Things To Know Before Playing Cyberpunk 2077 For New Players
Stepping into Night City for the first time can feel overwhelming due to its sheer scale, dense urban environment, and complex gameplay systems. Cyberpunk 2077 offers players immense freedom, but understanding a few foundational mechanics early on will help you avoid common mistakes and enjoy a much smoother journey.
Choosing Your Lifepath and Attributes
When starting the game, you will choose between three distinct Lifepaths: Nomad, Streetkid, or Corpo. While this choice alters your prologue and unlocks unique dialogue options throughout the campaign, it does not permanently lock you out of playstyles or narrative endings.
Attribute points should be allocated with care because your primary stats determine which skill trees and cyberware options become available. Investing early in Body or Technical Ability will help you open locked doors and craft higher-tier equipment as you explore the city.
Understanding the Combat and Cyberware Systems
Combat in Night City is highly versatile, combining traditional gunplay with hacking abilities and futuristic melee enhancements. Visiting a Ripperdoc regularly allows you to upgrade your internal implants, which can grant powerful passive buffs or active abilities like double jumping.
If you prefer a stealthy approach, utilizing quickhacks through your cyberdeck allows you to disable cameras, distract guards, and neutralize enemies from afar. Balancing your offensive gear with utility implants ensures that you remain adaptable during difficult encounters.
Managing Economy and Side Quests
Money, known in-game as Eurodollars or Eddies, plays a massive role in acquiring top-tier weapons, vehicles, and essential cyberware. Completing Gigs and NCPD scanner events scattered across districts is one of the most reliable ways to earn quick cash and build your Street Cred level.
Side quests in this game are exceptionally detailed and often hold equal narrative weight to the main story missions. Take time to respond to messages and calls from key characters, as these side storylines directly influence character relationships and unlocking alternate campaign conclusions.
Exploration and Navigation Tips
Night City is vertically dense, featuring hidden alleyways, elevated walkways, and secret loot stashes that are easy to miss. Taking time to explore off the beaten path will often reward you with unique iconic weapons, crafting schematics, and valuable resources.
Utilizing public fast travel points is convenient, but driving or walking through districts gives you a far better sense of the world's atmosphere and layout. Keep an eye out for dynamic events and environmental details that provide extra lore and context to the ongoing narrative.