Which choices do you think Niko would have taken?

[Eugene H. Krabs]

As we all know, GTA IV has the ability to kill or spare certain characters, and there's also the 2 big endings you have to choose. Feel free to tell which choices you believe Niko would've taken and why

 

• Ivan
• Cherise
• Kill Playboy X or Dwayne
• Clarence
• Kill Francis or Derrick
• Darko
• Take the deal, or take revenge

Edited June 17, 2019 by Eugene H. Krabs

[El Penguin Bobo]

Well, I would just put it up like this.

 

If Niko killed Darko, he wouldn't pick Revenge because he realized that revenge wasn't the answer and he feels empty after shooting him 12 times...

 

However, if he didn't kill Darko, he would probably go after Dimitri since he's a snake and he wanted him killed from the start.

[billiejoearmstrong8]

The beauty of it is either choice each time is plausible and canon. According to Niko's personality I think any combination can be justified and it just slightly changes his story in different ways. 

 

But from my impression of him I think he would spare Ivan and Clarence, since if he can still get paid and as a bonus spite the guy who's paying him without murdering someone he probably would. He'd also spare Cherise as he really has no good reason to kill her. 

 

I have a hard time justifying him killing either Dwayne or Playboy tbh, but I think he would go for Playboy since there's really no strong reason to kill either so he'd probably go for the more moral and loyal choice (ie killing the guy who asked you to kill the other guy). Also fits in with his personality trait of not always simply doing as he's told when he can help it. I don't think the cash for killing Dwayne would sway it, since although he does work as a hitman for money he isn't really as desperate for it as he makes out (in order to justify his crimes to himself) and missing out on one payout isn't really a huge problem.

 

I think he would kill Francis. When I look at him and Derrick I can see bad things about both their characters and I personally dislike Derrick more. But I think when it comes down to it his choice would be based on loyalty rather than character judgement - he kills the guy who's blackmailed him to work for him and spares the guy who's family/gang he's become friends with (Francis not really counting as part of the family) and who he's worked for on fair terms. Same thing as with Playboy/Dwayne regarding the cash reward.

 

With Darko I think killing him just takes it. Killing him like he wanted for so long makes sense, but so does realising it won't change anything and/or that he's probably going to suffer more left alive so sparing him. But I think the possible view of it where it's kind of a case of just delivering justice at this point, or the possibility that he might even feel it's more merciful to kill him once he sees what a mess he is regardless of whether he thinks it'll bring him satisfaction or not means there's more scenarios where killing him would be the choice.

 

Deal or revenge is also a tough one. I like to think he'd go with some kind of deal over the chance of killing Dimitri if he really thought it was a way out. But I can't believe he really would trust Dimitri enough to take the chance of doing a deal with him of all people. So I think he'd pick revenge, not necessarily because of blood lust for Dimitri but more because of not trusting the deal option he's given.

 

Edited June 18, 2019 by billiejoearmstrong8

[TheSantader25]

Spares Ivan. 

Kills Clarence. 

Spares Cherise. 

Kills PBX. 

Kills Francis(though I always kill Derrick) 

Kills Darko. 

Picks Deal. 

[santosvagos]

1 minute ago, billiejoearmstrong8 said:

The beauty of it is either choice each time is plausible and canon. According to Niko's personality I think any combination can be justified and it just slightly changes his story in different ways. 

 

But from my impression of him I think he would spare Ivan and Clarence, since if he can still get paid and as a bonus spite the guy who's paying him without murdering someone he probably would. He'd also spare Cherise as he really has no good reason to kill her. 

 

I have a hard time justifying him killing either Dwayne or Playboy tbh, but I think he would go for Playboy since there's really no strong reason to kill either so he'd probably go for the more moral and loyal choice (ie killing the guy who asked you to kill the other guy). Also fits in with his personality trait of not always simply doing as he's told when he can help it.

 

I think he would kill Francis. When I look at him and Derrick I can see bad things about both their characters. But I think when it comes down to it his choice would be based on loyalty rather than character judgement - he kills the guy who's blackmailed him to work for him and spares the guy who's family/gang he's become friends with (Francis not really counting as part of the family) and who he's worked for on fair terms. 

 

With Darko I think killing him just takes it. Killing him like he wanted for so long makes sense, but so does realising it won't change anything and/or that he's probably going to suffer more left alive so sparing him. But I think the possible view of it where it's kind of a case of just delivering justice at this point, or the possibility that he might even feel it's more merciful to kill him once he sees what a mess he is regardless of whether he thinks it'll bring him satisfaction or not means there's more scenarios where killing him would be the choice.

 

Deal or revenge is also a tough one. I like to think he'd go with some kind of deal over the chance of killing Dimitri if he really thought it was a way out. But I can't believe he really would trust Dimitri enough to take the chance of doing a deal with him of all people. So I think he'd pick revenge, not necessarily because of blood lust for Dimitri but more because of not trusting the deal option he's given.

 

I agree with you but i don't think Niko won't take the chance to deal with that rat Dimitri . He swore to himself that he would track down and kill Dimitri after Roman was captured by Russians . With Niko 's personality , he never broke his oath that he swore to himself .

[billiejoearmstrong8]

12 minutes ago, santosvagos said:

I agree with you but i don't think Niko won't take the chance to deal with that rat Dimitri . He swore to himself that he would track down and kill Dimitri after Roman was captured by Russians . With Niko 's personality , he never broke his oath that he swore to himself .

I think if he somehow either had the chance to take revenge on Dimitri, or do a different deal that got him out of everything but left Dimitri unharmed he would take the deal, because there are things more important to him than getting revenge even if he's sworn to it. But yeah doing a direct deal with Dimitri like that, I think he just wouldn't trust him enough to take the chance. Especially when it come from Jimmy who he has no particular reason to trust either.

 

I guess the way I see it when choosing revenge is it's less like "hell yeah let's take revenge!" by this point and more just that the deal isn't trustworthy so it seems like the better choice to try and eliminate him. I think his number one thing by then, especially after finding Darko and not being satisfied whether he gets his revenge or not, is trying to work out which way has a better chance of getting himself/Roman out of trouble.

Edited June 18, 2019 by billiejoearmstrong8

[Duhillestpunk]

7 hours ago, billiejoearmstrong8 said:

I think if he somehow either had the chance to take revenge on Dimitri, or do a different deal that got him out of everything but left Dimitri unharmed he would take the deal, because there are things more important to him than getting revenge even if he's sworn to it. But yeah doing a direct deal with Dimitri like that, I think he just wouldn't trust him enough to take the chance. Especially when it come from Jimmy who he has no particular reason to trust either.

 

I guess the way I see it when choosing revenge is it's less like "hell yeah let's take revenge!" by this point and more just that the deal isn't trustworthy so it seems like the better choice to try and eliminate him. I think his number one thing by then, especially after finding Darko and not being satisfied whether he gets his revenge or not, is trying to work out which way has a better chance of getting himself/Roman out of trouble.

Dude he wouldn’t deal with Dimitri. He had Nikos cousin Roman as a hostage as well as made their lives a living hell. Niko wouldn’t think one second about letting Dimitri slip away and to deal with him.

[billiejoearmstrong8]

1 hour ago, Duhillestpunk said:

Dude he wouldn’t deal with Dimitri. He had Nikos cousin Roman as a hostage as well as made their lives a living hell. Niko wouldn’t think one second about letting Dimitri slip away and to deal with him.

I agree he probably wouldn't do a deal with Dimitri. But hypothetically if he had the option to either do a deal with someone else and get out of trouble, or to get revenge on Dimitri, I think he'd prioritise getting out of trouble and let him go is what I'm saying. He'd like to get revenge on him but it's not the only factor on his mind, imo not trusting Dimitri and not believing the deal will go through is probably a bigger motivator in deciding to go and take him out instead than just pure drive for revenge.

 

Also he's messed up in the head after confronting Darko. He isn't satisfied whether he kills or spares him and it might've changed his whole mindset, at the point where the deal/revenge decision comes up he's pretty much a broken man. I think in that state either decision can be justified because he isn't necessarily rational or in the same state of mind he's been in for most of the game at that point. Depending on previous choices or the way you look at things he could be more up for revenge or more looking for any way out.

Edited June 18, 2019 by billiejoearmstrong8

[jaylen pizarro]

 spare ivan

 kill cherise

kill playboy x

spare clarence

kill francis

spare darko

take revenge

 

[lol232]

Spares everyone, kills Playboy and Derrick, takes Revenge.

[Limefong]

Spares Ivan

Kills Clarence

Kills Cherise

Kills PBX

Kills Francis

Kills Darko

Takes Revenge

[Guest]

Niko would spare those that can be spared. Like he says in the story, he's got no problems in sparing a few lives

 

Niko would kill Playboy and Francis. Don't think Niko would turn on his pals though they may be shady too, but Niko empathizes with Dwayne and robbed a bank with Derrick, I don't think he'd turn on them for money cause he has his own set of principles and I think he woudn't be disloyal to those he's allied with/considers a friend

 

Niko would kill Darko. I just don't see him carrying all that rage for a decade to spare him in the end. The execution scene also feels like it's got to be canon

 

Niko would do the Deal. I think this because regardless of what you choose with Darko, Niko comes out of it thinking revenge isn't the answer. Plus Roman was almost hammering it to Niko that he needs to do the Deal and I think Niko would want to indulge the soon to be married Roman and wouldn't want to mess his marriage up by going for Revenge and potentially  causing more problems for them

[NewGuybj]

if he kills Dwaybe, he feels bad about it, the same when he kills Derrick. So, i choose who is moraly better choice.

[VenusianDream]

Ivan: Spare

Cherise: Spare

Playboy X or Dwayne: Kill Playboy X

Clarence: Spare (Niko kills him later on anyways)

 

I feel like most of the "Niko" choices are obvious except for The McReary brothers, Darko, and Deal/Revenge.

 

Francis or Derrick: Kill Derrick.

Most people vote for killing Francis, but I disagree. Morally speaking Derrick is actually the worst, Francis at least tries to do right by joining the LCPD even if he's corrupt. I think Niko would also choose Derrick because Francis has a file on him and killing him probably won't get rid of it. Niko also benefits more by keeping him alive, as he'll be able to call Francis to keep the cops off his back. Another factor into this choice is Packie, who leaves to go to LS. Packie wouldn't leave his mother unless there was someone else in the family looking after her. Gerry is in prison, Derrick would be too strung out, and Kate would be dead, so that leaves Francis. To top it all off, if I'm not mistaken Packie also mentions that Derrick died in GTA V.

 

Darko: Spare.

This is the toughest decision. Niko is just as likely to empty 12 rounds into Darko as he is leaving him to suffer in Liberty City. I think sparing Darko is more fitting as it makes good development for Niko, who kills for a living and spent years searching to kill Darko. Roman is the key factor in this decision, he's always trying to convince Niko to stop seeking revenge and to get out of the criminal lifestyle. And now during the ultimate choice he's beside Niko, telling him to just leave. Niko doesn't listen to Roman much throughout the story, and they tend to argue their differences about life often. So listening to Roman now would be a good turning point for Niko's character without killing him off, which leads to...

 

Deal or Revenge: Revenge.

The obvious reason in choosing this is to avoid Roman's death, but there are other reasons. Unlike Darko, Dimitri is a new, much bigger enemy. He's connected to Bulgarin, is slowly taking over the city, and thus is a big presence in both Niko and Roman's lives. This is the perfect opportunity to take him out, not because Niko is still after revenge but because he has to protect himself and his family, because no matter what Dimitri will keep coming after him. Besides, I can't picture Niko ever working with Dimitri again after all he's done, and the argument between him and Pegorino before the mission explains it perfectly.

Edited July 23, 2020 by VenusianDream

[Americana]

Hmm... I think that Niko would kill Darko, and that's what I do whenever I replay the game. I don't really know about the ending... I mean, it would be kind of expected for Niko to choose Revenge, but... I'm not sure about that.

 

Also, I think that Niko would kill Francis, but I don't think that would be a good choice. Same goes with Playboy X...

 

When it comes to every other character, I think he would kill all of them, except Cherise. 

 

---

Edited August 6, 2020 by Americana

[Copcaller]

I feel like Niko would ultimately choose revenge. Dimitri is a active threat to their lives with him burning down the depot and kidnapping roman. Letting him roam free would be a dangerous mistake especially when he has a powerful ally like ray Bulgarian.

[universetwisters]

I’d like to think that Niko would at least kill Derrick. Say what you want about Francis, but Derrick sold out many of his friends, and surely it wouldn’t be long until he sold out Niko to whatever goon was helping him out at the time.

[lol232]

Spares everyone.

Kills Playboy and Derrick

Picks Revenge.

[Liberty-TG]

Spare Ivan, Cherise, Clarence, Darko. Kills Playboy, Derrick. Revenge ending.

[Bratva Assassin]

Ivan: Spare

Cherise: Spare

Playboy X or Dwayne: Killing Playboy X

Clarence: Kills him

Derrick or Francis: Tough one as both were bad guys but Derrick because I think he is actually even worse
Darko: Very tough decision but spare because that means Darko has to keep on living in pain as opposed to dying like he wants

Deal or Revenge: Another tough one but slight nod to Revenge

 

[HOW'S ANNIE?]

Ivan: Spare

Cherise: Spare

Clarence: Kill (I generally snipe him from the crane anyway, so thus no choice)

Dwayne or Playboy X: Kill Playboy X

Francis or Derrick: Kill Derrick

Darko: Kill

Revenge or Deal: Revenge. However I do think that Deal works much better from a story perspective.

 

The few I might as well add too:

Adam's goon in Portrait of a Killer: Spare

First Diamond Dealer in Late Checkout: Kill

Brian in TLAD: Spare. It just goes to show the sort of weasle Brian in by screwing over Johnny, even after sparing his life.

Edited September 13, 2020 by HOW'S ANNIE?

[Bratva Assassin]

On 9/12/2020 at 9:48 AM, HOW'S ANNIE? said:

Ivan: Spare

Cherise: Spare

Clarence: Kill (I generally snipe him from the crane anyway, so thus no choice)

Dwayne or Playboy X: Kill Playboy X

Francis or Derrick: Kill Derrick

Darko: Kill

Revenge or Deal: Revenge. However I do think that Deal works much better from a story perspective.

 

The few I might as well add too:

Adam's goon in Portrait of a Killer: Spare

First Diamond Dealer in Late Checkout: Kill

Brian in TLAD: Spare. It just goes to show the sort of weasle Brian in by screwing over Johnny, even after sparing his life.

I agree 100%. I also always kill Clarence by sniping him from the crane too. I think it’s a MUCH easier way to go through the game.

[billiejoearmstrong8]

1 hour ago, Outlaw Biker Viking said:

I agree 100%. I also always kill Clarence by sniping him from the crane too. I think it’s a MUCH easier way to go through the game.

Then you miss out on the cool shootout and Clarence's sad begging though! I like that it's an option but it's the less entertaining choice imo. I spare him to get one over on Francis and so I can meet him again as a random encounter.

[lol232]

On 8/6/2020 at 11:55 AM, gravejailer said:

With Darko I think killing him just takes it. Killing him like he wanted for so long makes sense, but so does realising it won't change anything and/or that he's probably going to suffer more left alive so sparing him.

I think Darko is pretty much that one choice that can really go either way and both would suit Niko. I guess depends on how you played him throughout the story.

[_P136_]

Ivan: Spare. Niko doesn't like being Vlad's pawn. Having spared him, Niko says that Vlad wanting the guy dead probably means it's a good enough reason to keep him alive. The random encounter later confirms it was the right decision to do so.

 

Cherise: Spare. She's an outsider, and Dwayne's problem is not with her. Niko must have seen too much collateral damage in the war to willingly cause more. The later random encounter confirms he was right to do so.

 

Playboy X or Dwayne: Kill Playbox X. He is manipulative, and uses people in a way that relates to Niko's wartime experiences. Dwayne is a down-to-earth guy with a sense of loyalty, there is no obvious reason why Playboy X would feel threatened by him: he's just tying up the loose ends, getting rid of people who helped him get where he is now that he no longer needs them as he wants to go legit without things from his criminal past ever coming back to light.

Clarence: Kill. While Francis orders the hit for all the wrong reasons, his reasoning that the world definitely won't be a worse place if another gangster is dispatched is basically right. It's also in the spirit of Francis's later comment how things are shades of grey as opposed to black and white, which earns Niko's tacit acknowledgment. If Clarence is spared, the later random encounter confirms it was not a good decision to keep him alive.

 

Francis or Derrick: This decision is more nuanced. Derrick is a snitch who turned on his associates. In his disloyalty he's like Darko, whom Niko has been chasing all along. At the point we first see him though, it's obvious he paid a high price, having ruined his life, which is also a harbinger of the later encounter with Darko. On the other hand, Francis is a corrupt cop who might also be doing some good things (getting rid of the gangsters) for all the wrong reasons (career advancement or covering his tracks). According to my impression of Niko's morals, he wouldn't mind both of them being done away with. However, the war has also taught Niko to be cold and calculating, which is how he got to where he is now, and how he survived the war in the first place, when others did not. Therefore, he has to consider that Derrick is friendly to him and basically harmless at this point anyway, while Francis is using him, resorting to blackmail, and there seems to be no end to it. Also, as Francis has the habit of getting rid of people who know too much about his deeds, Niko has to consider him a potential threat, particularly if he's elected. Kill Francis.

Darko: Kill. Most of Niko's actions, including coming to Liberty City itself, were driven by the desire to find the traitor. Niko definitely needs a closure to move on. While it's true that killing Darko doesn't really deliver that, if he didn't do it he'd never know. Darko is a drug junkie who sold his fellow soldiers for $1,000 to support his habit. He doesn't dispute his bad deeds, his only defense is that others did even worse things. In Niko's book, loyalty is the highest virtue, and Darko deserves to pay for his actions. While Roman advised Niko to show mercy and move on on numerous occasions in the past, for example with Vlad, that didn't stop him then. All the more it's unlikely to stop him when it comes to Darko.

 

Deal or Revenge:

 

Dispatching Rascalov was the next thing on Niko's bucket list after finding Darko. Rascalov double-crossed him and set him up for an encounter with Mr Bulgarin he wasn't supposed to walk away from. However, if Niko learned something throughout the course of the later events, it should be (1) that revenge didn't really give him closure the way he expected with Darko, and (2) that Rascalov's actions were just a profit-maximizing business decision, and seen that way, in fact kind of predictable from the beginning. Perhaps Niko knew at least the latter all along, and his mistake was just that he didn't find out that Rascalov was in bed with Bulgarin.

 

Rascalov failed each time he tried to get at Niko, even back when Niko was a slob in a tracksuit, fresh off the board; he would likely need to step up his game quite a bit to even have a shot at Niko again, now that Niko was becoming more powerful and connected than ever. By comparison, the elusive Mr Bulgarin seemed much bigger a threat; note how Niko always called him "Mr" the way he did not with anybody else.

 

Understanding his arch-enemy Rascalov much better, Niko would have likely concluded that, since Rascalov is ambitious and has the reputation for having no loyalty, it's only a matter of time before he either reneges on the deal and tries to get rid of either Niko himself or Pegorino (which indeed happened, and which would give Niko an excuse to dispatch Rascalov once and for all with Mafia's blessing), or pisses off someone way up the food chain like Bulgarin or the IAA guy who never married. If any of this happened, Niko would likely be able to combine business with pleasure and get paid for getting rid of Rascalov, which he was willing to do for free anyway.

 

Separately, even though Pegorino is also intimidating with Niko, particularly in his last conversation with him (perhaps because he understands the stakes for both of them), Niko has clearly been warming up to him in a way that he did not with any of his previous bosses. He might be considered something of a father figure for Niko. Further, his Mafia family is an equal opportunity employer where an Irish guy has done well for himself, so perhaps there's no glass ceiling for a motivated associate from the Balkans as well.

 

Or, since Niko mentions that he wanted to step down from the life of crime, this could prove difficult if he had the whole Mafia going after him. Through the course of the game Niko has learned how politically connected the Mafia is, unlike their Korean or Russian counterparts. There's no running from them especially now that his IAA handler tells him he's no longer being protected, and on his own.

 

Deal. And wait for an opportune moment to deal with Rascalov, or let somebody else do it. Revenge is a dish best served cold.

 

Ultimately, the last decision shows us that choice is sometimes an illusion in a very fatalistic way. You can't protect everything you have. Also, both Roman and Kate each encourage Niko to take a decision that leads to their own death. The whole plot is quite well thought out.

 

Edited October 28, 2020 by _P136_