Once upon a time... or, How should the game begin?

[drache]

Probably come to, bound and sitting in a wagon...
I would love for the new, fresh, epic, change games starts for years option, (chose that one)
A second would be +1 for the it tells you with a quick note, the first time you come to a spot that needs a particular skill. I would love the game to notice if you've used that command/skill a few times, and won't prompt you if it sees you've got the skill already. Then also have the option menu option of "this is a replaythrough".

Would there be any interest on replaying a starting mission as a few levels above starting with a couple members of the team, so you get the feel of how different skills are, and in the end, you all die, and you get a score, so you can challenge yourself to try for high scores, but each character also has a N2 mine, and you can just detonate it if you don't feel like playing the mission.

 

[BabalKabak]

It should start like the first Doom : the games loads the first level, you got a handgun, metal music starts "papapa papapa papapa papapow talala papapa papapa papapa papapoooow ♫" lol

• Importance of roleplay --> it should be made clear from the first minutes of the game that your actions matter, even if that first take on roleplay has a minimal impact ; what you say or do counts.
• Implication of V's personal background --> the game must start accordingly to your bg and it should affect some missions, even give you a personal (substantial) side quest that you can complete at your own pace.

Talking about personal side quest : This side quest could be linked with the main quest (like they have a few important NPC in common), but I suggest not to blend both into a single quest (like say, if you save your girlfriend you eventually save the world...) because it feels like the world turns around your character and it's bad narration IMO.

 

[kofeiiniturpa]

sheer size and how many mechanics are there to explain to a newcomer, there will be TOO MANY tips to read from the game menu.

I don't think this will be true. Games today are excessively simple to play and understand, and I do not think Cyberpunk 2077 will be an exception to that. The amount of babystepping the player forcibly at the start, where nothing is left for the player to discover, is really unnecessary. And this would continue on to all the quest help, like questcompasses and breadcrumb trails and floating markers hovering over people and objects, but that's really a topic for another thread. But the point kinda is that... sans the starter dungeons, Bethesda games actually start well. "Here's the world, now go do your thing in it."

And if there was an in-game manual in the esc menu, the player could go and look up what he needs that he can not figure out himself.

 

[Bellator Pius Gratus]

A tutorial would be nice, but freedom of choice is nice as well. Player choice!
Witcher 3 starts with ghouls attacking after the dream sequence(tutorial). That was cool.

I've decided to play as a Nomad. I've been thinking of how cool it would be to start with your "family" in the wasteland, and not at all in Night City. An opportunity arises. A deal/transaction or escort mission is presented, where you are the designated scout. All hell breaks loose. A deal goes bad. The bad situation gets worse and you're forced to flee to Night City for the time being.

You end up in the outskirts of NC with absolutely nothing but a trashed vehicle(that breaks down) and a shitty gun. You need to lay low and get new allies, new equipment and improve your skills.

Somehow you end up with an apartment. Hmm, maybe from a friend or taking it over from a rival?

Likewise for Street kid or Corporate background, but you adapt the situation accordingly.

 

[Neuronin]

I have a feeling that since this is Cyberpunk they'll want to drop you right into the action from the very beginning. I think they have to be very clever with the tutorials to make that work. When you've completed the game once maybe you get the option to skip the tutorial next time.

I can imagine a really action packed opening sequence taking place inside a dark building or something, and when the tutorial is completed the player walks outside into Night City during daytime. This would be very reminiscent of The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion where you started out exploring the dark interiors of a dungeon before being treated to a wonderful contrast as you emerged from the sewers and looked upon the beautiful landscape ahead of you.

Just imagine that moment when Night City is revealed to you for the first time in all of its dystopian glory.

 

[DinSnide66]

It'd be cute to subvert the trope of 'you all meet in a tavern'...
I did so for my Teknorebel 2020 TTRPG. In a case of mistaken identity, the PCs, having never met, looked like a group being hunted for bounty. They got tagged in the club with bright dye paintballs. Then were forced together to solve the mystery.

 

[Guest 4211861]

like Disco Elysium, it has a great start

 

[Lady_Yuno55]

The tutorial mission/dungeon start is a good approach sometimes imo.

 

[Bellator Pius Gratus]

A tutorial would be nice, but freedom of choice is nice as well. Player choice!
Witcher 3 starts with ghouls attacking after the dream sequence(tutorial). That was cool.

I've decided to play as a Nomad. I've been thinking of how cool it would be to start with your "family" in the wasteland, and not at all in Night City. An opportunity arises. A deal/transaction or escort mission is presented, where you are the designated scout. All hell breaks loose. A deal goes bad. The bad situation gets worse and you're forced to flee to Night City for the time being.

You end up in the outskirts of NC with absolutely nothing but a trashed vehicle(that breaks down) and a shitty gun. You need to lay low and get new allies, new equipment and improve your skills.

Somehow you end up with an apartment. Hmm, maybe from a friend or taking it over from a rival?

Likewise for Street kid or Corporate background, but you adapt the situation accordingly.

Heh, well I wasn't entirely wrong regarding Nomad, now was I?

 

[Guest 4406876]

I'd like t be thrown in the world with no explanation besides the path introduction and discover everything as I go.

 

[KeldornOfLatria]

I'm honestly really wondering about the beginning of the game. I don't think CDPR ever managed to make a really gripping beginning of a game - and I love them all, don't get me wrong.