Are you a Batman or a Robin? For many, a sidekick is essentially a means for the main hero to achieve his or her objectives. For the rest of us, they are an essential part of a game that continues to drive the engine of momentum forward. They remind us that being average is not a bad thing and that sometimes, if you try hard enough, you can achieve greatness too. This list pays homage to the top sidekicks that have not only proven themselves as key contributors to the greater cause, but have also silently trumped the achievements of the main character. Here are the top 5 sidekicks that stole the limelight.
#5 Cortana from the Halo series
Some might think the beautiful and intelligent Cortana, should be a little higher up on the list, and they may very well be right. However you look at it, Cortana kept Master Chief in one piece from start to finish – he would still be lost without her tactical guidance and accurate navigation coordinates. Cortana made the series that much more enjoyable for players. If you think she was merely stuck in the tall shadow of Master Chief, just check out the latest Windows Mobile phone. You might be surprised.
#4 Riley from Call of Duty: Ghosts
Any fan of the Call of Duty franchise will tell you that the complimentary characters make the game so much more immersive for the player. Riley the German Shepherd made COD: Ghosts one of my favorite video game experiences of all time. Shocking, I know, but Riley’s grit when sniffing out explosives and sinking his teeth into some bad dude’s junk is something I couldn’t ignore. Heck, he even took a bullet like a boss and got right back up like it was nothing. In my mind, Riley was definitely the hero in COD: Ghosts.
#3 Leonardo da Vinci from Assassin’s Creed 2
I know I’m going to get some major flack for this one, but Leo’s goofy one-liners and child-like desire for more codex pages have always stuck with me. Aside from laughing hysterically at his dialogue, I thought the dude’s intellect game was on point from start to finish. He managed to build Ezio a wealth of weapons and items that help him along his journey. How the heck did he decode that ancient piece of parchment and construct the blade in a matter of minutes without breaking a sweat? Because he’s Leonardo de Vinci, stealer of hearts and emasculator of Ezio Auditore.
#2 Rush from the Mega Man Series
Introduced in Mega Man 3, Rush was the ultimate sidekick to steal the tin man’s thunder during the early ’90s. Rush reminded us why dog is man’s best friend through his transformations that helped Mega Man clear obstacles and avert danger. Whether it was morphing into a coil to help Mega Man reach a tall plateau or converting into a jet so the pair could fly around a particular level, Rush captured the hearts of all gamers very early on.
#1 Tails from Sonic the Hedgehog
Without Miles “Tails” Prower, Sonic is just a really fast hedgehog with an attitude problem. The two-tailed fox was the perfect compliment to his counterpart, Sonic. He could run, jump, and stop on a dime just as fast as Sonic could. However, Tails had something his best friend didn’t have, the ability to fly. Sonic has always gotten the glory for his strong leadership and ability to jump right into the thick of things. However, if it weren’t for Tails, gamers would have never had the opportunity to finish off Dr. Eggman in any of the franchise’s titles. He’s modest enough that he would have been just fine with a lower spot on this list, but that’s just one more reason why Tails takes the cake for the top sidekick to steal the show.