One of the beautiful parts of the RPG experience is changing the story and plot based on personal decisions. In Dying Light 2, some will enjoy playing a ruthless survivor who does anything to get his way and others will want Aiden to be kind, sympathetic, and one of the good guys.
As a credit to the story-telling, it doesn't appear obvious what the more ethical choice is when deciding whether to help Julian or Marco. Both are somewhat sympathetic, both have their dark sides, and both plead their case. The results of the choice are life-altering for either character, so Dying Light 2 fans should take a glimpse into each potential future ahead of time.
Helping Them Both
Many players are hesitant to complete the beginning of this questline because they are asked for favors from both Julian and Marco. Neither of these first requests constitutes taking a side with either one of them, that choice comes later and will be done through a dialogue box.
When players first meet Julian, he's being accused of selling poisoned water. He's been shady in the past, so he asks Aiden to find Marco to see what happens. Before Marco reveals a thing, he asks Aiden to clear the zombies out of his basement. Do both of these and then it's time for the big decision.
What Happens If Aiden Agrees To Help Marco
It turns out Marco was trying to poison thieves and accidentally sold his tainted water to Julian, who had acquired it legitimately. Marco says that he is still the leading supplier of water to the Bazaar and if they found out about this, they'd kill him and then die of thirst.
If Aiden agrees to lie for Marco and says "Fine," the quest ends and Aiden is immediately rewarded. The town never dries up, so it turns out that Marco may have been exaggerating his own role. However, the darkest part of this decision happens when players get back to the Bazaar, where they can spot a group taking Julian away for execution. Since he's never seen again, it's assumed they succeeded.
What Happens If Aiden Refuses To Lie For Marco
Things are much more complicated, both in terms of the mission and the story, if players insist upon saying, "I'll tell them the truth." Immediately, a boss fight with Marco begins and Aiden will have to eliminate him. Afterward, Aiden will vouch for Julian's innocence in the matter.
Is this the "right" choice morally? Probably, it's bad to see somebody killed for a crime they didn't commit. But Julian is something of a bad guy, even attempting to reward Aiden with flour that has been tainted with plaster. It's morally grey and only the gamer can say what the ethical decision is in their mind.
Dying Light 2 was released on February 4th, 2022, and is available on Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
