It's dangerous to go alone

Expectations subverted, we're not talking about swords or LoZ

In single-player games especially, sometimes the journeys get a bit lonely and you just want to have a partner or a pet or a follower around, some sort of companion. Sometimes these are just given to you whether you want a companion or not, other times you gotta jump through a few hoops to get a specific follower to join you on the road.

Who are some of your favourite and least favourite companions in games? Do you generally prefer going alone and not having to worry about additional party members, or do you like the company?

I can't think of favourites, but I love the companions/pers/followers that you need to jump through hoops to obtain. It makes them joining you feel more special, like you've earned it.

I prefer going alone, that way the AI can't mess up my glorious planning and timings

Offhand, I can't think of a game where having a partner has actually been helpful in any way. AI generally doesn't like co-operating in any way when it's supposed to be helpful, and having a companion along for the ride is often barely one step removed from an escort mission...and those are NEVER fun.

The worst companions I can think of are Ashley and Sheva in Resident Evil. Ironically I find Sheva WORSE than Ashley because you have to micro-manage her inventory to the extreme to get her to do anything right, which is far more draining than moving forward at a snail's pace to make sure nobody tries to carry Ashley off.

Most of my games I own have followers accompanying me on my journey and I like it when I have companions and they also help me in battles.

just leaving this handsome mug here as best companion of all time

Companions make good meat shields.

I dunno really... I suppose Sparx from Spyro games comes to mind easily.

Zelda from The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks and Yorda from ICO are two of my favorite companions.

Good company is usually better than no company unless isolation is a key part of the game.

New Vegas companions were good. Midna from TP, Ezlo from Minish Cap, Zelda from Spirit Tracks were all good companions I liked from tLoZ. Adoring Fan from Oblivion is a great TES companion.

Speaking of TES, I really liked Cicero as a companion in Skyrim. He's pretty divisive, I know people either hated him or loved him, and obviously I'm in the latter group. :P

Anyone who provides fun comments and entertainment is always welcome to me - I don't necessarily expect companions to help or be useful, but as long as they're not actively detrimental sometimes it's just fun to have them tag along. Ellie from The Last of Us is another one I can think of.

strangerhypno said:

New Vegas companions were good. Midna from TP, Ezlo from Minish Cap, Zelda from Spirit Tracks were all good companions I liked from tLoZ. Adoring Fan from Oblivion is a great TES companion.

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:t037: So I take it Navi isn't on your list for tLoZ?

But yeah for me, I found the AI to be a pain or hindered my progress as opposed to being a beneficial help. Surprisingly even though Navi can be annoying, the first time through Navi was actually helpful. Then on replays, that opinion changed... ugh. At least the hand-holding or advice isn't as bad as in some Pokemon games.

Disturbed said:

just leaving this handsome mug here as best companion of all time

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Boone is best, but my Fallout follow ups are

I liked having Chop around in GTA V, shame there was hardly any missions etc where it could happen.

Favourite is probably Sparx though, now thinking about that I really need to get back into the PS1 Spyro games on my PS3.

CHOP

I used the app and everything, wasn't great but it was kinda funny. Doggo companions in games are always welcome.

Pokemon's kinda like a game with lots of partners. And it does feel less alone =)

Kirby Super Star/Ultra had the ability to make partners too though they can also die easily which is a bit sad. Though the comically cute style of the game has made me put up with it and.....I just think theres something silly involved in the partner deaths on some level and they are somehow not really 'dead' in the end. That mentally generally helped me :3

Kirby partners were also awesome. They really did help you. Knuckle Joe was one I especially enjoyed (surprised? yeah, leave it to an obsessed korrina fan to like the martial arts enemy/partner LOL).