You can run around the world of Cyberpunk 2077 senselessly murdering everyone, but you'll soon realise there are better things to do in the game.

Cyberpunk 2077 developer CD Projekt Red often avoided comparisons to GTA, despite the games' shared similarities. On the surface, both games let you explore a vast open world, hotwire cars, and wreak havoc anywhere you go.

But CDPR likes to think Cyberpunk 2077 has more interesting underlining systems that players will, eventually, like to engage with. Speaking to PC Games N, level designer Max Pears said the game won't stop you from from playing it like a GTA.

"If you want to go out on a rampage and have no remorse, then you have got the option, and that’s fine with us," he said. "However, once you start to play the missions and see the amount of options you have, I think that will make players stop and think a little bit before doing something reckless."

In fact, Pears says that CD Projekt actually saw testers sometimes get into "GTA mode," before they realise there's more to the game than just mucking about its open world causing carnage.

"We’ve seen a lot of people default to that ‘GTA mode’ and then after a little bit they realise how many things are different and adjust how they play."

GTA, of course, does not let you kill story-related NPCs. It's not clear if Cyberpunk 2077 has the same approach, though given its more complex RPG systems, we're betting you also won't be able to off most of its story characters.

Alex recently played a few hours of the game, and came away impressed with how Cyberpunk 2077 brings together elements from other games to create the ultimate cyberpunk adventure. We also spoke with the team at CDPR about how the studio wants to balance the act of telling a compelling story and offering players freedom of choice.

Cyberpunk 2077 is out November 17 on PC, PS4 and Xbox One.