nonsensetwice

I’ve explored other endings prior to this. The first time I went through the ending, I went the route of Johnny and Rogue storming Arasaka Tower. It was a solid ending, but damn, Smasher kills Rogue?!

What a bastard.

I didn’t like that, so I ran through the ending opting to run with Panam and the Aldecaldos. That was a lot of fun to run through as well. Cool story addition, fun game play. But damn, a couple guys get fucked up and Smasher kills Saul?!

That motherfucker.

It was between these two playthroughs that I learned of the secret ending. Instead of picking from among these terrible options, Johnny Silverhand suggests walking through the front door of Arasaka Tower all by your lonesome and blasting your way to Mikoshi. The caveat is that you need a stellar relationship with Johnny. I missed the opportunity to improve relations with him enough for him to bring up this option. I therefore started a new game just to get it.

And get it I did. Like a madman merc, I waltzed into Arasaka Tower and blasted my way through waves of Arasaka soldiers to arrive at Mikoshi. I kill Smasher—because fuck that guy—jack in to Alt, go down the well, and come out the other side as a legend. No one else had to die. All good so far.

Except I come out on the other end with Judy saying goodbye and all the negative voicemails that play while the credits role, and I’m just so disappointed. Blasting my way solo through Arasaka Tower was a lot of fun. The ending … not so much.

After having done all that work, I’m so far convinced the two best endings are asking Panam for help and returning as V, or this suicide run with Johnny Silverhand and returning as Johnny. I’m not 100% sure, though I’m fairly confident, judging by what I’ve read about the other endings I haven’t yet explored.

Don’t know if I will either. Next time I play through the ending, it’ll be suicide run, come back as Johnny. Because damn, NPCs they may be, but I was way emotionally invested in everyone, and they were very disappointed.