In some of the most beloved video games we play, we have some of the greatest companions by our side. Whether these are best friends, strangers with similar goals or lone wolfs crossing paths, the power of someone or something by your side can make the difference in many situations. However, as much as it is great to have a fellow warrior to assist on the battlefield, a loyal dog can make a situation more adorable and badass at the same time. Man’s best friend has come in many shapes and forms in games but today we aim to focus on those who are companions to the true heroes. Which canines do we believe are the best to have alongside you in a tough situation? Let us take a look.

5. Tricky (Star Fox Adventures)

Wait a minute. The first on the list isn’t even a dog? Well allow me to explain. Yes, Tricky is a young child of a Triceratops but in game he can pretty much be depicted as a dog. I mean you can even get a ball for him to chase after and bring back to you. You play fetch with a Triceratops!

Anyway, Tricky quickly becomes a good friend to Fox McCloud as he tries to save Dinosaur Planet. The little dino has some pretty interesting abilities to boot as he can breathe fire as well as dig holes to help uncover hidden items (do I need any more proof that Tricky is a dog?). The downside to Tricky however is that he must have gone to the Navi companion school for annoying characters. My god can he become annoying very quickly. These include constantly asking for food, telling Fox to ‘wait up’ or for his most notorious ‘Dum Dee Dum’ as you are exploring the remnants of the planet.

The game to this day has a cult following with some people saying it is completely underrated whilst others state that it is one of the worst games not just on Gamecube but also in the Rare library. But with all the bad that may come from both the game and Tricky, you cannot help but think that this little dinosaur was a key part of Fox’s adventure.

4. Interceptor (Final Fantasy VI)

This was a tough call as there are two famous dogs from the Final Fantasy franchise that could easily fill this spot. The other contender was Angelo from Final Fantasy VIII as he plays a very similar role to Interceptor from VI. However, why go with the fluffier pooch when the original terrier is still the most badass.

For those who don’t know, Interceptor is the loyal companion to one of the most kick ass and suspicious Final Fantasy characters, Shadow. What makes things even more interesting is that Shadow is a Japanese style Ninja, with a German shepherd and has a theme tune that sounds like a Western. How many different cultures can you throw on a single character? None the less, Interceptor plays as a very handy tool when it comes to facing enemies in the game. Whenever you go into a battle with Shadow in the main party, you will always have a percentage chance to start the fight with interceptor running across the screen. If this happens then an Odin style effect occurs as he instantly kills all the enemies on screen. As well as being a formidable attacker, he can also help protect shadow if he is attacked by throwing himself into it and softening the blow for his master.

A loyal companion till the very end, Interceptor is a strong ally for Shadow as he does battle with the other allies against the tyranny of Kefka. But as awesome as Interceptor is, there are dogs out there that have more bite than bark.

3. Koromaru (Persona 3)

Ever since Persona 3, there always seems to be an animal of some kind on the main team that is able to summon a persona. The original being non-other than Koromaru, an albino Shiba Inu that can summon the powers of Cerberus who is the three headed canine defender of the underworld in greek lore. As well as being in Persona 3 as a playable member of the party, he also appears alongside ally Ken in Persona 4 Arena Ultimax as one half of the Pretentious Tenderfoot Duo.

As you can expect, Koromaru became a fan favourite not just because of his adorable and fluffy exterior but also because of his brave and compassionate feeling towards his allies. Although he is a dog, he is an available social link in Persona 3. This in turn allows players to delve into the feeling of their favourite pooch in between fighting the spawns from the midnight hour.

Koromaru is a formidable force to have on your side, especially with the powers of Cerberus at his beck and call. But sometimes dogs can be just as loyal and powerful without the use of a supernatural power that lies inside of them.

2. Dogmeat & Rex (Fallout Series)

When it comes to loyal companions in video games, one of the most famous is non-other than Dogmeat from the Fallout series. Whether it is the original from Fallout 1, the reincarnation of Fallout 3 or even the newly remade friend in Fallout 4, Dogmeat has been around many parts of the wasteland and helped out many wanderers at that. We did also have a canine companion in Fallout New Vegas, however this was in the form of Rex a cybernetic dog owned by The King who you can earn as a companion in a quest line which involves fixing his slowly deteriorating brain.

The dogs may not have super powers like Koromaru but they do come with other benefits. In the games they give the wanderer of the wasteland back up in tough fighting situations. As well as this, they can also give you passive buffs to assist in your journey. But as of Fallout 4 being revealed we can now see that Dogmeat is becoming more badass than ever before with players being able to fully control him as they see fit. Even allowing him to go off exploring on his own to return to his master with valuable items which could come in handy.

As a direct inspiration from the Mad Max film Road Warrior, Dogmeat is one of the most loyal companions you could ask for in the wastelands. But as much as he is loyal there is one dog that in recent times has taken the gaming world by storm, not just because of his loyalty but because of his amazing abilities in the field of operation.

1. D-Dog ‘DD’ (Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain)

From one of the greatest games of recent history also comes one of the greatest companions that you could ever have. D-Dog or ‘DD’ for short is available in the game in one of the early missions. If you hear the sounds of a puppy barking at you, why don’t you strap him to a fulton and watch him fly home to mother base. As you complete missions and return to base you will see the little guy grow and learn thanks to the training of Revolver Ocelot. Funny that isn’t it? That a character named after a breed of cat trains a breed of dog. Eventually ‘DD’ will become fully grown and will become one of the most badass allies to have whilst out on missions or side-ops.

DD may just seem like a regular attack dog like Interceptor or Dogmeat, but It gets much better. With his great sense of smell on top of his other senses, DD can detect nearby enemy patrols, prisoners and also medicinal plants. Early on this won’t be as powerful but as his loyalty increases you can soon see where all the threats in an enemy base are simply by having your little buddy bark at you with the information. But it gets much better than this. Not just does he act like silent sonar, but DD can also pin single opponents onto a single spot allowing you to take them out of the picture or to keep them occupied whilst you change position. He is also able to wait in an area and be used as a decoy of sorts to attract enemy patrols by simply barking on command.

Loyalty, coupled with training, ferocity and dashing good looks makes the literal personification of the Diamond Dogs the greatest canine companion in gaming to date. His usefulness in the game is so great that some players have completely forgotten about the other buddies to concentrate on DD. After all, who needs a horse, mech walker or an ace sniper when you have a furry friend to pet and send biting when saving prisoners in Afghanistan?

There you have it, our top five canine companions in games. But who would be on your list? Are there other dogs in games more notorious than our choices? Let us know of your best friends in the comments below.

by Dominic Coles | October 5th, 2015