Once Starfield Stopped Forcing Companions Down My Throat, I Felt Like I Could Finally Breathe

I have always been a loner, Dottie, a rebel.

Although I appreciate the benefit of having a pack mule sidekick that can alleviate the aggravation of being over-encumbered — and who can also wield a weapon to various effects — I couldn’t care less about the lot of these bozos. In fact, I prefer to experience my adventure dolo (look it up; it’s slang).

So when I started playing Starfield, I was immediately put off by just how many different companions that are thrust upon you in the opening hours. It is a nonstop barrage of hangers-on and wet blankets who pooh-pooh my propensity for theft and subterfuge or cast aspersions from on mount high if I even entertain the idea of an underhanded deal. From VASCO to Sarah Morgan to Barrett to Sam Coe to Andreja (who was by far my favorite) — and whomever else was a possible companion in the early goings — it’s just too much.

And for the most part, they’re all uninteresting and snooty and far too goody-goody (Andreja aside, although even she counts to a certain extent). Sam Coe’s only saving grace is that he’s voiced by the Edvin Endre, Adam Jensen himself. But voice aside, Sam Coe — much like Barrett and Sarah — is a drip. I’m sorry, but it’s true.

Sure, it’s really helpful to have a walking storage container in Starfield while getting accustomed to the game and its wellspring of pickups and collectibles. But once you get better at managing your inventory for your particular playstyle, you no longer need these mildly sentient storage containers.

Once I had reached a point where Starfield started to veer away from the fetch-quest-athon that is the main storyline, I no longer felt like I needed to be saddled by these parade-raining storm clouds. So I ditched them. And let me tell you, that was the moment when I really started to come into my own.

No longer was I subjected to inane blathering. No longer were there stray bullets zipping by because my companion was shooting at a threat that I wasn’t even aware of. No longer was there a dummy blocking my path through a doorway. No longer was there a blithering idiot running to and fro because they were unable to square proper pathing over certain terrain. But the biggest plus was that I was free to be my character without anyone questioning my choices. I was able to role play Gloria as she was always intended to be played.

And let me tell you, it is pure bliss.

So don’t let Starfield tell you how to play. Buck its insistence of companions if you could care less about them. I don’t want to know these people. I don’t want to romance these people. If I never have to see them again, I’ll be just fine. And if you are in the same boat, ditch the baggage and be that lone wolf you were always meant to be.