The twins from Atomic Heart are, of course, good. They provided the project with a significant share of the hype. But besides them, there are dozens of other robots in the games that are remembered: loyal comrades capable of self-sacrifice branded AI and pieces of iron with character. We decided to collect the most notable companion robots in one article.
Of course, a robot is a loose concept. Therefore, they decided not to limit themselves to the classic “terminators” and included androids, various implants, artificial intelligence, drones, and incomprehensible designs of the most unexpected purpose, for example, the sword from Transistor, into the list. In the end, what matters most? That's right - the soul! In our case, it is artificial and mostly metal.
Claptrap (Borderlands series)
Claptrap, also known as Claptrap (CL4P-TP), is an important character in the Borderlands universe. In the second part, he brings the player up to date, introduces the world, and helps at first, and in Borderlands: the Pre-Sequel he is one of the playable characters.
That's just those who began to get acquainted with the universe with Borderlands 2 may not guess that in fact, Claptrap is not the only one. This is a common name for a whole series of robots, each of which is characterized by irrepressible talkativeness and lack of self-preservation instinct. In the first part of Borderlands, a whole series of side quests is available to the player, in which you need to save Claptrap from the hardships of Pandora.
The track record of these guys is extensive. On Pandora, they served as helpers: they stood at the entrance to the settlements, communicated important information to guests, opened doors, and generally helped here and there.
Of course, in the end, they get bored of it - in the history of Pandora, there was an uprising of Claptrap, known as Robolution. Therefore, Handsome Jack, who came to power, destroys almost all robots in order to get rid of the threat, and in Borderlands 2 Claptrap remains almost the only one of its kind.
Clank (Ratchet & Clank series)
The Ratchet & Clank series has been on PlayStation consoles for over 20 years and is not well known outside of it. In the games of the series, we again and again, playing as Ratchet, save the galaxy from various threats. And the faithful friend of the big-eared hero, Clank, helps us in this.
Clank is a kind and sympathetic robot with an excellent sense of humor, who always seeks to help. He was “born” as a result of a failure at the factory for the production of combat robots: instead of a machine for destruction, he turned out to be a good-natured and altruist. All Clank's abilities cannot be remembered - in each game of the series, the arsenal of heroes changes.
But the character also has an "ultimate" - with the help of special rays, the robot can increase by 1000 times, gaining colossal strength and the ability to shoot rockets from its hands. This is if you forget about the excellent sense of humor and work as an actor in a series of films where he plays the role of a secret agent.
Rush's companion dog (Mega Man series)
Another robot companion, which is familiar to the "olds". In the Mega Man series, we can meet a companion dog named Rush. Dr. Light, the creator of Mega Man, designed the dog as his travel companion.
Rush is able to turn into tools and vehicles if you find the appropriate upgrades. In various games, he gets the form of a motorcycle, a sled, a submarine, and a jump platform. In addition, the dog is able to team up with the main character in Super Mega Man. And, of course, he is always ready to help and support his master and colleague.
Sergeant RL-3 (Fallout 3)
In Fallout 3, as in other games in the series, we have the opportunity to take teammates to fight dangers together and explore the Wasteland. One of these partners is Sergeant RL-3, a Mister Brave robot from RobCo Industries.
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| Despite the unsightly appearance, the Sergeant is able to destroy most opponents without any problems. |
It can be purchased from the traveling merchant, Tinker Joe, who rebuilt the robot with junk. RL-3 pours fire and plasma on enemies while accompanying all this with remarks in the style of "pain is just weakness leaving the body, hurrah!".
The phrases that the Sergeant shouts are typical of the United States military, which rebuffed the Chinese Communists. It was because of the peculiar personality that the merchant could not sell the robot for a long time.
His character is really difficult, and his principles are steel: if the protagonist's karma is different from neutral, he will refuse to join the squad, arguing that this is military duty.
HK-47 (Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic)
Another robot with a heavy character can be called HK-47, which we meet in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. It combines the functions of a protocol droid and an assassin droid, being one of the most dangerous machines in the days of the Old Republic. And yes, his character is really not sugar.
Explanation: Yes, as I said, I am an assassin droid. My primary function is to burn holes in the meat sacks you wish to remove from the galaxy... Master. Oh how I hate that word.
— HK-47 Mitra Surik on its features
HK-47 was originally created by Revan, the Sith Lord, to eliminate all objectionable, but in his life, he changed many owners, most of whom he himself killed. He was destroyed, then repaired, then again tried to destroy him and his army of killer robots.
In general, the life of HK-47 is rich, and saturated mainly with the deaths of sentient ones, as well as witticisms that the robot releases in its usual manner - with disdain for "bags of meat".
Dog (Half-Life series)
The Half-Life universe was also not without robo companions. In the sequel, we meet Dog, Alyx Vance's true friend, and protector. Alix's father assembled a robot to protect his daughter even when the girl was a few years old, and as she grew older, she independently modified and improved the robot.
As a result, by the time of the meeting with Freeman, the Dog is a two-meter steel robot, endowed with great strength and a gravity gun. At first, the difference in the behavior and appearance of the Dog is particularly striking.
The fact is that the robot was programmed for protection and “playfulness”, as a result of which it copes equally well both with the protection of Alyx, easily destroying a potential enemy, and constantly strives to play, bringing various objects to Freeman and the girl.
The dog takes part in many events in the Half-Life world, helping in battles with a superior enemy, helping out in difficult situations, and just covering his back. In Half-Life 2: Episode Two, you can even run a race with him and get an achievement if you win.
Robo (Chrono Trigger)
Chrono Trigger is a Japanese RPG. A non-linear plot, excellent graphics at the time of release, and well-developed characters provided the project with a high rating and a large fan base of several million players.
In the story, we travel through time, understand the intricacies of history and meet new friends. One of them becomes Robo - a robot, which relatives consider defective because he wants to become closer to people emotionally.
Robo behaves like an erudite person, open to dialogue and ready to lend a helping hand. He, as the plot develops, learns to show emotions and begins to better understand people. At the same time, he is considered one of the best companions for outstanding defense indicators and high physical damage.
Legion (Mass Effect series)
In the Mass Effect universe, the geth play a rather important role - a race of artificially created robots that have gained intelligence and thereby frightened the creators. The geth are united in a single network that allows them to act as one.
And just the Legion is an exception to this rule. "This platform," as he calls himself, has nearly twelve times the computing power of a regular geth. It is an autonomous intelligence platform that is able to act independently, make decisions, and develop.
For the first time, we meet this kind man, the conqueror of women's hearts and a faithful comrade in the second part of Mass Effect. Get helps us in the battle with the main enemies of Mass Effect 2, the Collectors, and becomes part of the Normandy team.
The interesting judgments of the Legion, his sincere curiosity, willingness to sacrifice himself and loyalty to the team remain in the memory. Even ten years after the end of the Mass Effect trilogy, this get is one of those who immediately come to mind when mentioning the series.
SUZI (Mass Effect series)
Another character that Mass Effect fans will remember is EUS (Advanced Defensive Intelligence System). She is an artificial intelligence and the core of the second Normandy, a valuable crew member, and the owner of a highly attractive mobile platform.
I love to put people on their knees... It's a joke.
- SUZI, regular AI of the SR-2 "Normandie" ship
Quite quickly, from the regular AI of Normandy, SUZI becomes part of the team, secretary, defender, and friend in a steel shell. She becomes particularly close friends with Jeff "Joker" Morro, the permanent pilot of the Normandy - all this will result in a romantic relationship with Shepard's approval.
In the second part of Mass Effect, she lives in the systems of the ship, monitoring its work and, at first, spying on Shepard and his crew. But after the "liberation" from the shackles of the creators, she covers the heroes from the surveillance of "Cerberus" and saves the team more than once, instantly making the right decisions.
In the third part, due to a combination of circumstances, she gets a "physical incarnation" by capturing the body-shell of another AI. As with other characters, she is able to go on missions with Shepard, and between missions, EDI is open to dialogue. You can chat with her about motivation, the meaning of life, and the difference between organics and synthetics. As the game progresses, we see how Suzi finds his place in the world, communicates with other crew members, is not afraid to joke and defend his interests.
Metal Gear Mk. II and Mk. III (Metal Gear series)
Metal Gear Mk. II and Mk. III have appeared in the Metal Gear series as companion robots. They cannot boast of superpowers or intelligence. These are, in fact, reconnaissance drones that are equipped with stealth camouflage and can sneak up on the enemy and shock them into unconsciousness.
But even so, because of the cute shape and some clumsiness, fans of the Metal Gear universe fell in love with these buddies. See for yourself, how can you be angry at such a little one? By the way, Mk. II and Mk. III do not differ from each other in anything, except for the color.
Interestingly, the robots received their “names” undeservedly. Yet in the universe of Hideo Kojima (Hideo Kojima) Metal Gear are giant bipedal tank robots that bring death to the battlefield and are armed with a railgun with nuclear charges. Here they are in the screenshots below. And now look a little higher - at our little ones. They don't look much like machines of mass extermination, do they?
Nick Valentine (Fallout 4)
In addition to somewhat clumsy, but executive robots like the Sergeant, the Fallout universe is also inhabited by a real race of synthetics. In Fallout 4, we learn a lot about synths, robots implanted with human personalities.
During the Valentine's Day quest, we meet Nick Valentine, a synth detective with a long and interesting history. He is an intermediate generation of synths, which is much more similar to people and almost does not differ from a person in terms of intelligence.
At first, he was kept locked up and examined by representatives of the Institute, eventually thrown into the Wasteland. At the heart of the robot's personality is the consciousness of detective Nick Valentine, who lived in the pre-war period. Therefore, the synth was dumbfounded by how much the world had changed.
By the time of the events of the game, Nick has a vast past behind him: saving the daughter of the mayor of Diamond City, helping various people, and working as a detective. Valentine is not just a robot dummy, he is endowed with the character traits of a real person: courage, sympathy, goodwill, and honesty. And the detective, being the partner of the protagonist, monitors the actions of the player: he does not accept theft, or violence against peaceful people, and appreciates sympathy and altruism.
Ghost (Destiny series)
In the Destiny universe, we play as the Guardian, the defender of the last city of mankind in the solar system. A Collapse occurred in the game world - the almost complete destruction of humanity due to the coming of the mysterious Darkness.
The Last City itself was built under the shadow of the Wanderer - a giant ball that terraformed the planets of the solar system, gave people technology, and stood up for humanity.
After the Collapse, the Wanderer lost many particles, turning them into Ghosts - helper robots that resurrect players and help them travel.
Ghosts illuminate dark areas, repair damaged machinery, provide communication between Guardians, and hack security mechanisms. These creatures are intelligent - each companion has its own personality, which is designed to complement the personality of the guarded Guardian.
GLaDOS (Portal series)
GLaDOS is a supercomputer out of control. Scientists from Aperture Science created it to compete with another research institution, Black Mesa (the events of Portal and Half-Life take place in the same universe).
But things didn't go according to plan. After killing almost all the inhabitants of the research center with a neurotoxin, GLeDOS began to conduct her experiments on the main character of the game, Chell. From this moment the events of Portal begin.
GLaDOS is an immoral sadist with an extremely dry, bitter, and sarcastic sense of humor, which is what the players fell in love with. Her jokes hit right on target, hurt the pride, and undermine the self-esteem of the subjects. At the same time, she usually does not express anger openly. Perhaps, GLeDOS can be called the most "passive-aggressive" robot of our material.
In the second half of Portal 2, she and I become "forced allies" because it's hard to test as a battery potato.
Wheatley (Portal 2)
Wheatley is another companion we meet in the Portal universe. He is one of the GLaDOS personality modules, with which the scientists wanted to smooth out the heavy nature of the supercomputer.
GLaDOS herself calls Wheatley "the product of the greatest minds of an entire generation, trying to create the dumbest fool in the world." And indeed it is. This robot is also known as the "Intelligence Mitigation Module". He talks non-stop and behaves like a real child, who, however, sometimes helps Chell by hacking into the center's systems.
When we "defeat" GLaDOS and insert the module in its place, it turns out that Wheatley is obsessed with a thirst for revenge and wants to take the place of the overseer and organizer of the tests. And now the player, along with the GLaDOS potato, has to confront the robot.
BT-7274 (Titanfall 2)
Unlike the first part, in Titanfall 2 the player has a fairly long single-player campaign. In it, we play for Jack Cooper. He, being a soldier, wants to become a pilot of the Titan - a sentient combat mecha robot. And soon, after the tragic death of his mentor, he gets at the disposal of his Titan - BT-7274.
Titanfall 2 can be safely praised for its solid storyline, in which, in addition to getting to know the world of the game and its mechanics, we observe the development of the relationship between Jack and "Beat". With each passing hour, they get to know each other better, and begin to trust, and interact effectively. And the final scene, few people can leave indifferent.
By the way, the authors chose the name BT-7274 for a reason. Under the abbreviation BD, they meant "buddy titan" (eng. Buddy Titan).
BD-1 (Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order)
BD-1 is a friend and companion of Cal Kestis, who got the young Jedi from a mentor. Despite its small size, "Beedy" constantly helps Cal on his travels, acting as a burglar, holoprojector, "first aid kit" and a flashlight.
The droid is usually on the Jedi's back, running forward in some situations to break into passageways or during certain scenes. We don't understand BD-1 because he speaks a binary language, the language of the droids. But here Cal periodically chats with a companion, learns valuable information from him, and even listens to jokes, which speaks of a fairly developed intelligence of the droid.
The authors of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order admitted that, as in the case of BT-7274, the "name" of the droid was chosen for a reason. BD-1 stands for Buddy Droid.
Servo-skulls (Warhammer 40,000 universe)
Of course, the authors of the Warhammer 40,000 universe couldn't just go ahead and create boring helper drones. Instead, they came up with servo-skulls. A servo-skull is literally a human skull stuffed with various electronics, tools, and anti-grav that allows it to fly.
Moreover, in accordance with the atmosphere of the universe, the right to “become” a servo-skull must be earned while still alive. This proves that the adept's service in life was diligent enough to continue after death. In general, Waha holds the bar.
Servo-skulls are used for a wide variety of purposes: for recording conversations and assisting in operations, as a source of lighting, as a reconnaissance unit, or as additional firepower. It all depends on what the owner of the servo-skull needs. For example, inquisitors use them as additional sense organs.
Servo-skulls are found in many games and books in the universe. In Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus, they appear on the characters as they level up, and in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine they act as "notes".
E3N "Ethan" (Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare)
E3N "Ethan" is an experimental battle droid based on a real human brain. He is the partner of the protagonist of Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, and the relationship with Nick Reyes, who we play as is reminiscent of the relationship of Jack and "Beaty" from Titanfall 2.
But if "Beaty" was a real robot, which became more human every hour, Ethan initially behaves like a person enclosed in a robot shell.
And this somewhat blurs the impression of both Ethan himself and his relationship with the team - it's hard to believe in the "artificiality" of his nature. After a while, the droid begins to be perceived as another person, albeit hung with metal.
Neuropolymer Glove (Atomic Heart)
The neuropolymer glove is our faithful ally and assistant in survival at Enterprise 3826. The protagonist of Atomic Heart, Major Nechaev, has undergone almost complete cyborgization, and the glove is one of the most important implants. Inside is HRAZ - the Keeper of Knowledge, the nature of which we will learn towards the end of the game.
With the help of a glove, the protagonist with the callsign P-3 is able to use various combat abilities, scan the area, hack into the Enterprise's equipment, and absorb the neuropolymer from opponents.
But her main "trick" is HRAZ, who is the second main character and knows more about what is happening around Nechaev. At the same time, the implant actively shares information and helps the major in his mission.
Only towards the end of the game do we find out that in fact, HRAZ is ... However, we will not spoil it.
ED-E (Fallout: New Vegas)
ED-E (or object E) is a potential partner of the protagonist in Fallout: New Vegas. Outwardly, it looks like a flying metal eye with a flamethrower and is intended for combat. For the first time, we see this robot in the trailer of the project.
Object E uses a stun gun that sets fire to killed enemies, and is also able to scout the situation even better than a player with 10 points of perception.
That's just the players much more appreciated another "chip" of the robot - the ability to use it as a workbench to create equipment and ammunition. Agree, it is always nice to have a portable crafting station with you.
The robot cannot speak. Instead, he makes various electronic sounds and, interestingly, at the end of the game he can even tell his story with the help of chirps. But it can still be read if you turn on subtitles in the game settings.
Helper Androids (Detroit: Become Human)
Although we play as androids in Detroit: Become Human, we decided to include them in the list for the very reason that they were conceived as companion robots that can help people in various areas.
Detroit: Become Human takes a fresh look at the relationship between companion robots and humans. The game raises questions of morality, ethics and poses an interesting question to the player - what is humanity and can a robot be more humane than people themselves?
In a non-linear adventure, we observe the development of a conflict between people and deviants - robots who refused to follow the programs laid down in them. They consider themselves no less alive than people, first of all, thanks to the emotions that have awakened in them.
Companions (Warframe)
In Warframe, players can increase their combat potential by finding or creating companions. Among them, you can meet both alien animals and autonomous combat drones - Guardians and MOA Companions.
They differ from each other in the method of obtaining, appearance, and abilities. If MOAs are more geared towards combat, Guardians can also be "assembled" into a defender, healer, or buffer, depending on the mods and weapons installed.
The Guardians look like frilly flying droids, and the MOA is reminiscent of a Boston Dynamics creation, a heap of metal structures on two legs.
Unfortunately, companions in Warframe perform a utilitarian function, inflicting additional damage to opponents. It is quite difficult to become attached to them due to the lack of normal interaction: dialogues, interactive actions, and scenes of mutual assistance.
Mac, Seth, and Duncan (ReCore)
ReCore could be an interesting project with a unique setting. Here, all robots have a core, which contains his personality, "soul". The core is responsible for the functions of the robot, its character, and behavior. Everything else is secondary, the player can customize their robots, changing them beyond recognition.
We play as Jule, a mechanic girl who got out of the cryocapsule and does not understand where the rest of the people have gone and why the robots around her are furious. Mac, the robot dog, Seth, the robot spider, and Duncan, the robot gorilla, help us along the way. They can be upgraded with mined cores. And here lies the main problem of the game, which in many ways “killed” the project.
The abundance of grind, the general repetitiveness of the process and the lack of a normal plot do their dark work - the project quickly becomes boring and there is nothing left besides a beautiful picture and an interesting concept. Including the desire to play. Only robo-companions are remembered for their habits and cute situations.
Skippy (Cyberpunk 2077)
Skippy is a really smart gun. Unlike other smart weapons that simply fire homing bullets, Skippy has a unique weapon AI inside. When we first pick up the gun, it prompts us to choose between two fire modes: Pacifism and Puppies (shooting limbs) or Cold-Blooded Killer (headshots).
Skippy himself is quite eccentric in dialogue and fits perfectly into the world of Cyberpunk 2077. He is able to yell at the owner if the answer does not suit him, sometimes he makes "premature shots" at opponents, for example, during stealth, and apologizes, saying that this is the first time this has happened to him. At times, on the contrary, he makes it so that all bullets fly past enemies without causing damage.
After a while, Skippy will ask you to return it to its owner, Regina Jones. And if you do not agree, every time you use a pistol, the player will hear angry remarks in the style of “You are a bad boss! Bad!".
Bots (NieR: Automata)
To understand the intricacies of the NieR: Automata plot, you will have to go through the game more than once or twice. Bots can facilitate gameplay - small robots that follow the player and help him in various ways.
Bots can be armed with a machine gun, rocket launcher, or laser, as well as upgraded. They do not do much damage, but if you knock down the shields of enemies, they will increase your overall damage. Also, by installing special programs, the player can carry out joint attacks on bosses, jump higher and inflict damage on enemies in the fall.
Nice detail: by swiping left and right on the DualShock 4's touchpad a few times, we can praise the bot - it will fly up to the character, and we will pet it.
B-12 (Stray)
Stray developers approached the gameplay in a rather original way, dividing it between two characters. The fact is that we play for a cat and we have, as they say, paws.
So we can not pick up items, talk and use the map. But the main character does not need it. Shortly after the start, we find the B-12, a flying drone that does it all for us.
B-12 collects key items, stores them in his inventory, breaks open doors, lights up dark places, and translates the dialogue of the local robots. At the same time, he constantly chats with the cat and comments on the exploration of the world. Thus, we move with one character and interact with the world with another.
Oscar (Syberia series)
In the Syberia series, automatons are clockwork robots capable of complex tasks such as writing or playing musical instruments. In the game, we interact with two automatons that play an extremely important role in the plot: the clockwork train and its driver, Oscar.
Oscar is the companion, friend, and assistant of the main character Kate Walker. He is always ready to give advice or help. As the events of the series unfold, he will go a long way from a boring pedant to a selfless friend of a girl.
In the second part of the game, he agrees to sacrifice his body, which will become the basis of an exoskeleton for its creator. In the third part, Kate transplants the “heart” of an automaton of a similar model, and in the fourth part, the robot will completely end up in the body of a pangolin robot.
Katerina (Genshin Impact)
For a long time, Genshin Impact players wondered who Katerina was - a god, a robot, or a teleport owner. The fact is that according to the plot, we are an Adventurer - someone like a free mercenary who takes on Guild tasks and explores the world of Teyvat.
Katerina gives us tasks and rewards for them every day, congratulates us on the rank increase, and tells us where to go next. Naturally, many players consider her their comrade and friend.
At the same time, Katerina meets us in each new region of the game, and when asked by the Traveler about how she got here, she only laughs it off. Players' suspicions were heightened by strange NPC remarks. If you stand next to Katerina for a while, the replicas “Error ...” and “Reboot ...” will begin to appear above her head.
The truth was revealed to the players only with the advent of the Sumeru region. During the passage of the storyline, one of the characters takes over Katerina's body, referring to her as a "biological doll". It turns out that Katerina is a robot who is always ready to help the player by providing information and resources.
Bladewolf (Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance)
Bladewolf is a character with a difficult fate, which many players of Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance fell in love with. He does not become a full-fledged companion of the protagonist of the game, but several times helps and acts on his side. For example, during the battle with Senator Armstrong, he returns the knocked-out sword to the hero.
Bladewolf looks like a wolf robot with a flexible tail and a chainsaw mounted on its back. Inside is a self-learning AI, forming a full-fledged consciousness with high intelligence. For a long time, Wulf, being under the control of one of the opponents of the protagonist, Mistral, tries to gain freedom and, in the end, gains it thanks to Raiden.
The history of the robot is impressive: it was trained as a replacement for cyborgs and soldiers, then the project was abandoned, and then resumed again. He fought against Samuel Rodriguez and Raiden, and then acted in concert with them, participated in various conflicts, and underwent modernization. And all this is seasoned with directives that for a long time did not allow the robot to act as he wanted, as well as the problems of finding his place in the world.
VASCO Companion Robot (Starfield)
The VASCO companion robot will help us in Starfield. We first saw him in the debut trailer. The developers also talked about the robot in one of the video diaries. VASCO is one of the early models of robots that were created for the Constellation space mission.
It is designed to repair ships and various equipment, but, according to the authors, it can also repulse the enemy: one of its “arms” can be equipped with a rifle, and the welding machine is useful as a melee weapon.
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Companion robots often play an important role in the plot, moving from extras to really colorful and well-developed characters. Sometimes they are remembered even more than the main characters.
With their help, developers can raise a variety of issues - from inhuman experiments that people conduct to the very concept of humanity.
And, of course, robots are easier to love - often they are devoid of human vices and look like mischievous children who explore the world and look for answers to the questions that arise in their digital minds.
Which companion robot has a special place in your heart? Who else would you add to our top? Tell in the comments.
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