*Spoilers* Phantom Liberty Ending: Lazy Writing Or NUSA Meddling?

[KirbyTeaParty]

I still have mixed feelings about the ending, with V essentially losing everything and being forced to start from scratch. It seemed like lazy writing that shoved characters that we literally risked our life for to drop us like trash. However the more I thought about the ending the more suspicious I grew about the NUSA.

From the NUSA's perspective, V is an enormous liability; they know too much, especially depending on which ending you went with (like siding with So Mi), learning about the things the NUSA and President Myers have done. If left unchecked V could deal significant damage to the global order. So, the NUSA tied up a loose end, so to speak.

When you boarded the medical transport, one of the surgeons was there scanning and observing V's brain and nervous system. He remarked the damage was significant, but fixable, in a matter-of-fact way that led me to believe that the surgery and recovery time of one to two months was within reason. Now I'm just supposed to accept that being knocked out in a coma for two full years was necessary? And during that time absolutely no one had the time to keep tabs on V's incoming communications and assets? Especially since we, the player, reached out and let people know we'd be gone for an extended period of time? V saved the president for goodness sake!

My theory is that the NUSA never intended to do so, and intentionally isolated and disabled V to be unable to fight back once back in Night City, which so happens to now be controlled by the NUSA and Militech. What a coincidence that such a powerful mercenary is now completely out of commission in a city they now have control over.

I still have complaints about the writing, like the fact that V, of all people, wouldn't think to have a firearm on them when they return to Night City. Don't need cyberware to pull a trigger. But there are too many factors about the ending that fall squarely in the NUSA's favor to be coincidental.

[spicyLEGO]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Suomipoika11:

Theory - In Tower ending, V's plugged into cyberspace in FIA's version of "Perfect world", with netrunners using V's friends cyberware net connections to come up with simulated excuses to give V a cold feet. Except Pan Am who has no cyberware installed on her. (She still uses a mobile phone, after all. )
Other sus details:
- When Helping Reed , Plugged So-Mi lives in cyberspace past of her life, before V starts breaking the facade. No reason FIA wouldn't pull same to you.
-Laptop news claming that EVERY NC homeless vanished to thin air. Good luck with that
- Thugs giving polite punch down the stairs other than just killing V outright. In NC standards, that'd be akin to pat on shoulder for good luck.
-V losing the good luck charm. Even Arasaka lets V keep it, and they're considered the "Cold, ruthless" party here.

Far from perfect theory, I know, but , you know, food for tought.

Ok Arasaka agent

[Suomipoika11]

Początkowo opublikowane przez spicyLEGO:

Początkowo opublikowane przez Suomipoika11:

Theory - In Tower ending, V's plugged into cyberspace in FIA's version of "Perfect world", with netrunners using V's friends cyberware net connections to come up with simulated excuses to give V a cold feet. Except Pan Am who has no cyberware installed on her. (She still uses a mobile phone, after all. )
Other sus details:
- When Helping Reed , Plugged So-Mi lives in cyberspace past of her life, before V starts breaking the facade. No reason FIA wouldn't pull same to you.
-Laptop news claming that EVERY NC homeless vanished to thin air. Good luck with that
- Thugs giving polite punch down the stairs other than just killing V outright. In NC standards, that'd be akin to pat on shoulder for good luck.
-V losing the good luck charm. Even Arasaka lets V keep it, and they're considered the "Cold, ruthless" party here.

Far from perfect theory, I know, but , you know, food for tought.

Ok Arasaka agent

XP

At least Arasaka's polite as not to soulkill you unless you sign a contract, or you commit a crime (Hacking corpo servers/Nuclear terrorism.)

[spicyLEGO]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Suomipoika11:

Początkowo opublikowane przez spicyLEGO:

Ok Arasaka agent

XP

At least Arasaka's polite as not to soulkill you unless you sign a contract, or you commit a crime (Hacking corpo servers/Nuclear terrorism.)

Arasaka literally kidnapped Alt Cunningham used her own Soulkiller on her

Militech cures V, unlike Arasaka who is using V like a guinea pig in the devil's ending

[DraganMocny]

V - go to Poland and enjoy new life with Misty!

...f... off corupted Nigh City

It is the best possible ending in game - sadly not cut scene for that option!

[Dugaul]

would be really nice to know if saves may impact the next game in tiny ways just Easter Eggs depending on endings choices with V, maybe V could be some AI form which opens up huge areas where he/she could end up even inside a gun or a boss even a vending machine, other random ideas a body in space, some nomad legend you hear storys about, or if you lived again huge areas to explore like a boss you fight for the nusa maybe they use drows to fight who knows, or V could just be some weapon vender you can meet.

[Sentient_Toaster]

From the NUSA's perspective, V is an enormous liability; they know too much, especially depending on which ending you went with (like siding with So Mi), learning about the things the NUSA and President Myers have done. If left unchecked V could deal significant damage to the global order. So, the NUSA tied up a loose end, so to speak.

It's not the only choice that really should have killed you outright, but CDPR really didn't want to have "you chose X, so die" in the narrative.

Other examples: the side quest that uses a BD to knock you unconscious for scavengers to harvest from, and Hansen choosing to let you walk away from the Black Sapphire even if you slaughter his men on the way in and despite recognizing that you were working with an FIA agent. There's also not much reason for Arasaka to send you back to Earth alive if you refuse to be soulkilled in the Devil ending.

[Pharis Gough]

Początkowo opublikowane przez ♀⛤WitchyWoman⛤♀:

Speaking from military experience, one thing I found stupid was the fact that no one needs cyberware (now or in the future even) to be a skilled marksman or hand to hand fighter. Having the backstreet thugs kick her butt in the end was a very weak part of the story. She would not of lost her street smarts or her fighting skills. She would of still had advantages in a fight without the abilities she lost. Even without the weapon grip or cyberarms.

You're right, she wouldn't of lost said knowledge but she would of lost a lot of muscle mass from being physically in active for 2 years, honestly it really is V's fault that she decided to ditch therapy and go back to the cyberpunk version of Mogadishu without fully recovering first.

[Pharis Gough]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Suomipoika11:

Początkowo opublikowane przez spicyLEGO:

Ok Arasaka agent

XP

At least Arasaka's polite as not to soulkill you unless you sign a contract, or you commit a crime (Hacking corpo servers/Nuclear terrorism.)

Nah, instead they make shady underworld dealings with the Tyger claws and maelstrom while using the Valentino's in red flag operations to spark another nuclear war.

Or the fact that the emperor who you help mind wipe his own son who he groomed from birth to be replaced with an engram doesn't skip a beat to start a massive bloody war against militech in night city.

[John Bayes]

Its not bad writing. The Phantom Liberty ending is your classic bad ending. Its not meant to be your final ending for the game, and never will be. The *happy* ending you want doesn't exist here and maybe you should find it in a JRPG instead.

[Suomipoika11]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Pharis Gough:

Początkowo opublikowane przez Suomipoika11:

XP

At least Arasaka's polite as not to soulkill you unless you sign a contract, or you commit a crime (Hacking corpo servers/Nuclear terrorism.)

Nah, instead they make shady underworld dealings with the Tyger claws and maelstrom while using the Valentino's in red flag operations to spark another nuclear war.

Or the fact that the emperor who you help mind wipe his own son who he groomed from birth to be replaced with an engram doesn't skip a beat to start a massive bloody war against militech in night city.

That's Yorinobu, not Saburo. Yuorinobu hated his fathers legacy so much, he was willing to burn everything to destroy it. Besides, In devil end, revived Saburo prevents the next corpo war.

And Yuorinobu did commit a murder (maybe in 2nd decree and not 1st, clearly the killing wasn't premeditated.) and at least 2 counts for framing (you and Takemura.)

And NC has death penalty in effect, and we know Corps have last say on method of excecution...