Sidekick. As far as labels go, it doesn’t exactly carry the same weight as the hefty hero. Indeed, these poor saps don’t have it easy. Looking back in a general context, they were often palmed off as incompetent, obsequious flunkies with nothing better to do than bugger up their partner’s meticulously laid out plans to subvert the resident Big Bad—and perhaps provide a little obligatory comical relief along the way. Things weren’t much cop on the videogames front either, with characters such as Tails providing little more than a nuisance with a penchant for succumbing to enemy attacks and generally pissing you off to the extreme. As such, our two-tailed friend and numerous folk like him did little to change the perception of gaming sidekicks during its infancy in the early ‘90s.
Of course, there’s no point in lamenting the past. As gamers know, these days the situation couldn’t be a more reverse turn of affairs. The introduction of more advanced technology in gaming has seen AI and story telling improve considerably, resulting in a more competent and articulate companion. Nowadays, sidekicks pull their weight. Sidekicks are biting back and have earned some time in the limelight. Sidekicks, frankly, no longer suck. Indeed, while over the past odd 15 years, the PlayStation brand has become synonymous with a myriad of iconic heroes over the years—from early staples like Crash Bandicoot to recent poster boy Nathan Drake—the folks at PSU Towers decided the time was ripe to extol the virtues of the helpful chaps that have been along for the ride with us over the past decade and a half, as we present to you a week dedicated to PlayStation’s Greatest Sidekicks.
Starting Monday, October 18 we’ll be looking at a new sidekick every day until Sunday, so be sure to keep checking this article for fresh updates over the next seven days to see if your personal favourites made our list.
We’ll be sure to bump this article throughout the week for easy viewing as soon as a new face pops up. Enjoy.
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Day #1 – Victor Sullivan (Uncharted series)
Affectionately known as Sully by partner in crime Nathan Drake, Victor Sullivan is a bloke who doesn’t let age get him down. Sure, he’s getting on a bit in comparison to the nimble, heroic Drake, but there’s still life in the old dog yet. Possessing a keen eye for the finer things in life (whether women, money or preferably both) and a penchant for puffing cigars, Sully is never far from Drake’s side, and accompanies our cocky protagonist on his globetrotting exploits as the pair scout for treasure and battle unscrupulous gold diggers. Of course, the fact he seems perpetually weighed down by debt may contribute to his interest in Nate’s quest for riches, but a guy’s gotta get by somehow.
While not as dexterous as Drake (Sully would prefer to kick his feet up and let Nate handle the donkey work of executing death-defying leaps and scaling precarious cliff faces), Sully is no slouch when it comes to aiding our hero in combat, wielding a particularly mean Magnum Revolver that makes short work out of any goons foolish enough to take on the wise-cracking duo. Speaking of wisecracks, there’s plenty of real-time nattering to be had between our heroes, and the colloquial banter between Sully and Nate gives the proceedings a refreshing comical undertone, working to punctuate the more serious, action-packed gameplay sequences. Needless to say, Sully’s got quite the colorful past—and we love him for it. Here’s hoping he returns in the inevitable Uncharted 3.
Day #2 – Clank (Ratchet & Clank series)
As is often the case with a hero and his trusty pal, Ratchet & Clank are opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of their approach to tackling a given situation. Whereas Ratchet tends to plunge headfirst in to the action, his pint-sized companion Clank prefers a more intellectual approach, and will analyze the situation in order to ascertain a more logical route through the problem. It’s this contrast between the duo’s personalities that makes Clank such a competent sidekick, not to mention a loyal friend to boot.
Of course, this isn’t the extent of Clank’s qualities; like any decent sidekick, the diminutive robot also possesses an array of arse-kicking moves and abilities, and also falls under the player’s control from time to time. Indeed, echoing a certain ottsel’s success story (see later this week), the stuffy robot also got to star in his very own game—Secret Agent Clank. Here’s hoping this isn’t the last of Clank’s solo outings.
Day #3 – Barrett Wallace (Final Fantasy VII)
We have a sneaky suspicion that FFVII’s answer to Mr. T would have a few choice words to utter about being labeled a sidekick, but pointy-haired protagonist Cloud never had a more loyal companion than big burley Barrett. As leader of the eco-terrorist organization AVALANCE, Wallace maintains an extensive range of combat experience, his most conspicuous feature being that of his trademark gun-arm, which he uses to great effect during the course of the game to aid Cloud and his friends on their globetrotting adventure. But Barrett’s more than just the muscle of the group; beneath his bullish exterior lies a bit of a softy and doting dad, and he’s always there to boost morale whenever needed, particularly when Cloud is subjected to one of his frequent mental breakdowns.
And the 35-year-old has seen his fair share of heartache himself, having lost his wife, hometown and best friend to the unscrupulous Shinra Corporation over the past few years. Honest and not overtly tactile, Wallace tells it how it is—he doesn’t have time to pussyfoot around. And it’s these qualities that ensures no matter how bad things get for Cloud and co., there’s always hope at the end of the line. Make no mistake, Wallace is a dedicated alley who sees things through to the end—after all, “there’s no getting offa this train, the train we’re on don’t make no stops.” You better believe it, fool!
Day #4 – Agro (Shadow of the Colossus)
Yes, we’re acutely aware of the fact Agro is in fact a horse. But he’s not just any horse; rather, the faithful steed is an extension of protagonist Wander’s very being, and a vital component in your quest to fell the almighty Colossi that hold the key to saving the one you love. Without Agro, Wander would be buggered. For starters, the beast serves as your only means of transportation through the sprawling, desolate landscapes in designer Fumito Ueda’s PS2 classic, and traveling is something you’ll do in abundance; tracking down your hulking adversaries is an arduous task at the best of times, and you’ll only accomplish it from the back of your trusty steed. More pertinently, however, is the fact Agro is also instrumental in defeating the Colossi themselves, and your only friend in this seemingly impossible quest. As such, he not only proves a vital ingredient in overcoming your foes, but also helps nullify the feeling of isolation and hopelessness, providing a much-needed sense of companionship throughout Wander’s epic journey.
Outside of tracking and slaying the mighty colossi, there’s the opportunity to fundamentally explore and soak up the game’s incredible atmosphere, and watching the terrain zip past as Agro glides majestically across the diverse, richly detailed landscape can prove nothing short of breathtaking, so much so that we almost felt like we were being transported to something from J.R.R Tolkein’s mind. Simply put, Agro provides the source of many a great moments throughout the game, and possesses a beauty and elegance that, when juxtaposed with Team ICO’s bleak, yet overwhelmingly captivating game world, would have quite frankly not been possible had Wander’s trusty sidekick been anything other than this noble, black beast. For this pair, it’s a match made in heaven.
Day #5 – Barry Burton (Resident Evil series)
If you ever find yourself in a remote, secluded mansion overrun with blood-thirsty, bio-weapons created by a nefarious pharmaceutical corporation, make sure Barry Burton’s got your back. Indeed, if anyone can attest to this, it’s S.T.A.R.S Alpha Team heroine, Jill Valentine, who had her peachy behind saved by the burly weapons specialist on more than one occasion throughout the events of July 24, 1998. In fact, it’s due to Burton’s efforts that Miss Valentine can be thankful for not being turned in to a “Jill Sandwich,” having her head hacked off by a marauding Hunter, and becoming a ravenous zombies lunch. Oh, and there’s the time when she was almost crushed by a gigantic, carnivorous plant, too. What a careless lass. As reflected on in our spotlight feature, ol’ Barry remains one of the most likeable fellows to appear in Capcom’s venerable horror series, remaining very much a family man at heart and possesses a strong sense for justice—plus a rather spiffy .357 Magnum Revolver.
In a particularly poignant scene if players fail to meet the necessary in-game requirements, the lovable bearded buffoon is savagely attacked by Hunters and gives you a picture of his beloved wife and two daughters before succumbing to his wounds. Sob. Fortunately though the official canon has the skilled S.T.A.R.S operative survive the night and he returns to bail Valentine and fellow companion Carlos out of Raccoon City by chopper minutes before it’s obliterated by a nuclear blast at the climax of Resident Evil 3: Nemesis. If there’s one person you can rely to get you out of a pickle, it’s Barry Burton. For that, we can forgive him for his horrendous crimes against the English language with such atrocities as ‘The Master of Unlocking’ and musing over whether or not it’s ‘Chris’s Blood!’ – well, just about.
Day #6 – Daxter (Jak & Daxter series)
Being ever so slightly cowardly doesn’t necessarily mean one can’t be useful—just ask Scooby-Doo’s long suffering sidekick, Shaggy. Indeed, Jak’s lovable and trusted best mate Daxter may not be the bravest of the bunch, but he’s about as tenaciously loyal as they come, sticking by his buddy through thick and thin. While initially prone to frequent bouts of cowardice and ending up all sorts of hiccups (much to the chagrin of Jak), Daxter starts to come out of his shell as the series progresses, most notably when he extricates Jak from a spot of bother at the beginning of the second installment, gets numerous playable segments of his own in both Jak II and Jak III, before culminating in a starring role in the form of the eponymous 2006 PSP midquel, Daxter.
Despite being somewhat action shy, when push comes to shove, Daxter has the stones to see things through and stick by his chum when the going gets tough. All in all, not a bad resume for a slightly cowardly ottsel, wouldn’t you agree?
Day #7 – Dr. Hal "Otacon" Emmerich (Metal Gear Solid series)
Ok, so you’re infiltrating an exceedingly well-defended enemy stronghold completely solo and tasked with neutralizing a hulking nuclear-equipped walking battle tank—who are you gonna call in times of need? Why, Otacon of course! Indeed, Solid Snake’s spectacled sidekick Hal “Octacon Emmerich” is more than just your stereotypical, anime-loving geek; he’s a sumptuous banquet of knowledge, a loyal companion and quite possibly one of the nicest chaps you could ever hope to have a chinwag with over the codec. If Snake’s ever in a pickle, you can bet good pal Hal will have the remedy. He also just happens to be the bloke who designed Metal Gear itself, and this understandably plagued him with guilt after it fell in to the unscrupulous hands of Liquid Snake and his Fox Hound rabble. As such, he proves instrumental in Snake’s efforts in taking down the mechanical monstrosity during MGS’s conclusion, but that’s merely the tip of the iceberg in regards to Emmerich’s vast contribution to the increasingly convoluted MGS plotline. While becoming attached to the series’ vast assortment of characters is part and parcel of the whole MGS experience, none quite spark a degree of both sympathy and intrigue in gamers than Hal, who’s character grows—both figuratively and literally, as he appears to have packed on a little weight by the fourth installment—exceptionally throughout the franchise.
Off the top of our head, the unlucky-in-love sidekick loses his sister, Emma, and potential romantic interest Naomi over course of MGS2 and 4, respectively, but still manages to find the inner strength to bounce back. All the while, he’s continually backing up his long time partner Snake by codec, providing hints, solutions and a bit of colloquial banter to keep our hero’s spirits up. Whether it’s guiding the gruff-one throughout MGS’s underground base, assaulting our ear drums with philosophical ramblings while we’re trying to save our progress in MGS2 (as well as backing up Raiden to boot) or reminding us that we’re on Blu-ray disc in MGS4, Dr. Emmerich remains as synonymous with Snake’s escapades as the stealthy antics and lengthy cut scenes that have captivated a generation of gamers for more than a decade. And frankly, we wouldn’t have wanted it any other way, and we think even Snake himself would agree with that sentiment, too. Hal, we salute you.
So there you have it — seven of the PlayStation brand’s greatest sidekicks. Did your favorite character(s) make our list? If not, be sure to let us know who you would have liked to have seen in the comments section below. Above all, thanks for reading!