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Can you free roam after cyberpunk ending?

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Can You Free Roam After Cyberpunk 2077 Ending? Your Post-Ending Freedom Explained

Yes, you absolutely can free roam in Cyberpunk 2077 after the main story concludes. The game smartly returns you to a point before the final mission, specifically to the Nocturne Op55N1 quest. This allows you to explore Night City at your leisure, complete any unfinished side quests, gigs, NCPD scanner hustles, and generally wreak havoc (or do good, if that’s your V’s style) without the immediate pressure of the main storyline looming over you. It’s your chance to truly live in the world CD Projekt Red created, even after deciding V’s ultimate fate.

Understanding Post-Ending Gameplay in Cyberpunk 2077

Once you’ve experienced any of the endings in Cyberpunk 2077, the game doesn’t simply end and boot you back to the main menu. Instead, a screen appears detailing the ending you achieved, and you’re given the option to “continue.” Selecting this option doesn’t erase your progress or force you to start a new game. It rewinds you to just before the point of no return, the moment when you meet Hanako at Embers to begin the final sequence.

This design choice is brilliant because it offers players the best of both worlds: the closure of seeing an ending through and the freedom to continue exploring the vast and detailed open world. It ensures you’re not locked out of any content just because you chose to complete the main storyline.

Benefits of Post-Ending Free Roam

There are several compelling reasons to take advantage of the post-ending free roam:

  • Completing Missed Content: This is perhaps the most obvious benefit. Did you leave a string of side quests hanging? Miss out on a particular fixer’s lucrative gigs? Now’s your chance to tie up those loose ends. Some of the best stories and rewards are hidden in the side content.
  • Trying Different Endings: Cyberpunk 2077 offers multiple endings, each with its own unique flavor. By reloading to the Nocturne Op55N1 save, you can pursue different dialogue choices and complete specific side questlines to unlock alternative endings. Remember, the relationships you forge, especially with characters like Panam and Rogue, heavily influence which endings are available.
  • Character Progression and Experimentation: The post-ending state provides ample opportunity to further develop your V. Grind out those last few levels, experiment with different skill trees, acquire the best cyberware, and optimize your build. The level cap has been raised to 60 in version 2.0, giving you more points to allocate.
  • Exploring the Map Thoroughly: Night City is a sprawling metropolis filled with secrets, hidden locations, and dynamic events. The post-ending allows you to slow down and truly appreciate the details, discover new areas, and encounter random encounters that you might have missed during the main story rush.
  • Preparing for Phantom Liberty (If Applicable): The Phantom Liberty expansion seamlessly integrates into the existing Cyberpunk 2077 world. A strong character build and a deep understanding of the game mechanics will significantly enhance your experience in Dogtown. The choices you made in the main game may even influence how Phantom Liberty plays out.

Considerations for Post-Ending Playthrough

While free roaming after the ending is generally seamless, here are a few things to keep in mind:

  • Story Context: The game acknowledges that you’ve already seen an ending. V might have lingering thoughts or comments related to their experience, but the world itself doesn’t fundamentally change. Characters will act as if the events leading up to the ending haven’t happened yet.
  • Save Management: As the text indicated, it’s crucial to create manual save points before the Nocturne Op55N1 mission. This allows you to easily revert to this point and try different endings without having to replay large chunks of the game.
  • Ending-Specific Content: Some endings might provide unique items or perks that carry over into your post-ending free roam. However, major plot points or character relationships won’t be altered retrospectively.
  • Potential for New Game Plus (NG+): While Cyberpunk 2077 doesn’t have a traditional NG+ mode, the ability to retain your character progress and continue playing after the ending functionally serves a similar purpose. You can consider this extended playthrough as your own personalized NG+ experience. Game studies scholars and enthusiasts should be keen on dissecting this aspect of the game. You can learn more at Games Learning Society or GamesLearningSociety.org about how games are studied in academia.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions about free roaming and other aspects of Cyberpunk 2077 after completing the main storyline:

  1. Can you still play after Nocturne Op55N1? Yes, absolutely. The game returns you to this point after an ending, allowing you to pursue other paths or complete unfinished content.

  2. Can you play Phantom Liberty after beating the game? Yes, Phantom Liberty can be played after beating the main game. The base game ending might even influence the DLC experience.

  3. Can you still do side jobs after beating Cyberpunk 2077? Yes, you can freely complete any remaining side jobs and gigs after the main story concludes.

  4. Can I still do side missions after Nocturne Op55N1? Yes, but only because you’re returned before that point. After starting Nocturne Op55N1, you’re on rails to the ending.

  5. Can you romance Judy as a male V? No. Judy Alvarez is only available as a romance option for a V with a female body type and voice.

  6. How to get Johnny to 70%? Dialogue choices during key missions like Automatic Love, Transmission, Life During Wartime, Tapeworm, Search and Destroy, Blistering Love, Holdin’ On, and A Like Supreme influence your relationship with Johnny. Choose options that show respect for him and his past.

  7. How do you get Adam Smasher’s stash? Adam Smasher’s access token can be found with his loot after defeating him. The stash is located in a room on the Ebunike ship. You typically can access it only after you have defeated the game and reloaded your save.

  8. Can you play Cyberpunk endings multiple times? Yes. Create manual save points before meeting Hanako at Embers to replay the final missions with different choices.

  9. Can you miss side missions in Cyberpunk 2077? While side missions aren’t required, missing out on certain key side quests involving major characters will impact the endings you can achieve.

  10. What is the max level in Cyberpunk 2077? The max level is 60, up from the original level cap of 50.

  11. How many endings does Cyberpunk have? There are five main endings in Cyberpunk 2077, with variations depending on your choices.

  12. What is the point of no return in Cyberpunk? The point of no return is when you begin the Nocturne Op55N1 mission by meeting Hanako at Embers.

  13. Is there an ending where V lives? While V’s fate is ambiguous in all endings, some endings offer a more hopeful outlook than others. V never concretely escapes their fate.

  14. Can you keep playing Cyberpunk after the main story? Yes, the game returns you to Night City before the final mission, allowing for free roam and continued exploration.

  15. Can you spare Adam Smasher? No, he is completely optional. You can complete the game without even touching Adam Smasher.

In conclusion, Cyberpunk 2077 offers a robust post-ending experience that allows players to continue exploring, completing content, and experimenting with different builds. Take advantage of this opportunity to fully immerse yourself in the world of Night City and shape your own unique cyberpunk adventure.

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