It’s always nice to know that someone’s got your back, even if it’s just a computer-controlled character.
Companion AI Meaning in Games
When a game gives players an option to control a character, sometimes there’s also a possibility of getting a companion that will follow them and provide support in one way or another. This may happen in a variety of genres but most often you’ll find AI companions in role-playing games, action-adventures, and shooters.
NPC allies can be assigned by the game by default or they may be optional, giving the player an option to choose who they want to travel with.
Sometimes games make it possible to give your companion orders and ask them to do simple tasks for you. Other times the companion may be more of an independent entity that simply follows you around and acts on their own.
Companions can provide invaluable support in combat but their usefulness doesn’t stop there; sometimes they can provide you with extra resources or give you helpful tips as well. They can also comment on your actions and the events happening around you, which helps to build immersion and creates a bond between the player and the companion.
Sometimes we get temporary allies that follow us until we complete a certain objective.
It’s also worth noting that AI companions don’t necessarily need to have a physical form. They can also be like an intelligent virtual assistant that exists exclusively in a digital form.
Let’s take a look at some examples of what is companion AI in video games.
The Last of Us
In the first The Last of Us game, you’ll be playing mostly as Joel who’s accompanied by Ellie. Even though she’s just a young girl and won’t help you too much when it comes to combat, it’s still nice to have her around to brighten your day in a world overrun by zombies. Other characters will temporarily join you at different parts of the game and will be more capable of fighting but the game at its core focuses more on exploration and telling a story, so it shouldn’t be too much of an issue.
Skyrim
In The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, you’ll be able to freely choose a companion to follow you closely and provide aid not only in combat but also in other small tasks. For example, you can give them some of your stuff to carry if you’re over-encumbered. There are quite a lot of companions to choose from but, even though they may have access to different skills and excel at different things, at the end of the day they’re quite similar to each other, so you’ll probably base your choice on their appearance and personality.
Fallout 4
In Fallout 4 you will also be able to freely choose your partner but the choice here seems to be a bit more important than it is in Skyrim. That’s partly because companions in Fallout 4 may have their own stories you can play through – it’s a great way to learn more about the character and the world’s lore. Maxing out affinity with a companion also gives you a special perk, which may come in handy. Ultimately, however, when you’re done with that part, the choice doesn’t seem to be particularly important; all companions will be equally useful.