– Johnny at the beginning of (Don't Fear) The Reaper, Cyberpunk 2077
(Don't Fear) The Reaper is a main job in Cyberpunk 2077. It is the "secret ending" of the game, leading to slightly modified versions of either the "The Sun"/Path of Glory or the "Temperance"/New Dawn Fades scenarios.
Walkthrough[]
In order to unlock this ending, players are required to make specific choices at the end of Chippin' In. In order to succeed in this quest, reaching somewhere near maximum level is recommended before attempting.
On the rooftop towards the end of Nocturne Op55N1, V needs to be indecisive in making a decision on who to call for help. After about five minutes of doing nothing and simply leaving the dialog choice open, Johnny will comment that it is tough to decide who "will die for you", and proposes they enter Arasaka Tower alone―making this a suicide mission. This echoes Dexter DeShawn's question in the beginning:
"Would you rather live in peace as Mr. Nobody... or go down for all times in a blaze of glory?"
Two factors make this mission uniquely difficult:
- Saving is not allowed throughout the entire mission. However, the game still autosaves at checkpoints, the first being after descending to the mainframe level, the second immediately before the confrontation with Adam Smasher.
- V's max Health will be lowered by 25% at the start of the mission, and gradually decreases by an additional 1% at certain intervals, indicated by the "Relic Malfunction Detected" notification. The longer it takes to complete the mission, the harder it gets to survive.
A level in the mid-40s or higher as well as good equipment is therefore advisable.
Dying at any point will result in a credit roll, which will prompt video messages identical to the "easy way out"/suicide ending. Although the game will not offer to "load last save" and cut to credits instantly, it can be resumed from the autosave points mentioned above. If the first checkpoint had not been reached, a manual save has to be loaded, for which the last opportunity is before sitting down with Misty on the rooftop towards the end of Nocturne Op55N1 (i.e., you will be forced to wait out the five minutes again until Johnny gives you the secret option).
Choosing Johnny's "suicide run" option will result in an immediate cut right to the front entrance of Arasaka Tower. In the entrance area, V will have to fight two Arasaka Samurais and three Arasaka Special Agents who are all at maximum level. After defeating the guards along with two Arasaka mechs, Johnny leads V to the elevator for which an access token is needed. More guards will spawn and they will have to be defeated in order for the token to be looted. As V obtains the access token, they will have to call for the lift, which will only arrive after a significant amount of time, leaving V in the lobby having to defend against guards that will spawn from time to time, including Juggernauts - their Mk.31 HMGs will prove very useful, and by the time you run out of ammo, another juggernaut will have appeared. It is advisable to retreat to the entrance area and fight the guards from there as they will enter the elevator area from two sides. Using a wall-penetrating Tech Sniper Rifle like the Tsunami Nekomata can make the fights here and throughout the mission decisively easier. Enter the elevator immediately after the door opens, and select the Netrunner floor. Another Mech will spawn in front of the elevator before its doors close. The Short Circuit quickhack is a good way to quickly and effectively deal with the Mechs throughout this mission.
There are very few advantageous locations from which to fight multiple enemies after reaching the elevator. It is advised to bring the best guns and armor and stock up on ammo and meds before proceeding, but these can also be crafted between combat (and in the elevator). Enemies spawn as V reaches certain checkpoints, and therefore it is difficult to hide and pick them off. Your final enemy will be Adam Smasher, who will summon reinforcements at preset points during the fight: 6 Arasaka Snipers appear on the balcony around the room and three Juggernauts on the ground level.
Once Alt is successfully uploaded to the access point and is connected to Mikoshi, she will offer V a choice to either give their body to Johnny, or to keep it. Choosing Johnny results in the New Dawn Fades (Temperance) ending, whereas choosing V will result in the Path of Glory (The Sun) ending, albeit modified by the fact that Rogue is still alive in both.
Journal Entry[]
To be added.
Objectives[]
- Find a way to the level with Mikoshi.
- Defeat all enemies in the lobby.
- Gain access to the elevators.
- Defeat all enemies in the lobby.
- Loot the access token.
- Take the elevator to Mikoshi.
- Find the Mikoshi Acess Point.
- Defeat all the enemies in the control room.
- Find a way to connect Alt to the mainframe.
- Defeat all enemies in the mainframe room.
- Expose the mainframe.
- Connect Alt to the mainframe.
- Defeat Adam Smasher.
- (Optional) Decide Adam Smasher's fate.
- Enter the well to return your body.
- Cross the bridge and enter Cyberspace forever (Optional).
Notes[]
- The Access Token that can be looted from Adam Smasher will be retained after finishing the game and returning to the point-of-no-return. It unlocks Smasher's secret office on the Ebunike, where the Crafting Spec for the can be found.
- Choosing this ending will result in Nocturne Op55N1 not being finished as it will remain stuck at the "Decide what comes next" task.
- As it lacks any additional social interactions and preparatory/reconnaissance plots (the mission automatically cuts from the rooftop right to Arasaka Tower), this is by far the fastest ending scenario of the game (not counting the "Easy Way Out" suicide option).
Trivia[]
- The title of the job comes from the Blue Öyster Cult song (Don't Fear) The Reaper.