Video games have a unique ability to immerse players in a way other forms of media can’t. A good game with a fleshed-out, believable world can suck you in, turning your screen into a portal to a world of magic and fun. They can make you forget that you’re sitting on your couch and convince you that you’re on a true adventure.
Going on such adventures on your own can certainly make for a memorable experience. Just look at Breath of the Wild, Shadow of the Colossus, and just about every FromSoftware game post Demon’s Souls. Lonely journeys can be incredibly atmospheric and engaging.
But sometimes, I don’t want to spend my time alone. I already do plenty of that in real life. Sometimes it’s nice to have some company.
Luckily, plenty of games offer you a party of NPCs to keep you company.
Party members most commonly appear in RPGs. It’s easy to understand why. RPGs are story based games, and stories need characters. A well-written RPG will provide you with incredibly memorable party members with their own side stories that add extra depth to the experience. Plus, it allows you to experiment with other game mechanics, such as different classes, equipment, or abilities.
The most recent example is Baldur’s Gate 3. As amazing as that game is, I feel it’s safe to say most people latched on to the companions. Though that may just be because the player base is down bad. The amount of thirst I’ve seen for Astarion and Karlach alone make me wonder how many of these guys are playing the game in the Sahara Desert on a summer day at noon.
Hey, I ain’t judging. Karlach and Shadowheart press just about every button I have.
A large part of what makes these characters so memorable is how they react to the player’s actions. They don’t just smile and nod at every little thing you do. If you betray the Druid Grove and side with the goblins, for example, Halsin will try to kill you, and both Karlach and Wyll will ditch you before you can even blink. Did you kick Astarion in the balls? Hope you enjoyed the laugh, because he is gone!
By the way, Baldur’s Gate 1&2 did the same thing. This is your latest PSA to go back and play those two games. I am not asking anymore. I am telling you. Go. Play. Now.
Another great example of this can be found in Knights of the Old Republic. Near the end of the game, if you choose to betray the Jedi and fall to the Dark Side, all your Light-aligned party members will abandon ship. Some will try to kill you, others will simply run away. Either way, your only company in the Star Forge will be the heartless Mandalorian Canderous, the fallen Bastila, and the apathetic droids.
Jokes on you, morality, those are my favorite characters!
Not every RPG has this kind of system in place for your party. Final Fantasy games, for example, won’t ever take your party members away unless the plot demands it. In FFVII, it doesn’t matter what you do. Aerith will always die, Tifa will always stay with Cloud, and Cid will always go to space. Your only real choice in the matter is whether you’ll recruit optional members like Vincent and Yuffie and if you’ll actually use them in gameplay.
Is this a bad thing? Not if the party members are well written. Again, look at Final Fantasy VII. The characters may not react to your limited choices, but they’re all so memorable that it doesn’t matter! Their company is more than enough. Who wouldn’t want to travel the world with Barrett, Red XIII, or Tifa?
Think I’d pass on Vincent, Yuffie, and Cait Sith. I ain’t into vampires, children, or corporate spies with gambling addictions.
Some games forgo NPC party members and give you actual humans to play with. MMOs are basically built around this idea. Sure, you could play World of Warcraft entirely solo, but you wouldn’t be able to tackle the dungeons or raids without any friends. They’re social games, so you’re encouraged to actually socialize and make friends to put your adventuring party together. This in turn creates a community that keeps the game fresh and alive!
RPGs aren’t the only games to offer you companions. Although some of the examples I’ll use are admittedly a stretch on the definition. Like, could playing Mario Wonder with friends be considered playing with a party? I think so, you might not. Either way, if you steal a powerup I had dibs on, I’ll bring hell down on you for the rest of time.
Ico is a great example. In this puzzle game, you’re tasked with escorting a girl through a perilous land with nothing but your wits as defense. You’ve got to hold her hand and pull her along and work with her to solve puzzles. The relationship between you and her is built entirely through gameplay. You become emotionally invested in her safety without a single line of dialogue!
Is that an escort mission? Yes. Unfortunately, most non-RPG party members are just that. But there is such a good thing as a good escort mission!
Just look at Elizabeth in Bioshock: Infinite. She’s not just an incredibly likable plot-centric character. She assists you in combat, throwing you healing items or ammunition. You need her every bit as much as she needs you. It adds so much not just to the gameplay, but to the story as well. Elizabeth was already an interesting and memorable character, but with that extra gameplay touch, she became one of the most beloved characters in all of gaming!
Sometimes party members can even be something as simple as disposable allies. One of my favorite examples of this are the marines in Halo. Whether they live or die is completely inconsequential to you. But I always loved their banter so much that I’d make an active effort to protect them! Y’know, like Master Chief would actually do!
Not that he was ever any good at it. Dude is always the sole survivor.
Party members come in all different shapes and sizes. Fleshed out companions with stories of their own. Charming and goofy allies. Fellow players in a community. Whatever the case, if done well, they can add so much to a game, its world, its story, and the experience of the player.
Sure, going at it alone has its benefits. You can really soak in the atmosphere or and take on the role of a lone wanderer. You could summon a stranger online to help you kill Orenstein and Smough in Dark Souls, or you could prove your skills by going at it solo. The choice is yours.
But me? I prefer the company.
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