It's dangerous to go alone. It's an idea that dates back to 1986's The Legend of Zelda and is still just as true today as it was then. Instead of a sword, many developers now opt to provide players with a companion to accompany them on their journey.
Quite often these characters help to improve gameplay and strengthen a game's narrative. They can assist the player when solving puzzles or use special abilities to make combat a bit easier. Sometimes they just help to lighten the mood. Things don't always go to plan however. For every great companion, there's one that ends up being extra baggage that needs to be dragged kicking and screaming across a vast world.
10 Annoying: Navi (The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time)
Hey. Listen. Anybody who has played Ocarina of Time to completion will have these two words forever etched into their memory. Although Navi's limited vocabulary was likely a consequence of the lack of storage available in N64 cartridges, that doesn't make it any less annoying. Navi may have had something important to say more often than not, but the way that she went about informing Link of this left a lot to be desired.
9 Useful: Elika (Prince Of Persia)
Elika is one of the most useful companion characters in all of gaming, let alone the Prince of Persia series. Not only does she help the Prince out in combat, but she can also rewind time. This means that the player need no longer fear misjudging a jump or mistiming a dodge. For all intents and purposes, Elika makes the Prince invincible (or maybe, inPRINCEible?)
It could certainly be argued that removing death from the game lowers the stakes dramatically and destroys any sense of accomplishment that there is to be found in its completion. As a useful companion character though, Elika is definitely up there with the very best.
8 Annoying: Tails (Sonic The Hedgehog)
Thanks to some terrible A.I, Tails spent most of Sonic the Hedgehog either lagging behind the blue blur or dying. Things haven't really improved much over time. As the series has progressed, Tails has begun to play a more significant role in the games' stories. Unfortunately, his character is completely bereft of any sort of personality and was given an insufferable voice to boot.
7 Useful: Ellie (The Last Of Us)
Watching Ellie and Joel's relationship develop as they traversed what remained of America was an absolute joy to behold. Ellie plays an integral role in helping Joel to come to terms with the loss of his daughter whilst also overcoming some of her own demons along the way.
Were it not for Ellie, it's doubtful that the events that transpired during the early stages of The Last of Us Part 2 would have been anywhere near as impactful. Nor would the events of The Last of Us been anywhere near as enjoyable.
6 Annoying: Slippy Toad (Star Fox 64)
If Slippy's voice wasn't already annoying enough, that he's constantly asking for help should be enough to have players barrel-rolling towards insanity.
Star Fox 64 is a game that rewards the player for remaining focused. Unfortunately, it's not always easy to do this with Slippy constantly screeching through the Arwing's intercom system. When compared with the rest of the Star Fox team, Slippy is undoubtedly the weakest link.
5 Useful: Midna (The Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Princess)
Companion characters in Zelda games really are a mixed bag. When Miyamoto and co. get it right though, they really hit the mark. Midna's character arc in Twilight Princess is far more compelling than that of any other character in the entire series. Her personality has depth and her connection with the things around her really makes her feel like a part of the game's world rather than just a character who's been thrown in to aid the player on their journey.
Better still, Midna's abilities are incredibly useful when it comes to both combat and travelling around Hyrule. These abilities unlock and develop as the story progresses too, which when combined with her growth as a character, really helps to convey a sense of progress.
4 Annoying: Ashley Graham (Resident Evil 4)
Resident Evil 4's Ashley Graham is the stereotypical damsel in distress. Sadly, that's the last thing that a player needs while fighting off hordes of flesh-hungry zombies.
Ashley is like a ball and chain bolted firmly around Leon's ankles. She slows progress, she increases the chances of taking damage and she does nothing to aid the player in combat. Worst of all, her constant cries of "Leon, Help!" whenever danger is looming completely cut through the suspense for which the series is best known.
3 Useful: Glados & Wheatley (Portal 2)
Wheatley and Glados alternate between the roles of companion and villain throughout the events of Portal 2, with each bringing something completely different to the roles.
While Wheatley serves as the game's comic relief, Glados' razor-sharp wit provides both tension and humor as Chell explores Aperture. Despite the drastic differences in their personalities though, they complement each other perfectly. Considering the solitary nature of the game, Glados and Wheatley really are an integral part of the Portal 2 experience.
2 Annoying: Fi (The Legend Of Zelda: Skyward Sword)
Fi's character design is pretty much the only interesting thing about her. She's repetitive, she's annoying and at times can be downright unhelpful. All things considered, Fi is the very definition of a terrible companion character.
What makes Fi so infuriating though is her tendency to point out the obvious. Whether it's telling the player that their health is low or pointing out that a locked door needs a key, her constant interruptions really break up the game's flow. She does serve as Skyward Sword's bestiary, but the occasional hints she gives do little to redeem her numerous flaws.
1 Useful: Mimir (God Of War)
Atreus may serve as God of War's primary companion character, but Mimir (or "Head", as Kratos likes to call him) undoubtedly steals the show. He might not offer much support in battle, but what he lacks in limbs, he certainly makes up for in charm. Although canonically it is Freya who resurrects Mimir, voice actor Alastair Duncan is the one responsible for truly bringing the severed head to life. His performance provides just the right mixture of humor and gravitas without it ever feeling like he or the writers are trying too hard.
Mimir's tales made traversing the game's massive open world an absolute pleasure. Whether rowing across The Lake of Nine or crossing the branches of the World Tree, his lessons on Nordic mythology were always a welcome addition. Mimir really is head and shoulders above all other companion characters. Given the circumstances though, perhaps like Kratos, it would be better to say that he is just "Head."