Cannon Fodder Allies

[Saltyk]

Have you ever watched a show or anime and noticed that some allies, that are really strong are quite useless? Here are some examples.

Dragonball and Dragonball Z
This series basically exists to show how powerful Goku is. It doesn't matter if you are named Krillin or Vegeta, you can't beat anyone. Even Gohan needed dear old dad to cheer him on from the afterlife in order to defeat Cell.

Bleach
Not named Ichigo or Captain XYZ? You lose. No, you just lost. You can't win. Think of Renji. He's extremely powerful and even has a Bankai. But he can never win. Without counting filler, Renji has won one fight. The only filler I ever saw him fight in (I actually started to avoid filler like the plague), he lost. And he wasn't even fighting an actual opponent, but some bug like dolls of the Bounts. And Uryu isn't much better.

But this isn't just in anime. Ever play Dynasty Warriors or a similar game? Think of your allies. Not just the cannon fodder foot soldiers, but your "strong" commanders. How often do you save them from an advancing enemy? How often do you have to save them from their own stupid maneuvers and advances?

So Escapists, how do you feel about Cannon Fodder Allies? Do you have any other cases of useless allies?

 

[Lilani]

Gurren Lagaan is similar to DBZ in that no matter what they did, they needed Gurren Lagaan to succeed. It's a freaking awesome series, mind, but quite centralized around Simone.

Pokemon was a lot like that too, come to think of it. Ash always needed Pikachu...for everything. Rock or ground types? Psh! Pikachu still gets first pick.

 

[Worgen]

yeah, its annoying since it always comes down to the main char having to fight everything, dragon ball is the worst instance of this but alot of long running series suffer from this

really most games are similar to this, its always about the player and at best your allies just take a bit of extra fire

 

[SnootyEnglishman]

It's silly. Half the secondary character's in anime are usually somewhat stronger than the main but because the main has some sort of plot MacGuffin he has to save everyone.

 

[firedfns13]

So Escapists, how do you feel about Cannon Fodder Allies? Do you have any other cases of useless allies?

Oh my god yes!
Every single Ace Combat Game Ever!

Especially 6. I'm not quite sure how any country could get caught with their pants down around their ankles so badly their capital city is taken by complete surprise.

 

[Ignatz_Zwakh]

Pretty much 75% of all Shounen series involves allies who simply sit back and let the main character win everything.

 

[Celtic_Kerr]

It's basically like ANY FUcked-up-AI game. You start most M.O.H games as "Private and yet YOU lead point, YOU are given the trick tacticaly manuvers that make or break the plan, YOU take out the tanks while everyone covers you. Like... Shouldn't the more experianced people do shit?

 

[Saltyk]

yeah, its annoying since it always comes down to the main char having to fight everything, dragon ball is the worst instance of this but alot of long running series suffer from this

really most games are similar to this, its always about the player and at best your allies just take a bit of extra fire

Yeah, I'm really starting to notice this. And it really bugs me that the main character has to beat everyone while his allies, who are supposedly as strong as him, just get beaten easily. They basically exist to show how strong this new enemy is. This is annoying when I like the ally, or they are rather arrogant about their strength.

It also bugs me when my allies in a game are worthless in a fight. Standing in the same spot. Sitting in plain view of enemy fire. Or rushing headlong into death. I don't even have to name a specific game, because I'm sure plenty of you can do that.

 

[demoman_chaos]

Dragonball GT was by far the worst I've seen. At least in DBZ the other characters did something. In GT it was all Goku and his SS4 form (which is supposed to be the strongest thign ever) was always getting its ass kicked.

There really aren't many games with strong allies that are actually strong while still being able to die. The only one that comes to mind is Fawkes from Fallout 3 (he made all other companions pointless). In most games important AI character can't die, which is cheating (like COD characters who die in cutscenes from 1 hit right after shrugging off 20 or 30 just a few minutes ago).

 

[bassie302]

the soldiers in Pit of Saron spring to mind. Right as you enter the dungeon, you're accompanied by three dozen of the finest troops the argent crusade has to offer. Every last one of them trained in the Crusader's colliseum. One minute later they've all been mowed down and turned into undead. They weren't even useful as a distraction, since the one man that killed all of them already knows five slightly less moronic heroes tagged along as well, all having that annoying immunity to his death touch.

 

[kikon9]

Dr Who has this. They always have the human military, yet they somehow NEED the doctor if there's anything more than a mouse threatening them. Also, the companions are really only there to be told not to do anything.

 

[Shrifes]

the soldiers in Pit of Saron spring to mind. Right as you enter the dungeon, you're accompanied by three dozen of the finest troops the argent crusade has to offer. Every last one of them trained in the Crusader's colliseum. One minute later they've all been mowed down and turned into undead. They weren't even useful as a distraction, since the one man that killed all of them already knows five slightly less moronic heroes tagged along as well, all having that annoying immunity to his death touch.

I love it when I run in there in gear I know is worse then their but they die while I'm forced to clean the place out. Plus with Jaina or Sylvanas there shouldn't she be able to take out everything in there.