We need to talk, us gamers have a problem. A problem with an NPC, a particular type of NPC in fact, the companion. We’ve all had some bad experiences with them from Skyrim to Fallout and everything in between. However, there have been some occasions where our companions have been more than just aw fancy barricade stopping you from walking through that door and so I was wondering what makes a good and a bad follower?
When it comes to the bad one follower springs to mind instantly. A follower that is little more than a noise machine. This NPC was so annoying that it was funny. I’m talking about the short neon yellow-haired Adoring Fan. The Adoring Fan basically summarised everything that a bad follower in gaming could be. He had little personality, an annoying voice with an annoying set of catchphrases he’d say over and over again and was little more than a fancy torch holder.
I think these early iterations of the companions we see in modern gaming are the reason they have such a poor reputation. The Adoring Fan refused to fight and couldn’t carry your rubbish so is an extreme in that regard. But older followers tend to be less useful in combat, and have very little function other than getting spotted when you try to sneak. On top of this they tend to be less fleshed out characters, with little personality or story to them its harder to become attached or get to know them.
So what makes a good follower? Well modern games seem to be getting better at developing followers we actually like. Far Cry 5 as an example has some great followers, Far Cry offers a wide range of NPCs all with personality and back story and quests associated that help you to become attached to them. Fallout 4 also improved on Skyrim by having their followers work in a very similar way, with quests and dialogue opening up the longer you spend and the more you get to know the follower.
Companions in games like The Last of Us and The Walking Dead have perhaps been some of the most successful of recent years. The narrative heavy storylines, the back story and the relationship between the protagonist and the companion all come together to make some of the most unforgettable characters in gaming.
In all its clear from exploring the options that followers have been a mixed bag over the years. However, there is a clear improvement in the companions of the most modern games. The new wave of NPC are far more fleshed out and developed and they seem to be more useful in a fight. I think the thing that makes a good companion stand out from a bad one is the focus on making them more than just a glorified extension to your inventory. The best followers aren’t just “sworn to carry your burdens” but are dynamic and relatable and the sort of people you would want with you when embarking on your next adventure.
Comment below, what was your best or worst experience with a follower?
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Well Elizabeth in Bioshock Infinite kept me from dying on a number of occasions, so she’s definitely good.
Even though I think Elder Scrolls companions still need a lot of work, as they’re mostly the same person copied and pasted, I have quite fond memories of my time with Lydia (other than her many gruesome deaths because I set off a trap by accident).
My favorite, by far, are the companions in Fallout New Vegas. Their characters are so well fleshed out, and their motivations regarding how they feel about your character’s actions feel genuine. They also had different play styles, so you could pick the style that suits you. I usually walked around with Boone because I can’t shoot a Target from more than 2 inches away, so it was nice to have his sniping capabilities.
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I definitely think that the best companions are the ones that are more fleshed out. I prefered the Fallout 4 companions to Skyrim’s because they are more than just copied and pasted characters. I’ve not played New Vegas, how do their followers compare to Fallout 4’s?
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I like them better in New Vegas. Fallout 4 has a lot of companions, which gave more variability in how good they were. A lot of the companions also had minimal or no companion-specific quests, whereas every companion in New Vegas has a quest you can get after you build a relationship with them. I just think the companion plot arcs are overall stronger in New Vegas because it was a smaller cast of characters
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Man I really need to give new Vegas a play I think it sounds a lot better, I’d love more developed follower plot arcs even at the cost of a few less companions!
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Funnily enough, Elizabeth was the one that leapt to my mind too. She wasn’t a burden (keeping herself safe in combat), and actually provided support without being an active participant in fights.
The worst are ones in escort quests of course…
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Companions like Elizabeth with a clear role they do well always seem better and more memorable than the squishy escort Npcs that seem to run at the danger and kill them selves!
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Very much so. I also take issue with companions that are totally immune, or vanish during combat. At least give them a purpose!
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My favourite companion was the dog in Fable II. Loyal, willing fight, and able to dig up buried treasure when you need more gold!
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I forgot about the Fable II dog! He was great, and being able to find treasure was a bonus! I think animal companions always have an advantage over other followers in any game!
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The only trouble is… they also make you feel worse when something bad happens to them. 😢
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