Tag Along NPCs.

[VikingKing]

Dragon's Crown is a game that's been getting a lot of stick from folks for all kinds of reasons, but one I haven't heard from a lot of folks would be the topic's title. That of the numerous computer controlled characters I'm expected to drag along with me during game play, because the game was designed for multi-player, and the single player is a token side effort.

One of which is the thief, Rannie, who's needed to open doors and chests...because, reasons?

It doesn't help that Rannie is also prone to stealing coins if you don't pick them up fast enough, which is a wonderful way to endear me towards anyone.

Rather then making this another Dragon Crown hate topic, I figured we should all list the various NPCs we're forced to drag along during our time playing a game. In particular, these should be the kind that reduce the fun you end up having, whether they're doing what the designers intended or because the game is glitching out like crazy.

 

[Rack]

Aww, I was going to talk about Elizabeth as well. Borderlands 2 did this mercifully infrequently but they were murderous little traitors whenever you did get them. They'd either run off and pull lines of enemies towards you or kill enemies just before you got a revival and leave you to bleed out. Still I'm glad mostly AI has worked out how to avoid the "I'm going to stand in this doorway now, forever locking you in that room." trick.

 

[CloudAtlas]

Aww, I was going to talk about Elizabeth as well.

Which Elizabeth? Bioshocks?

 

[captainballsack]

On a brighter note, Alyx from Half-Life is the perfect example of a fantastic tag along NPC.

 

[Rack]

Aww, I was going to talk about Elizabeth as well.

Which Elizabeth? Bioshocks?

Yeah, while it caused some gameplay oddities (the extent she threw you ammo was a bit forced) they did a really excellent job of tying her into the narrative.

 

[Tarcolt]

Henpecked Hou - Jade Empire, his entire existence is to get you drunk...

 

[Ruley]

In the early Halo games, Cortana was a joy to have tagging along. She was witty, sarcastic and carried a lot of the games humor.

 

[RJ 17]

Pretty much any game that involves "escort quests". Nothing worse than being able to handle your own against the baddies of a particular area only to have "Quest Failed" pop up because "Oh look! The dipshit I was escorting decided to run off ahead of me and get gang-banged by a bunch of bandits" or something. One in particular I remember being a huge pain in the ass is from Dead Island. There's a guy you have to escort in order to get to the sewers...doesn't matter how many zombies you're trying to fight off, he just keeps on going so if you get slowed down he's already have a block away getting his face chewed off. The best part is the quest is entirely pointless. He lets you into the sewers because he has the key or something then just stands there at the entrance inside the sewers and tells you how to open the flood gates (or something, can't remember for sure) that will let you go deeper into the sewers. He does absolutely nothing for you, they could have easily just given you the key to the sewers and said "Once inside, you'll have to do this so you can open the gate and get to the next section." But no, they stuck you with this moron.

 

[kasperbbs]

Any recent COD, BF title, you shoot everyone in the face and then wait for your squadmates to stop chitchating and open the door for you.

And i'm not sure if skyrim counts since most of the time you can tell your followers to get the hell out, but when they are required for some quests it's a pain in the ass for stealthy people, they activate every trap in sight and attract every single living being in the nearby area. Also you have to fus ro dah them out of your way because they love to stand in the doorway.

 

[CloudAtlas]

Aww, I was going to talk about Elizabeth as well.

Which Elizabeth? Bioshocks?

Yeah, while it caused some gameplay oddities (the extent she threw you ammo was a bit forced) they did a really excellent job of tying her into the narrative.

You had me worried for a moment that you'll cite her as an example for a bad companion.

Never seen a better one.

 

[Not Matt]

Fallout New Vegas's rex and Raul (I usually called him Raul ghuke though, after Raul duke) we're both loyal and helpful nps. Easy to micromanage and fun to talk to when I was bored and cool quips and statements spouted from Raul is the middle of nothing. Rex didn't talk much.

I won't even bother to say why I liked Elisabeth from bioshock and alyx because let's face it. Everyone know they are good nps already.

 

[KarmaTheAlligator]

Pretty much any recent Bethesda game where you have to use companions on a specific mission is a nightmare. Not only do they have the tendency to attack everything in sight like suicidal lemmings, they also love to stand in doorways and such, making it impossible to go through.