At last the Christmas season has come again, and so has Listmas, one of our longest- running traditions here at Virtual Bastion! As Cary explained earlier this week, this year we’re looking at the best gifts in gaming: all the friends, allies and companions we’ve gotten to journey with over the years. As fun as solo journeys are in games, they’re always just that much better when you’ve got some fun characters around to share it. So with all that said, here are some of my personal favorites.
Diddy Kong (Donkey Kong Country)
Two of my favorite games growing up were Donkey Kong Country 1 and 2. While they were (and still are) all kinds of fun for the usual video game reasons, the dynamic be- tween Diddy and Donkey/Dixie Kong really added to it. It’s not so much that there were any great character moments between them. Rather, both pairs just look like a confident and competent team, and Diddy was always pulling goofy antics when idling or clearing a level.
It added a much needed bit of warmth to the experience and, oddly, kinda made me feel like I was part of the team too. The original Donkey Kong trilogy often had a somewhat lonely feeling to it, but, with Diddy there, it felt like I was adventuring with a buddy rather than wandering by my lonesome.
Kazooie (Banjo-Kazooie)
If you’ve ever played Banjo-Kazooie, then you’ll know that Kazooie is kind of a jerk: She’s loud, abrasive, surly, crabby and all too willing to throw out insults at the first opportunity. Not exactly qualities you would pick in a companion, right? Yet, she’s still one of the best adventure buddies out there. Because, for all her bluster, Kazooie is one of the most de- pendable friends in all of gaming.
Kazooie might be the one riding in the backpack, but she’s the one that learns most of the special abilities in the game and risks all kinds of cranium damage thanks to the “Beak Buster” ground pound move. She’s also willing to calm down whenever Banjo calls her out, and she does listen to characters like Bottles despite berating him every chance she gets. She’s surly, but she’s neither stubborn nor lazy, and that makes her one of the better companion characters out there.
Varric Tethras (Dragon Age II)
Dragon Age II was once the most disliked game in the series, but consensus still said that its characters were still fun and interesting. Out of the everyone in the Dragon Age II crew, tough, Varric Tethras stands out the most. Why? Because he’s your ride or die bro pretty much right from the outset. Unless you deliberately set out to make him hate you, Varric is going to be your steadfast friend no matter what. He’s got his own code, but he genu- inely tries to see Hawke’s logic for each decision.
This continues in Dragon Age: Inquisition too, where Varric again proves a loyal and in- valuable companion. As for the man himself, he’s a competent marksman, a savvy trader and highly knowledgeable about dwarven politics. He’s also just got a certain charisma, you know? The man is fun to be around, is always ready to crack a joke, and does his best to keep things light and keep everyone working together. Seriously, Varric is a real one for sure.
Wrex and Tali (Mass Effect)
There was a time when I was kind of obsessed with Mass Effect. I just couldn’t get enough of the galaxy and characters that BioWare had created. Almost all of the companion char- acters across all three games were likeable were one way or another, but for me the big- gest standouts were Wrex and Tali.
It’s not so much their personal stories (even thought they were fantastic) that made them stand out. Rather, it was how they related to Shepard and the energy they brought as party members. With Wrex, Shepard really had to earn his respect over the course of ME1, and he remains a loyal friend ever after (so long as Shepard can keep proving his combat prowess). You can trust him, but only because you really are just that good (and persuasive).
As for Tali, she was someone who, while proving herself to be fully competent and able to take care of herself, you can’t help but want to help out. Her expertise often came in handy for Shepard, and her perspective as a galactic nomad was often quite interesting. Her and Wrex’s banter in ME1 was pretty entertaining too thanks to how different they were from one another.
Midna (The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess)
Out of all the travel companions Link has had over the years, Midna might be the only one who was actually fun to have around. Not only did Nintendo give a cool voice and design, they actually gave her interesting things to say as you adventured. They also kept interruptions to a minimum, ensuring that she wouldn’t become annoying like Navi, Fi, or Tatl.
She also grows with Link over the course of the story, going from annoying imp to treas- ured friend. She’s invested in Link’s safety and success, not content with just being a mere passenger. We actually get meaningful conversations with Midna and see her grow as a character, with it all ultimately paying off with her transformation in the end. Truly, Midna might just be the very best part of Twilight Princess and the best reason to go back and replay it today.
Who are some of your favorite companion characters? What made them stand out to you? Let’s talk about it below, and then stay tuned for more Listmas!
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