Mass Effect 2 - What Happens If You WARN SIDONIS??? (Garrus' Loyalty Mission) 

What I never understood is that a guy just got sniped in public and everyone around just kept going about their day like it's normal.

I like sparing Sidonis, partially because it leads to one of my favorite lines in the series. "It's so much easier to see the universe in black and white. Gray? ...I don't know what to do with gray"

there's some cut content in ME3 where if you spare SIdois he would have gone out of his way and saved Garrus' family on Palaven by sacrificing himself ensuring their safety off world. shame we didn't get that in the end

too bad they rushed ma3 imagine they could have just made a short conversation in wich garus finds out sidonis helped his father and sister get off palaven or maybe just a small side mission with him oh well ...

For the longest time, I always just let Garrus shoot Sidonis. Recently I’ve started warning Sidonis, and it makes the loyalty mission a LOT more interesting in my opinion.

hearing a turian say "fuck", for some reason it makes me snicker.

I was always scared too lose Garrus’ loyalty so I never did it

I just couldn’t let Garrus go down a dark path. I saved Sidonis. And I’m glad I did.

I didn’t even hesitate to let this dude feel the floor, lol.

Who else is waiting for the Legendary Edition to come out and replay the trilogy?

to me it doesn't feel right for garrus to be on a path of renegade. i always lead him to path of paragon

I'm surprised you omitted one small part.. If you contradict your advice you gave Garrus when it came with dealing with Dr. Heart, he will actually mention how what you are telling him is different then what you said in that situation. Just a detail I remember that I thought was cool.

In a way it's a loyalty test for Shepard. Do you do what he wants, what he asked you to or do you do what is better for him but risk his friendship? Garrus is acting out of grief and anger. Making Garrus deal with what happened, instead of making Sidonis the scapegoat, is better for Garrus. Sidonis isn't a bad guy just weak, and if given the chance he'd take it back even if they did kill hIm. And I believe that if Garrus does kill him, one day he'll regret it. A real friend does what's best for you even if you don't want them too.

I warned Sidonis. I think this decision is an important part of Garrus' growth as a character, if you decided to be his moral compass in ME1. Garrus is a good person at heart, but he had an immature view of right and wrong, law and order in the first game. A frustrated C-sec officer that wanted justice fast, didn't like rules getting in the way? Old story trope, but common in real life. And how many good people strayed down the wrong path trying to do what they believed to be good things? Garrus started with endangering a bystander, doctor Michel, to take down a criminal. He argued for shooting down Saleon's ship, even though there were hostages aboard. What would he be doing at the end of his life, sacrificing dozens to hunt down one thief? So I challenged his views every discussion and convinced him to arrest Saleon. I was so proud of him when he understood at the end, and said exactly what I thought he should do, which is to "find the right way", not "the fastest way". I saw he had a lot of respect and admiration for Shepard, and thought of them as a mentor. In ME2 I didn't judge him for being a vigilante on Omega. Vigilante justice seemed like the only kind of justice anyone would be given on that lawless rock. I haven't seen what he'd done there, beyond defending himself from mercs after they wiped out his friends. He claimed his team didn't involve civilians, so that was an improvement over his attitude in ME1. I trusted him for the time being. I didn't plan on stopping him from getting his revenge on Sidonis, he was grieving and I didn't know the details of their story. I didn't know who Sidonis was or what became of him; a high profile criminal now, maybe? I waited to learn more before making judgement. But once the mission began, I was growing increasingly uncomfortable by how Garrus was behaving; bloodthirsty, obsessed and ruthless. It reminded me of Zaeed whose mission I've done before (and I knew Garrus was leagues above Zaeed as a moral character, which only made me more concerned for him). I wasn't one to cry for a PoS like Harkin getting roughed up, but I did stop Garrus from busting his cap at least. Don't shoot unarmed people. When it came to the finale, I gave Sidonis an opportunity to speak (something I probably wouldn't have done if he wasn't unarmed, in a public space, and Garrus wasn't seeing red), and learned that he was coerced by the mercs to betray his team. Through blackmail or torture, I don't know, but either way it was something that Garrus didn't care to find out or didn't tell Shepard. Was Sidonis lying? Garrus called him a coward, not a liar. So he was a man coerced to betray his friends and ruined by the guilt he felt. Garrus wasn't there to bring him to justice, he was looking for revenge so he could find closure and stop grieving. I believed in that moment that taking the shot was the easy, fast way to closure. Letting Sidonis go, forgiving, was the right way. If Shepard is stubborn enough, it is Garrus' decision to let Sidonis leave. The only thing Shepard forced him to do is to listen to the other side of the story and think it through before he pulls the trigger. Whether Sidonis is spared or not, Garrus will find peace and be loyal to Shepard. Closure isn't something in question during this mission, but whether Garrus learns something is. He admits as much, even though more mature than in ME1, he says that he still tends to see the world as black and white, doesn't know what to do with grey. But even when he's so angry and hurt, he does trust Shepard even when he doesn't trust himself. Whatever you, through Shepard, believe is healthier for him, what path he should take, he will trust your judgement, same as he did in the previous game.

As much as I love Mass Effect I always had the feeling that playing Renegade wasn't right. Because especially in ME 1 and 2 you save the galaxy anyway but you are simply being an asshole doing it. It never had the same impact as in Kotor 1 where you can choose between the Republic and the Sith Empire. That made an impact in the end at least in my opinion. I hope I didn't step on anyone's toes.

Thanks for your videos big dan!

Thank you for those clips

Im just sittin here like, “there are people who DIDNT warn sidonis?” 💀

I always warned Sidonis because in his position would any of us act different in a life or death situation. While he shouldn't escape justice, death would of been a quick of an escape for him. And if Garrus kills Sidonus he's is evading justice and become the very thing he hates.

This is basically the second "hardening" mission Garrus has, the first being the doctor in ME1. I feel that taking the shot makes Garrus more vigilante than protector. But, as you said, it doesn't affect anything, so it's more just a personal view than gameplay based.

Killing Sidonis: Revenge Sparing Sidonis: Redemption Talking with Sidonis and then killing him: Mercy (My choice)

I was practically looking for this video and coincidentally you have posted it today lol

I usually warn Sidonis and save him. I feel it gives Garrus more character development and it feels more satisfying.

After seeing Zaeed's loyalty mission, I'm now always afraid to get in the way of anyone's revenge.

"What a shame... He was a good man... What a rotten way to die." JC Garrus Denton probably

damn ive seen ur channel grow loads recently u deserve it these videos r amazing like im learning stuff i never knew

Big Dan The Man🔥

Excellent video. 👍😄

Yesterday I was playing the Arrival and at the station entrance I was wondering what happens if I stand there until the countdown reaches zero but I wasn't willing to wait two days and 3 hours for it.

I still wish we got a solo Garrus game where he's basically Jack Bauer in space.

I've never done this before so thank you for this.

I always warned Sidonis. Garrus hates injustice so I'm not letting my man murder a guy in cold blood.

Daaamn the original game looks so much rougher than I remember

Loving your content. Hope you can make more videos on cut content. I found your Mordin and Grunt video extremely interesting. I didn't know about it although I thought I had explored nearly everything on Mass Effect

Love your content big D You got me to replay mass effect

That shot after the talk is such a clean as fawk scene. "No more sleepless nights" *BLAP*

I always save Sidonis. It didn't feel in character for my Shepard to let her friend do this. It is also the best option for Garrus from a character development perspective, imo.

Lol he's like "this is big Dan, I should go"

I love warning sidonis, then saying you cant help him after the paragon interrupt. It lets both him and Garrus take a breath before both accepting why it needs to happen. Sidonis even thanks shepard as you step out of the way for the shot. Great dramatic flair if you play it right

Nice. I just did this one yesterday, and went the paragon route. Lovin' ME: LE!

I prefer letting Sidonis live. Garrus actually seems to feel worse about killing him than letting him go.

Garrus wouldn't hesitate to help us get revenge if the situations were reversed so I always let him take the shot.

I let Garrus shoot him the first time since I was scared to death of losing his loyalty, but it didn't feel right. Shepard's icy demeanor and Sidonis' feeble panic when he realized he'd been set up just disheartened me a bit. On replay, I stopped him and don't regret it at all. Seeing his real survivor's guilt and Garrus taking the high road, even bitterly, left my relationship with him feeling much more developed, and less dark.

I typically play Paragon Shepard, so my thoughts on sparing Sidonis is that while Garrus wants to bring justice down onto evildoers, this act would not be justice, but revenge. Revenge is rarely just. To also bounce off of Big Dan’s conclusion, to allow Garrus to kill Sidonis seems more like Garrus performing an assisted suicide, and the only one remaining who has to suffer the deaths of Garrus’ team is Garrus himself.

When I first did this quest I didn’t even know you could warn sidonis

Sometimes death is a kindness. This is especially applicable here

i respect what your doing! amazing work

Man, I couldn’t get out of the way fast enough. 🤣

Love how you are doing all these videos years after the game but as the legendary edition gets announced. Like you had this idea years ago but now is the best time.

“Gray…I’m not sure what to do with gray” There has never been a more true statement referring to our world

What I said on the Arrival DLC video... 😔 oh well at least you showed all the 4 options even though 3 of them are the same as the renegade choice... Keep it up! 👍

This is really a better version of Garrus' mission in ME1.

"Ten men are dead because of him!" "Will killing the eleventh bring them back?" Perfect. Love that line. Interestingly, I think there might be a glitch with this line on the Legendary Edition. No matter how high my Paragon is, I always get the other line. It's like the Paragon check line doesn't exist anymore.

Thanks.

I'm glad they fixed the broken glitchy background in this mission in the legendary edition.

I didn't even know there was a speech check on this mission. Good to know on my next playthrough.

I didn't even know there was a paragon speech check. Guess I never had enough every time.

"I should go." Is probably the greatest outro possible XD

"Betrayal repaid, Sidonis."

For me, I always warn Sidonis because killing him just makes his pain go away. Letting him live is a far worse punishment because he lives with severe survivors guilt. He considered these people his friends and he sold them out to save his own life (which is something most people would do). He feels such immense guilt that he can barely function enough to live. And saving him triggers one of my favorite quotes: Shepard- "The lines between good and evil blur when we're looking at people we know."

From a point of view of personal evolution and character building, after watching this, I now believe that sparing Sidonis is the best way to handle the mission. As many others before, I have always let Garrus take the shot thinking that it wouldn't be possible to get his loyalty otherwise. And who wouldn't want to secure Garrus' loyalty.

Might have to roll back my save a bit because of the mass effect 1 mission

I always thought my TV was causing the shadows problems in game.

I didn't even know you can stall with talk. I always thought he would get suspicious and run away if I try to keep talking to long. DUCK!

I thought that killing Sidonis would be the only way to earn Garrus' loyalty, hence why I was afraid to warn him. Now that I know that you earn it regardless, and that Sidonis feels guilty (and not just a little bit - he is literally being haunted by his own actions), I know I would spare him, give him a chance to redeem himself. Especially since Garrus himself says that he still feels the good in him. This is not what I would have done if I was in Shepard's place, but it's what I would do if I could see the future and consequences of my actions.

I never warned sidonis Never wanted to risk not getting his loyalty

Is RU-vid spying on me? I literally just did this mission last night and now its in my recommendations

This is one the best moments in Mass Effect 2

So much better to spare him. That's character development

Hehe a badass alien renegade, more than enough reason why Garrus is my favorite character

Wow. I had no idea he had any remorse.

This is the first time I’ve seen this. I always just let my boy do his thing haha.

someone else love 7:37? I played this part like that, warn Sidonis and help Garrus spare his life. The sweet touches there, his reply, I love it

watching this, i just realized I've never had the true paragon response on this mission. Don't know how though as i try to be paragon XD

I love how the mission almost screams "Sidonis is innocent!" But you can just kill him.

Can't wait for the mass effect legendary edition remastered a

Give it time. Yeah,... maybe that'll be enough... Jesus these games are so well written.

4:28 - Damn, that subtle nod.

I think warning Sidonis is the right choice. Garrus is a good person, he doesn’t need revenge to make up for anything. He’s better than that. ❤️

That color scheme for male shep is 👌

I'm glad you have these videos so I can see the choices I'd never make.

I could have sworn Garrus had red eyes like Renegade Shepard had.

This scenario is (among other ways you can look at it) a test of Shepard's leadership. Do you go along with Garrus and let him have his way because you're worried he'll be mad at you? That he'll stop being your friend? Or do you stand up, draw a line in the sand and set the example? Do you lead?

I like the mass effect 1 remaster, but FUCK its hard to wait for mass effect 2

Strange. In Legendary Edition, I had enough Paragon to pass the speech check, but the response at the end was as if I didn't.

Me:Wait... this needs to be a video? This wasn't the default??

I always play Paragon and I never warned him before becouse I believed Garrus that he deserved it and didn’t want to lose his loyalty. Now knowing what happens if I play again I’ll go this option instead. I didn’t realize that there wasn’t any negative consequences for not letting Garrus take the shot.

Imagine what could have been with ME3 if it wasn't rushed. Sidonis could have been at the very least a war asset, someone who protected civilians escaping Palaven, or even better from a story stand point, been in the Citadel DLC. Hear me out, Garrus would get a message from him asking to meet at the bar. He asks you to come with for moral support if nothing else. Once there and they get past the silence of the the first round of drinks, Sidonis tells Garrus everything. How they threatened him with not just his life, but the life of a lover, who he found out after he betrayed Garrus was killed anyways. He regrets not being able to save his team or his love, but Garrus hunting him down gave him the motivation do a bit of hunting himself. He asks Garrus and you to help him hunt down the person who killed his lover. And Unlike Sidonis, this person IS an actual stain that should be removed with extreme prejudice.

If you haven't read the comics, Sidonus didn't have any choice. He was tied to a chair and beaten before he made the call.

A minute long scene prolonged to hit the 10 minute mark... Nice.

I like to take more of a backseat role during loyalty missions. I see myself more as a means to an end for my squadmates, if I'm going to ask my squadmates to go to great lengths to help me, I usually make sure they get what they think is best for them. like here, if Garrus thinks he would get closure by killing Sidonis, who am I to say no?

Renegade is my personal favourite route to take.

You can see Garrus rifle shaking during this.

Garus is the kind of renegade that's renegade because he need shepard to be paragon. he's a good boy, he just need the right guidance

No way I'm letting that bastard live! No more sleepless nights for either of us is just to damn poetic anyway.

I was sure when you save SIdonis in ME2 Garrus mention him in ME3. "Your Turian friend doesnt sleep better" or something like that

Makes me think of Ravel's riddle in Planescape: Torment. What can change the nature of a man? Regret.

I am fairly sure that if you let Sidonis live, there will be a news report on the Citadel in Mass Effect 3 that says he did something positive in the Reaper War effort. Might be worth a slight war asset, i can't remeber. Long time since I played ME 3. But seems I'll get another chance soon :)

As many in the comments, I just can't say no to Garrus. Thanks for showing things I never could or would.

I didnt expect anything from trying to talk garrus down. I always let him take the shot feeling I owed it too him.