the AI controlled 'helper'

[Vrach]

I hated them for ages, friendly AI seems to be really complicated for programmers, it's the worst of the lot, I guess because they partly depend on your own actions, which are never 100% predictable. Mass Effect 2 had really good friendly AI (probably the best I've seen), but it followed the golden rule - it's ok if they die

Really that's the biggest problem with it. If a companion is someone/something you have to babysit and protect at all costs, they're pretty much automatically annoying. There's also the matter of them getting stuck in something, but it seems by now most devs learned to put a line in of "if companion on follow & x yards away => teleport companion to player" which pretty much solves it for the most part (although ofc if it happens too often, it's irritating, but it's been less and less of an issue). Partial player control also generally makes them a lot more useful (one more cheer for Mass Effect) and eliminates that "just a brainless idiot following me around" aspect (which would probably mostly disappear with good/perfect AI but we're not there yet).

AI seems to be one of the least developed gaming aspects though and I think we can expect some advancement made there, it's just a matter of time before someone revolutionizes it (though I'm betting the first game that does will suck on most other aspects).

 

[Rakkana]

If I can kill without consequence I'll usually do it. Heck even when there is consequence. They're more a burden then a help so best to put them out there misery.

 

[Cory Rydell]

I have yet to really like any AI in any tough game. Extra soldiers in any shooter kinda help out but they can just be written off as fodder that flesh out the levels and add some reality to your testosterone fueled killing spree. I think the L4d's and alien swarm prove that AI is absolutely no match for anything resembling human in video games. Maybe give it ten years and we can start seeing some proper, skynet-level AI in games.

 

[Rewold]

Henchmen in Guild Wars know what they are doing(most of the time) in PVE. Other than that I can't really remember that helpful AIs

 

[Cyanin]

KotOR: Woefully annoying as you had to go over to them constantly to make sure they were doing what you wanted, might as well have been turn based.

KotOR II: Now there's a refreshing little shift, gave you the opportunity to strategize and give them a basic over-all action, "heal" or "kill everything that ain't glowing with a halo of golden love"

Mass Effect 2: (Didn't play the first one, which is why that ain't getting an honourable mention. =P) Great AI, no real problems with it, they did their job, if not with as much zeal for headshots as myself. =P

 

[MIIK900]

Party members in the first Mass Effect were nearly suicidal if left to their own devices. This is especially noticeable in the higher difficulties. It was greatly ( I mean, GREATLY) improved for the sequel though.

 

[Desgardes]

I don't really like ai controlled helpers, especially when they're in a squad I'm commanding. It's why I like being able to give them commands, the more detailed the better. Having a sort of standby mode is nice, but it is so dependent on the game what I'll want or need them to do that trusting it to any computer ultimately fails me.

 

[squid5580]

It really depends on how important the partner is. If victory or defeat hinges on their survival forget it. If it is like Fallout where they are there but aren't important than sure.

 

[silver wolf009]

My first thought, "Reloading", "Relaoding" "RELOADING!!"

Curse the left 4 dead ally.

 

[sarge1942]

AI "helpers" are very helpful on hard levels WHEN THEY WORK, mainly those who have unlimited health, the only actual helpful AI i can recall are the other soldiers with you in Call of Duty Modern Warefare, on the snowy levels and other places that i can't see what is in front of me so i just follow them and hide when the enemy pops up, and my favourite AI is from Time Splitters future perfect, they were invincable, they could fight, there were no items for them to use they would only attack if they were attacked or if they enemy noticed you, no running into the enemy on stealth missions, and the robot made for good cover in a firefight. Other than these AI though most of them are terrible walking into gunfire and losing the game for you, although i didn't find the AI in GTA4 as bad as some people have said.

 

[Midnight Crossroads]

I don't really like them. The AI has its idea on how to overcome obstacles, and I have mine. Usually mine are better. Take Dragon Age. Liana, left to her own devices, will specialize in archery, yet will only use melee in actual combat. This basically means I can't give her a dagger for stats.

I've never seen a good healing system. Kingdom Hearts was alright, but I always ended up restocking Goofy after every battle because he went through eight potions.

 

[Jfswift]

I do like AI helpers like the sentry gun in TF2 or my teammates in Left for Dead 1. They greatly assist me during gameplay. What I don't like are "stupid" AI's like in Left for Dead 2. (maybe it's the same programming but I swear they don't act the same in 2, they seem considerably dumber and less accurate now.)

 

[Mr. Gency]

Am I the only person who doesn't have any problems with friendly AI?

And, no. I never played RE5 alone.

The AI teammate in RE5. I played solo (as I do all games), and playing on the hardest difficulty was annoying as it was almost always where one-hit would take you down. Your teammate can revive you if they do it really quick, but mine never did, even when she was RIGHT F***ING NEXT TO ME!

It's as if friendly AI is made like that so you'd make a friend buy the game so you don't have to worry about Sheva.

 

[Mr. Gency]

I've never seen a good healing system. Kingdom Hearts was alright, but I always ended up restocking Goofy after every battle because he went through eight potions.

I've never worried about AI team mates in Kingdom Hearts.

I die, it's game over.
They die, they wait in the corner for a few minutes, then come back.

 

[Treeinthewoods]

I like how in ME2 on Insanity your squadmates are all desperate to commit suicide. Seriously, they just want to die so I can't use their powers. It's better to just stash them in cover a room behind you so you can use whatever power they have when you need it.

 

[RvLeshrac]

*OPsnip*

One sentence:

"I CAN'T LEAVE WITHOUT MAH BUDDY SUPAFLY!"

*edit*

OK, I guess I can give a positive: I had pretty good luck with AI control in all the Star Ocean and .hack// games.

 

[Zaik]

The ones in Dragon Age: Origins, weren't TERRIBLE, but i thought it was worth noting that I was specifically a mage so that I could kill them over and over and over.

 

[chromewarriorXIII]

I've found that it works pretty well in Tales of Symphonia. You can customize the strategies of the AI so that some people will hold back or conserve their mana and such. I actually prefer playing with the AI than with another person.

 

[PureChaos]

*OPsnip*

One sentence:

"I CAN'T LEAVE WITHOUT MAH BUDDY SUPAFLY!"

i'm assuming that's a reference to something?

 

[Maximushski]

I liked putting rocket soldiers on the back of a quad in halo3. They never run out of ammo, and lead targets really well. As long as you maintain a minimum distance from other vehicles, walls and uphill slopes. When they target enemies over the hill they often shoot straight into the ground.