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Over his exploits in Liberty City, Grand Theft Auto 4's protagonist Niko Bellic must make several difficult decisions. One of these choices boils down to deciding between executing two brothers caught in a web of crime and corruption, Derrick or Francis McReary. Made in the mission "Blood Brothers," this decision has major ramifications that players should know before deciding what to do.
Although they grew up in an Irish Catholic house, Derrick and Francis McReary pursue quite different routes in life. Derrick started engaging in illegal activity, finally winding up in jail following violent robberies with friends. Reiterating his return to Liberty City in GTA 4, he met Niko and hired him for different illicit employment. Conversely, Francis worked in law enforcement and finally rose to be the Deputy Police Commissioner of Liberty City. He does, however, operate in a grey area using unethical means of "cleansing" the city, including extrajudicial murders of small-time offenders.
Citing worries about Derrick's possible leaking of damaging material to the public that would destroy Francis's career, Francis gets in touch with Niko indicating his wish to kill him. Francis suggests meeting Derrick in a park so Niko may kill him. Derrick calls Niko concurrently, stating his mistrust of Francis's motives and exhorting him to murder him instead. Niko must ultimately decide which brother's life to choose over the other.
Given Francis's corruption and blackmailing of Niko, stand with Derrick and assassinate Francis seems like the ethically just course of action. From a Gaming perspective, though, this decision offers no advantages. The sole major advantage is a rise in the friendship degree between Niko and Packie, the brother of Francis and Derrick, which opens the game's phone bomb capability.
The goal after "Blood Brothers," "Undertaker," likewise varies somewhat depending on which sibling is slain. Should Francis die, Niko will sit with Derrick during his burial; the Romero hearse, a unique car, will be moving away, so making theft more difficult. This decision finally makes it more difficult to obtain the hearse, so impairing gameplay completion.
Regarding gameplay, killing Derrick has more obvious advantages. First, Francis pays Niko $10,000 for the hit; should Niko get in touch with Francis while on the roof, the payout can be raised to $20,000. Furthermore, this decision eliminates the necessity for Francis to work for him; nonetheless, murdering him later in the game will also help to accomplish this. The most important advantage is the possibility to reduce desired levels up to three stars for the remaining of the game. This can be rather helpful, particularly for those who would want to avoid running across cops.
The "Undertaker" quest also differs depending on which brother dies. Niko would avoid Francis at his burial if Derrick dies, therefore illustrating Niko's unease in the circumstances. Given that the hearse in this instance will be parked Niko's sprinting distance away, theft will be simpler.
The decision between Derrick and Francis is ultimately a difficult one. From a gameplay standpoint, killing Derrick provides more concrete benefits including money, the ability to drop wanted levels, and simpler access to the Romero hearse. But given his behavior during the funeral, Niko seemed to be happy having killed Francis. The choice finally rests with personal taste, balancing the Gaming advantages against the possible emotional impact on Niko's path.