There are times when the central character has aid from friends or allies. The former may be used in a looser sense when it comes to certain entries, but regardless, With a Little Help From My Friends shines the spotlight on those that help the main star on their journey.
Yoshi - Super Mario Series
In
Part 1 of this feature, I mentioned that Yoshi had some major catching up to do if he was going to compete with Cappy, Mario's latest ally. Sure, Yoshi can't do all the OP things that living hat can, but the dino is still a powerful (and ravenous) companion to have at your side.
The green variety is probably what comes to mind when one hears the name Yoshi. This is perfectly understandable since a green Yoshi was the one that was heavily advertised in hes debut game, Super Mario World. Sure green Yoshi's are the most well known, but there are in fact, many different color Yoshi's. Red, blue, purple, white, black; if there's a basic color, there's a Yoshi for it. Depending on the game, a Yoshi's color may grant him an extra ability such as blue Yoshi's being able to fly no matter what color Koopa Troopa shell they scarf in Super Mario World. Regardless of color or type, Yoshis all have one thing in common: a boundless appetite.
Yoshis don't seem to be picky eaters and will gladly gobble up any foe that stands in your way. From Hammer Bros. to Mega Moles, if Yoshi can swallow it, it is as good as food. If he can't swallow it, it can be fired back as a projectile. Yoshis also sport some unique kicks that allow them to walk on Munchers, one of the few unkillable Mario enemies.
Yoshis are easily spooked as the mere touch from an enemy will send them running off, forcing you to chase them down it you want to reclaim them. On the plus side, if you're riding one, this gives you an extra hit. Perhaps one of the greatest uses for Yoshis is that if you're riding one and you're about to fall into a pit, you can dismount and use him as an extra jump to save yourself from harm, killing the Yoshi in the process. I'd call you an awful human being for doing so, but the fact is, I've done it more times than I can count, so I'm in no position to throw stones.
Beat - Mega Man Classic Series
Birds. Everything seems to get so much worse when they are thrown into video games. Just ask anyone that has played Ninja Gaiden on the NES. Captain Toad also has more than his fair share of bird problems in his game. One of the few winged ones I like is of the metal type. Created by Dr. Cossack to give Mega Man aid, Beat made his debut in Mega Man 5. Don't listen to Brentalfrloss. Sure Beat can't do what Rush does, but the help he provides proves that not all video game birds are bad.
Depending on the game, the aid Beat gives is different. In Mega Man 8, he assists during shooting segments along with Eddie, Auto and Rush. In Mega Man 5, 6 and IV (GB) he'll follow Mega Man around when he's summoned and attack enemies. Attack Beat was at his best in Mega Man 5 because he could attack bosses, including the final boss. Having Dr. Wily fall to a small, robotic bird has got to be one of the mad doc's most humiliating defeats.
From Mega Man 7 onward, Beat no longer attacks enemies. Instead he supports Mega Man by lifting him out of pits. This would mean that the bird would have to have a considerable amount of strength to carry the Blue Bomber. He can't carry Mega Man for very long but the fact that he can support Rock for several seconds is still quite impressive. You can even move Beat around during this brief period. With the amount of players that have died by falling into pits in Mega Man 11, the latest game in the series, Beat is working serious overtime.
EVE - EarthBound Beginnings
In a world where your own lamp, your sister's doll and hippies are out to kill you, you'll take any kind of help you can get. Lloyd, Ana and Teddy are helpful, sure, but none of them stack up against the titanic robot that is EVE.
Built by Ninten's grandfather to assist him in the coming invasion, EVE is found on Mt. Itoi, the hardest area in the entire game, which is saying something because a lot of this game's locations host random encounters that are nothing to scoff at. Mt. Itoi is home to some of the hardest hitting baddies you will face in the game but with EVE's help, your foes will fall like dominoes. EVE is a powerhouse, dishing out hard hitting damage, ensuring that you survive each and every encounter due to having the highest attack power and defense of any party member, temporary or permanent. The strength EVE brings to the party makes having her ideal for doing some leveling up on Mt. Itoi, especially when you take into account that EVE won't be sticking around for too long. During your trek on the surface of Mt. Itoi, the party will be attacked by R7038XX and EVE will self destruct to save the party.
Rambi - Donkey Kong Country Series
I do love me some Donkey Kong Country games so you can expect to see more animal companions from the series as we go. In Part 1 of this feature, Engaurde was mentioned. Now it's Rambi's time to shine.
Rambi is actually the first animal/creature companion DK and Diddy encounter in the first DKC game. He can be found as early as the game's first level, Jungle Hijinks. Making use of that horn and that brute strength, Rambi can charge into pretty much any enemy on the screen and take them out in a single hit. He can also knock down any walls hiding bonus rooms. Like Yoshi, Rambi can give you an additional hit and he'll run off if he touches an enemy without ramming into them, meaning you'll have to run him down if you want to get him back before he runs off a cliff. Rambi doesn't like fire, so attack fire based enemies is a no-no
When DK and Diddy returned to 2D platforming after a long break in the form of Donkey Kong Country Returns, Rambi returned as well along with a nifty new ability: he can break spikes, giving the Kongs access to areas they wouldn't be able to tread otherwise. He retains this ability in Tropical Freeze. Speedy, destructive and he gives spikes the middle horn. Name me a better rhino. I'll wait.
