginning. New game...new characters...less pre-definition...same universe.

Really appreciate that thin line between that reality and ours, sometimes difficult to say where it goes. But aaaww.. you snipped the philosophy stuff and I was building towards how if nothing else one could come here and start making weird arguments how CDRP should add Kurt Cobain skin for Silverhand and in the ending to should be a shotgun instead of pistol (to shave the grunge beard, the right way) and trolling with something quite solid, to make moderating even more weird. Long after I have left these forums of course, so I won't be involved...

But really, what things build towards? is it just more candy or something with substance.

That's the core mentality that allows for it. Kind of the core of all dystopian literature, really. Complacency. Empty tradition. Justifying atrocity by willingly allowing one's self to be brainwashed. That thin line between maintaining a system for growth and progression...and just maintaining a system because we have no idea what else we would do. I was in grade school when I first read 1984, and I remember being knocked down by the ending. I don't think I had ever experienced that sort of slowly creeping horror sensation before.

I happened to read 1984 at grade school too and that creepy sensation that kept building and then. But it's a novel that keeps being read and it keeps selling, for its substance even today and that wouldn't be if it didn't portray how hopeless struggle it's for mere individual if things are let to get past certain point.

Precisely. And that's why I'm trying to make it very apparent that critiquing CP2077 according to the comfy and familiar formulas that Hollywood and network television regurgitate solely for profits won't apply to actual works of literature. It's how the industry defines "fluff" -- writing that may be enjoyable, but carries no literary significance. It's fun...but it's just candy. There's no actual nutrition. Cyberpunk 2077 (the story -- not talking about the gameplay) is a whole meal.

Yeah, CP 2077 is definitely on better side on this, it just happens to be a video game.

It's actually very cyberpunk topic, if we had no food joints but more candy stores? Cyberpunk take on that is that we would actually have less and even worse, we would lose actual food recipes. There's very little for culture and history in the Night City and citizens don't care, don't know what they are missing.

I really think they'll honor that, regardless of the negative criticism. I don't think that they would simultaneously have the talent to develop and so meaningfully and faithfully craft something along such a pronounced literary theme...then throw that out the window and develop a cartoon holiday special as a sequel. (Not as part of the actual series, anyway...

View attachment 11327198......

(They have their fun.)

There are some very clever and fun things in game, I just don't always have a heart to write about everything. But they totally knew what they were doing, and I like to image that at least as far as writing goes, they had some great moments in there working on this game. Then there are things that are very delicate and they aced them too, it's like getting feed from very clever people who are off the leash to show what they can do. Then that foundation makes some additions look a bit... weird too.

But anyway I think, several people here has pointed out ques for players and pacing and I think one reason might be cultural conditioning so players expectations might be lowered as they may experience ques as "it pretends to be edgy" or dramatic. I wonder if that can happen to the point of even not registering things. Video games are in general considered escapist media, which also can add bias to feedback, which then leads this back to writing and writers. Lot's of feedback here about how game is too short but in general, most players don't have time for 100+ hours games and who the heck wants to spend their career for writing for 5% when, writing something like this, and there might be a lot of options available then.

Then I think there's a matter of agency and I kinda feel for people who post and that they tried to just to find a way for their V survive and now it's not looking good but it's that Night City is this huge character in this story and there are options, sound observations to continue their exploration. "My V told me about something...." It's not for everyone perhaps, but what you do.

 

[PrinnyWesker]

True, I don't think it's impossible make an attempt to maintain some dilemma while allowing the Star, Sun, or Devil ending V to survive, but at least for me personally, the dilemma disappears the moment V survives those endings, because I would be happy to just have V alive and in their own body. If that ends up happening, I just would never consider the temperance or devil mikoshi endings, because I personally was never seeking immortality in my playthrough

How would you feel if, instead of following up where V left off we instead played a back up of their Mikoshi engram?

It'd be an easy way to let us import our decisions because they'd need to find out what happened

And the way the side characters react to them could change based off of the ending. Like how would someone like Panam or Judy feel after watching the previous V die?

 

[Iosephus]

How would you feel if, instead of following up where V left off we instead played a back up of their Mikoshi engram?

It'd be an easy way to let us import our decisions because they'd need to find out what happened

And the way the side characters react to them could change based off of the ending. Like how would someone like Panam or Judy feel after watching the previous V die?

I've thought about this and I do think that if CDPR wanted to bring back V as the protagonist, using the Devil (Mikoshi) ending could work. Out of all of the original endings, it's one of the two confirmed endings where V survives (the other being with Alt beyond the Black Wall).

I don't think the V beyond the Black Wall would be a good choice to bring back as a playable character (because we're left to assume that they will transform similar to Alt), but V stored as an engram could potentially be used as a starting off point for the new game. Perhaps Arasaka is good on their word and finds a way to clone V's original body and then inserting the engram into it (I know, sounds unlikely given how Takemura will state that Honoka has already forgotten about you in that ending).

Like you mentioned, this would have consequences as most of your friends may think you have died (or at least disappeared), and it would also leave the player with the dilemma of questioning whether you're still V or something else entirely. From a game perspective, it would allow new players to approach V from a restarted position, while giving returning players another chance to play as V again.

WIth that said, I imagine most of the people who want to play as V in the sequel do not want to play from the Devil engram ending. For one, I imagine both Panam and Judy would have left Night City after this ending, so that will probably not bode well for players who romanced either of those characters (although it would pave the way for new romanceable characters, which I'm guessing the new game will introduce).

With all this in mind, I wouldn't be opposed to Orion featuring a choice between creating a new protagonist, or allowing you to play as the Devil engram V, at the start of the game. For example, if you import your CP2077 ending save you may get these outcomes for Orion:

Star - You play as a new protagonist, but some returning characters will mention a legendary merc who left Night City.
Sun - You play as a new protagonist, but V is remembered as a former After Life owner who pulled off the legendary heist at the Crystal Palace.
Temperance - You play as a new protagonist, but the Black Wall V may return as a transformed AI NPC.
Devil (engram) - You play as the new engram V, which could lead to some interesting occurrences as you reunite with several characters. This is also the ending where Saburo and Arasaka are still a major player in Night City.

I would be cool with something like this because it recognizes the consequences of your end decision from the first game.

 

[LadyMiseryAli]

I've thought about this and I do think that if CDPR wanted to bring back V as the protagonist, using the Devil (Mikoshi) ending could work. Out of all of the original endings, it's one of the two confirmed endings where V survives (the other being with Alt beyond the Black Wall).

I don't think the V beyond the Black Wall would be a good choice to bring back as a playable character (because we're left to assume that they will transform similar to Alt), but V stored as an engram could potentially be used as a starting off point for the new game. Perhaps Arasaka is good on their word and finds a way to clone V's original body and then inserting the engram into it (I know, sounds unlikely given how Takemura will state that Honoka has already forgotten about you in that ending).

Like you mentioned, this would have consequences as most of your friends may think you have died (or at least disappeared), and it would also leave the player with the dilemma of questioning whether you're still V or something else entirely. From a game perspective, it would allow new players to approach V from a restarted position, while giving returning players another chance to play as V again.

WIth that said, I imagine most of the people who want to play as V in the sequel do not want to play from the Devil engram ending. For one, I imagine both Panam and Judy would have left Night City after this ending, so that will probably not bode well for players who romanced either of those characters (although it would pave the way for new romanceable characters, which I'm guessing the new game will introduce).

With all this in mind, I wouldn't be opposed to Orion featuring a choice between creating a new protagonist, or allowing you to play as the Devil engram V, at the start of the game. For example, if you import your CP2077 ending save you may get these outcomes for Orion:

Star - You play as a new protagonist, but some returning characters will mention a legendary merc who left Night City.
Sun - You play as a new protagonist, but V is remembered as a former After Life owner who pulled off the legendary heist at the Crystal Palace.
Temperance - You play as a new protagonist, but the Black Wall V may return as a transformed AI NPC.
Devil (engram) - You play as the new engram V, which could lead to some interesting occurrences as you reunite with several characters. This is also the ending where Saburo and Arasaka are still a major player in Night City.

I would be cool with something like this because it recognizes the consequences of your end decision from the first game.

But therein lies the issue. You only get to play as V if you choose The Devil ending would be a slap in the face to those of us who chose The Sun or The Star. I want to play as my Nomad Boy. I chose The Sun ending so he could stay with his boyfriend. UNLESS they change The Devil so Kerry/River/Panam/Judy stay with V, I would see zero reason to even choose that ending. Also, this bitch wants to rob a space casino!

 

[SigilFey]

Couple posts deleted. Keep the discussion on the topic, not the person. Stop trying to assume other people's intent.

 

[VdaNetrunner]

I can absolutely confirm that in all of my Corpo playthroughs, the main theme was "survival". Was the Icarus trope referenced? Sure, the theme was there, no denying that - but survival was overwhelmingly the main one.

My Corpo was trying to survive her job at Arasaka, then trying to survive as a mercenary. She wasn't trying to become a legend, she was trying to make a living using the skills she had.

Could they have chosen to stack shelves instead? Erm, maybe, but who says that would provide a living wage or even safety? It's Night City... A city of extreme violence, extreme socio-economic inequality, where homelessness is absolutely rife. The poorer you are, the less security you have and the greater the danger you're in.

I don't see how someone who chooses to do a dangerous job is automatically acting on hubris rather than survival, when just existing in Night City is already frought with danger. I mean, one of the first lines V can say as a Corpo is "maybe I should've picked a 'safe' job, like you did." They're being ironic and it speaks to the fact that there's no such thing as a safe job - at least not for them.

Anyway, none of this is to say you can't play a version of V who does want to become a legend - sure you can. I remember playing Streetkid for the first time and I was surprised at how much more like Jackie she was.

But I played my Corpo V with a totally different mindset, choosing dialogue that meant she was cynical about that pursuit and deeply cautious of Arasaka. She definitely wasn't excited about the Heist - she was anxious and wary and viewed it as a job she had to take seriously. In this case she was more like T-Bug.

I think one problem is that there are inconsistencies here and there in the script - where dialogue that makes more sense for "I want to be a legend" V sometimes pops up for "survivor" V and vice versa.

I think CDPR tried to accomodate both as seamlessly as they could, but with a script this big, the result was bound to be less than perfect. E.g. during the Heist, V always says, "Happy now, Jackie?!" which made sense for my Corpo V who was criticising him in the taxi earlier, but not for my Streetkid who was just as excited as he was.

Conversely, during the 3rd Tapeworm conversation, "Become a living legend, that's all I ever wanted. Now it feels like I'm barely surviving" is a line that fit my Streetkid like a glove but not so much my Corpo. Granted, you can AVOID that line and the rest of the convo completely, or just pretend they're referencing an attitude they had as a kid - but for me it seemed like one of those inconsistencies where one version of the character was prioritised over the other.

And it kinda feels that way with the endings. So, yeah, I guess if you played V as someone who was striving for immortality, maybe the ending worked for you. But again, my main V wasn't about that, the main theme in their story was survival, the main conflict was stopping their imminent death - and in most of the endings that's left hanging - so all of that combined meant none of the endings really satisfied me.

So yup, I want V's story continued and concluded.

I think V was perfect working for with for big Corporation. But some rotten apple ruined her stay. In game npcs, all characters mock as they say “Corpo”! Pisses me of because yeah being in a gang is Angel sent from above living. V couldn’t get another corporation job because she was blacklisted I assume.

but that’s the way the writer’s story. The story the way it’s written is all filled with evil, villains so V had no choice. Survive not thrive. Love the game though.

Post automatically merged: Nov 6, 2022

The writers can make V continue, I mean they are the creator of that World. I personally like my V so let’s see what they do.

 

[CyberpunkRoslyn]

CDPR has been very specific on describing what their next few games are. The next Witcher trilogy is not related Geralt, The Witcher spin-off is a stand alone game, and the sequel to 2077 is well a sequel. The point though is could V return? I say this because, in one of the slides announcing Cyberpunk 2, we see Male V's face. Why would they show V's face if it wasn't a direct sequel? Also, the majority of the core team is moving to Boston once Liberity is finished. Now, it's more then likely that V doesn't return and we have a new protagonist. So, I dunno I'm spitballing here.

This is a good question.

Honestly, it's hard to say due to all the ending the game has. But there is much to consider if the sequel has a new protagonist. Will gamers still be able to crate their own version of a male, female or non-binary V? Getting back to the endings; which one is more realistic. Since the main narrative is centered around ARASAKA, I'd say that the Night City Legend ending. I think this was one of the more sought after endings because it involves V moving up to higher places in Night City, via mansion home and there being a possible solution to his/her condition. It's debatable how many years after the 2077, our sequel will take place.

Personally, I don't want the sequel to be an ARASAK's REVENGE game. If CDPR gives us 3 lifepaths again, I'd really love each lifepath to have their own feel. Different characters that you won't meet if you choose one lifepath over the other. Some could intersect; but the interactions and side missions would be much different. CORPO in the sequel needs to have V working for a competitor to ARASAKA. And don't rob V of her finances at the beginning of the game. Give us the luxuries that a true CORPO citizen would have. The challenge is having much tough enemies to fight and keeping your CORPO friendships solid. A tough grind to accomplish this, should reward the gamers would CORPO luxuries. I could go on forever.

 

[Starchs]

Thatd be a neat way for them all to work out, and would make for a cool tutorial portion of the game.

Agree

 

[Tr00he]

It would be certainly possible to continue V's story. The endings could all lead into a canonical set of "origin" stories for the next cyberpunk game. Add a time jump in which the ending you chose becomes more of a minor factor in what happens next and it works. Like, the endings of cp2077 lead into origin stories in, let's call it, cp2078, a node, a central, integral point of story.
And then they split up again, while keeping certain effects. For example, siding with Arasaka in cp2077 will give Arasaka a better standing in cp2078 (or the opposite, who knows which story will be told!). multiple input > node < multiple output again.
It would in any case fit to the cyberpunk universe to present events that are bigger than what happened in the first game, so what you did and achieved was not so important in the greater scheme of things. Much has been hinted on, cp2077 does a lot of world-building that is not visible right away. So this can be used. I'd also be happy to see the story develop in Night City again. It would certainly work.

Post automatically merged: Dec 16, 2022

It would be especially interesting to leave it to the player to decide if the character that you play is in the end V or Johnny who has taken over V's body in the end. That would be hell of interesting backstories that would make different origins significantly more interesting than they were in cp 2077. Instead of being Nomad of Street Kid, the origin could be: sided with Arasaka or blew up Arasaka, V is still V or Johnny instead. Hell of a replay value then for the original game then, too.

 

[Gothic_Wizard]

CDPR has been very specific on describing what their next few games are. The next Witcher trilogy is not related Geralt, The Witcher spin-off is a stand alone game, and the sequel to 2077 is well a sequel. The point though is could V return? I say this because, in one of the slides announcing Cyberpunk 2, we see Male V's face. Why would they show V's face if it wasn't a direct sequel? Also, the majority of the core team is moving to Boston once Liberity is finished. Now, it's more then likely that V doesn't return and we have a new protagonist. So, I dunno I'm spitballing here.

It's called reusing the art assets they got as they have 0 for project orion, or if they do nothing they want to release. It's really that simple. I know this community loves to deep dive and find meaning in everything. But this is a rabbit hole with no bottom.

 

[SECTION8insain1]

CDPR has been very specific on describing what their next few games are. The next Witcher trilogy is not related Geralt, The Witcher spin-off is a stand alone game, and the sequel to 2077 is well a sequel. The point though is could V return? I say this because, in one of the slides announcing Cyberpunk 2, we see Male V's face. Why would they show V's face if it wasn't a direct sequel? Also, the majority of the core team is moving to Boston once Liberity is finished. Now, it's more then likely that V doesn't return and we have a new protagonist. So, I dunno I'm spitballing here.

We might not see V but Vincent. Vincent is supposedly V’s real name , V is more the player’s character Vincent is probably V from the trailers.

 

[rafaelnoskill]

The variety of endings in 77 is way too great to pull that off and have V being more than just an homage to the prequel. Also, everyone's V appearance and choices are their own and choosing one true canon would be disrespectful to the old players. In witcher 3 you could choose if you kept Leto alive in the previous game, but his character and story are well defined + he's just a side character.

 

[drona.667]

Here is my pure guess works. Since the sequel called code name "Orion," it could mean a bunch of mytholigical references that would describe what the sequel vision going to be.

First, in Greek mythology, Orion was basically a "Giant hunter." This might represent the protag who's already considered a "giant hunter." If we put it in Cyberpunk lore, this could mean the protag is already a Legendary Solo at the start of sequel. There are plenty of characters that can be considered with such title, but V is the only original self "player" made character that canonically can be called a legendary solo.

Second, Orion could also mean a "giant" project, insinuating this game might actually even bigger than CP2077.

Third, Orion also associated with mythical Egyptian god "Osiris." Based on the endings that full of metaphorical Egyptian mythos, Osiris might as well as represent V & Johnny. Osiris was once a god king but he was murdered by his brother "Set," only then to be resurrected by Osiris's wife, "Isis." Although, such resurrection was temporary but it was long enough that Osiris & Isis able to conceived their child, "Horus." There is an interesting theory that Johnny is blood-related to V, which is why V able to endured the overwritten relic, & how the the version basically required the host & vessel must be blood related (all explained in Devil Ending). My point is basically, based on CP2077 story & endings, Osiris = Johnny/V, Isis = Alt AI, Set = Arasaka/Adam Smasher. Horus = reborn V after endings.

 

[Monkeydust372]

The variety of endings in 77 is way too great to pull that off and have V being more than just an homage to the prequel. Also, everyone's V appearance and choices are their own and choosing one true canon would be disrespectful to the old players. In witcher 3 you could choose if you kept Leto alive in the previous game, but his character and story are well defined + he's just a side character.

Yes, tying the endings together to carry on V's story would push the bounds of credibility. Plus, there is also the suicide end and giving Jonny your body ending, there may be no V at the of the game to maybe survive.

We are also likely in for a long wait, new game engine, moving country for the devs, I think we are in for a 6-year wait minium, probably longer. So the next game will be played by a lot of people who have never played the original.

A fresh start with a new character is the way to go IMO.

 

[LadyMiseryAli]

The variety of endings in 77 is way too great to pull that off and have V being more than just an homage to the prequel. Also, everyone's V appearance and choices are their own and choosing one true canon would be disrespectful to the old players. In witcher 3 you could choose if you kept Leto alive in the previous game, but his character and story are well defined + he's just a side character.

If the writers want to, they can make all the endings*except suicide as that feels like a game over* canon and connected by one thread of some sort, be it a person, a corporation, etc. The only thing in the way is their willingness to do so. Hopefully they are willing, as V's story feels VERY incomplete.

 

[strangerr3]

I think V will remain some legendary merc of a past who stood up against Arasaka and thats it. Without going into details about if Johnny got a body or not. Seems like a most natural and reasonable solution without pushing too much into any direction. Of course that would mean that sequel is with another character.

 

[Krul2k]

Regardless of what anyone thinks happens with/to V after most endings the answer to the OP is fairly simple

If CDPR want V as the PC in CP 2 then it will happen, if they don't it won't.

It would be easy enough to have the endings each have their own short prologue, like nomad,corpo an sk, and then throw them all together into the MS much like cp2077 did it.

It also be easier just to say they died

 

[LadyMiseryAli]

Regardless of what anyone thinks happens with/to V after most endings the answer to the OP is fairly simple

If CDPR want V as the PC in CP 2 then it will happen, if they don't it won't.

It would be easy enough to have the endings each have their own short prologue, like nomad,corpo an sk, and then throw them all together into the MS much like cp2077 did it.

It also be easier just to say they died

If they do V dirty like that, I will not be happy. So many want to play as V again. I would be foolish of them to just toss him/her aside and forget about them.

 

[Krul2k]

If they do V dirty like that, I will not be happy. So many want to play as V again. I would be foolish of them to just toss him/her aside and forget about them.

Hey im there with you, i always said V's story felt nothing more than a prologue, how many went in to the last mission actually thinking this is it? I know i was pretty shocked getting that pop up the first time, things just seemed to be picking up tbh not finishing.

If they don't decide to continue with V, the expansion, for me, will need to bring alot to the table before ditching them.

 

[strangerr3]

Do people really want to play as V? Or they want to play and hear to female voice actress of V?

I dont think that people will be dying for V which is pretty basic figure - definitely nothing unique in terms of character. I think why people would like to play again as V is a combination of few things - Voice acting, first person perspective which builds a strong connection with players as we are a character and finally relationships we have build with others in game. As much as I also would like to play V, I think it doesnt mean that sequel with someone else have to be worse as long as devs maintain high quality things which Ive mentioned.