Fallout 4’s best companion has long been overlooked, and I’m here to change that.Fallout 4has one of the most robust companion systems in the series. Although pretty much everyFalloutgame has companions,Fallout 4’s system of settlements, approval, and companion perks allows you to go a lot deeper than most other entries in the series. Its companions are also a lot more interactive, with unique dialogue lines for various landmarks and situations that really bring them to life. At times, they’ll even respond directly and dynamically to your own dialogue choices, affecting their affinity for your character.
In general, Nick Valentine is consideredFallout 4’s best companion. He’s cool, he’s charismatic, and he’s connected to the main story quest in a unique way. He’s more than just likable, too - he’s also one of the better written companions inFallout 4. Nick could easily be the protagonist of his ownFalloutspinoff game if he wanted to, but he’s perfectly happy to follow the Sole Survivor around instead. Butthere’s another underrated companion who deserves a lot more love- if only more people knew about him.
Old Longfellow Deserves More Fallout 4 Love
Fallout 4’s Most Underrated Companion
Nick Valentine is cool, butOld Longfellow also has a solid claim to the title ofFallout 4’s best companion. Old Longfellow is exclusive toFallout 4’sFar HarborDLC, although he can be taken back to the mainland once you’ve recruited him. He works as a hunter and a guide in and around the settlement of Far Harbor. He’s one of the first people you meet when you begin the DLC, and he’s the first person to help you learn to navigate the deadly Fog. Once you get to Acadia with him, though, he becomes much more, agreeing to stay on as your permanent companion.
The more you travel with Old Longfellow, the more you learn about him: he’s one of the oldest people in Far Harbor, which means he knows a lot about the locale and will often spout factoids or useful information about it.That makes him a utilitarian companion, especially if it’s your first time playing the DLC. He’s also pretty handy in a fight.
Old Longfellow had some serious run-ins with the Children of Atom faction,which gives him a major stake inFar Harbor’s main plot- perhaps even more so than Nick Valentine’s stake in the base game. His romantic partner, Hannah, was kidnapped and forcibly converted by the Children of Atom while pregnant with his child. The radiation that the Children of Atom worship caused her to have a miscarriage, and Hannah herself was later attacked and killed by cannibals.
As a result, Old Longfellow has become bitter and stubborn. Though he’s a valuable resource and a staunch defender of Far Harbor, he’s largely given up on hunting and guide services by the time you meet him. But by spending time with him, you give him a will to live - when you max out his affinity, he tells you he sees you as his child, and feels you’re the only person he’s ever met worthy of passing all his knowledge onto.This is one of the strongest companion character arcs inFallout 4, and the ending is genuinely moving.
Old Longfellow is a bit like Boone meets the Ancient Mariner.
Old Longfellow is a bit like Boone meets the Ancient Mariner. He’s got an amusingly prickly personality, a great story, and a truly satisfying resolution.He’s a great companion to have with you inFallout 4, but he’s frequently overshadowedby some of the base game characters - perhaps for good reason.
Nick Valentine Overshadows Old Longfellow
Nick Is A Great Companion, Too
To be fair,Nick Valentine is a great companion in his own right. He’s got his own emotionally fraught backstory in a uniquelyFallout 4way: he’s an old prototype synth who’s led many lives before the Sole Survivor meets him. He’s quippy and cool under pressure, and he’s the only person in theFalloutseries to canonically acknowledge the existence of the Mysterious Stranger.
AndNick does, admittedly, have a couple of things that Old Longfellow doesn’t. One of those is his own companion quest, which, while it’s a little boring to actually play, has a great story in which you use Nick’s genetic memory to track down a pre-war outlaw who’s intentionally exposed himself to high levels of radiation to survive for centuries.
Unfortunately, you may’t romance Nick Valentine or Old Longfellow inFallout 4.
Besides that,Nick is a lot more chatty as a companion. He has unique voice lines for certain base game and DLC locations, while Old Longfellow can only comment specifically on locations in Far Harbor. He’ll still use his generic voice lines when you take him back to the mainland, but he won’t be as personable. Even so, you should make sure you use Old Longfellow to the fullest while you can.
Why You Should Play Far Harbor With Old Longfellow
If Not The Base Game
Look, I won’t try to convince you to leave Nick Valentine behind entirely on your next playthrough. He’s stillFallout 4’s best companion by far, and no playthrough is complete without at least a little time by the great synth detective’s side. But even so,you should leave him behind(for the most part)when you set off for Far Harbor. He’s got a couple of quests to take care of there, but when you’re not actively working on them, I’d recommend playing with Old Longfellow instead.
Old Longfellow is just so knowledgeable about Far Harbor that to miss out on him is a shame. His story is unique amongFallout 4companions, and comes to a really sweet and satisfying ending. It’s worth playing through, even if it means parting with your emotional support synth for a few hours. Old Longfellow may not be the best companion inFallout 4, but he’s unique and important enough toFar Harborthat he’s not to be missed.
