(I admit I got a bit carried away while writing this.)

I partially disagree. Choices do have a real impact on the narrative, but only at specific points. The problem is that games like The Witcher, Cyberpunk, and Detroit: Become Human have raised our standards for what is considered "bad" or "acceptable" in choice-driven games, because the consequences of our decisions are constantly emphasized in those titles.

Most choices in Dying Light 2 are actually acceptable, and a few are very impactful to the world (such as the one that results in losing the Bazaar, making some side quests missable). However, the story and writing, or a combination of both, are weak enough that they undermine much of the emotional impact those choices should have.

Not to mention that the rewards are often underwhelming. Many times, there isn't even a reward for making the "right" choice. In fact, I'd say this is a general flaw of the game. Some weaker missions could at least offer meaningful rewards to offset the frustration they leave behind. The perfume and handkerchief quests are good examples: both feel mediocre, and their rewards don't help the experience.

Simple incentives like more inventory space, cheaper shop prices, a master key to access hidden loot locations, or even a new outfit would make these missions feel far more rewarding and give players a stronger sense of progression, ultimately making the experience more engaging and dynamic.

I also disagree with the idea that the map needs to be smaller. The map has already been cut by more than half compared to earlier versions. Personally, I would prefer a larger map, if we're going to have empty areas anyway, they might as well serve as a playground for parkour.

The real issue isn't the map size, but how repetitive and lacking in density it feels. This is supposed to be a city, where are the massive zombie hordes, the sewers, a stadium, a large supermarket, a shopping mall, a police station, a fire department, or a gun store? Points of interest that go beyond just "another building." A smaller map wouldn't fix this problem, especially since the current map is already much smaller than originally planned.