Introduction
This walkthrough for Neuromancer was compiled from posts to rec.games.misc. Some steps may be slightly fuzzy in places, but it covers the full path to winning the game. The key rule: save your game constantly.
Step-by-Step Walkthrough
Step 1. Go to the PAX, withdraw 2,000 credits, and send mail to Armitage with bank account number 056306118. Withdraw the 10,000 he sends back.
Step 2. Pay and leave the bar. Go to the Body Shop and sell all body parts.
Step 3. Go to Shin's. Don't pay for the deck — he'll give it back to you free.
Step 4. Go to the Reg Fellow Club. Ask for a chip (implant it). Ask for the pass (needed later). Link to CHEAPO — 2nd level password is COCKROACH. Edit the bill and order caviar.
Step 5. Get the caviar and take it to Edo to receive Comlink 2.0. Erase Comlink 1.0 to free up space. Go to the software shop and buy a joystick. Go to the House of Pong, give the joystick, and receive Zen and Sophistry (implant both).
Step 6. Return to the hotel. Link to REGFELLOW (visitor) and WORLDCHESS (novice, member). Play a couple of chess games with Chessmaster 2.0 for extra cash. Get software from REGFELLOW and make room for Comlink 3.0.
Step 7. Link to CHAO (mainline). Get Comlink 3.0, delete Comlink 2.0, and grab more software.
Step 8. Go to the place opposite Maas Biolabs and buy all chips except the Bargaining chip. Go to the restaurant and buy chips. Implant all chips.
Step 9. Go to Larry Moe and buy Coptalk. Use Coptalk at Donut World to find the police link code — it's KEISATSU (passwords: warrants, supertac). Edit the warrant and arrest Larry Moe (badge number 062788138). Go to the place behind Larry Moe and get the Evade chip and security pass.
Step 10. Link to SOFTEN (password: permafrost) for more software and likely Comlink 4.0.
Step 11. Link to EASTSEABOD (password: longisland) for more software.
Step 12. Link to LOSER (passwords: wilson, loser) for more software.
Step 13. Link to YAKUZA (password: yak) for more software. Do steps 10–13 in the right order to upgrade from Comlink 3.0 to 6.0. The exact sequence may need some experimentation.
Step 14. Important: Use the same deck throughout steps 1–13. Don't buy a new deck yet. Now log into BOZOBANK — use Sequencer 1.0 to get in and open account 712345450134. Link to BANKGEMEIN (passwords: eintritt, verboten). Embezzle from account 646328356481 into your Bozobank account.
Step 15. Buy the Cyberspace VII deck. Load up on the best software you can — the best combination is roughly Drill 1.0, Decoder 2.0, and Blowtorch 3.0. Scout is optional.
Step 16. Go to Zone 0. Break into Panther Moderns (coordinates 224, 112) to get Cyberspace 1.0 and better software. Use Cyberspace 1.0 from here on to enter cyberspace. Stay away from Psychologist (96, 32) and World Chess (160, 80) for now — there are AIs in there.
Step 17. Save your game at all times. Dying is possible and costly.
Step 18. Go to the Reg Fellow Club in Zone 1. Hit Copenhagen U — very important, as it has good ice breakers and also updates Thunderhead (a virus program from Panther). Load up on software. Stay away from Free Matrix (352, 112) and NASA (448, 32) for now. Notice that your ICE-breaking skill increases each time you defeat a new zone. Always use the Evade ability when attacking.
Step 19. Link to one of the high-tech companies (likely Hosaka). Edit employee files and add yourself as an employee. Collect your salary and use the link inside — this should take you to Zone 2, 3, or 4. Stay away from Musabori (268, 208) — it contains the 3rd most powerful AI.
Step 20. Use the other free link, get on the shuttle, and go to the Bank of Berne. Dismiss the secretary and use the link in the office — this should lead to Zone 3 or 4. If Zone 3, go to Screaming Fist (464, 160) and get Easy Rider 1.0 — this is very important as it allows you to cross into any zone. Stay away from Free Sex Union (288, 208) and Bank of Berne (336, 160) for now.
Step 21. Return to the hotel. With Easy Rider, any link will now work. Go to Zone 4 — hit Sense/Net and Gridpoint. Keep saving and loading up on software.
Step 22. Continue to Zone 5, then Zone 6. Maas Biolabs and KGB are here. Break into Maas Biolabs' database, find the option to unlock the front door, then return to Chiba City. Buy a gas mask from the shop opposite Maas Biolabs, put it on, go inside, and get the Cybereyes. These allow significantly more programs than the Cyberspace VII deck.
Step 23. Go to the place in the south end of Chiba City's high tech center. Use the security pass and get Dixie Flatline (construct ID: 34689775642358885). Carry her along — she'll tell you where AIs are and provide some assistance.
Step 24. You're now ready to take on the AIs. Start in Zone 0. Dixie will help locate them. Break through the ICE — when an AI appears, use your skills (the implanted chips). Without chips, you cannot beat the AIs. Examples:
- World Chess → use Logic skill
- Psychologist → use Philosophy skill
- Most others → Logic works for many
Your skill level increases each time you defeat an AI.
Step 25. Continue through Zones 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 — save at all times. Read the messages on the AIs; they add a lot to the story.
Step 26. Avoid Musabori in Zone 2 — that's Greystoke, the 3rd most powerful AI. Do all the others first. Then the last three AIs are the challenging part:
- First: Musabori (Zone 2) — read up on the story details first
- Next: Tessier-Ashpool (Zone 7) — Wintermute
- Finally: Allard Tech (Zone 7) — Neuromancer itself
Save before each. The ending is tricky, and watch all the cutscenes carefully. The other AI in Zone 7 can be killed before these three, but it's harder than usual.
Step 27. Kill all 11 AIs and win!
Additional Tips
After implanting the ICE-breaking chip, your ICE skill should improve from 1 up to about 7 as you progress through zones. Keep trying if you're stuck early.
Selling body parts is essentially required — it provides around 30,000 credits, and the game is very tight on money. Body replacement doesn't lower your Constitution in any meaningful way.
There is no dedicated "AI chip" — skills improve naturally each time you defeat an AI using the right ability.
To slow down ICE attacks, look for Slow 1.0 and Slow 2.0 programs in higher zones. There is also a program that heals ICE damage.
Walkthrough sourced from The Spoiler Centre.