In Fallout 4, one of the best things about adventuring in the Wasteland is who comes along for the journey. Fighting raiders and delving through abandoned vaults is always more enjoyable with someone else, and the game is very aware of that, providing a fair amount of companions for the player to choose from. From a stray dog that the Sole Survivor finds minutes after emerging from the vault to their old robotic butler Codsworth, there is a companion that can suit nearly everyone's tastes, but Nick Valentine in Fallout 4 might be the best.
With all of the available companions in Fallout 4, it can feel difficult for a player to decide who should follow them through their toughest battles. Amidst the group of recruitable survivors, Nick Valentine in Fallout 4 stands out. Nick is a synth working as a private eye in Diamond City. He shows up early in the story, meaning that the player will not have to wait for too long to meet him, and they will have plenty of time to get to know him. Over the course of the game, Nick will inject character and likability into the story time and time again.
All of the companions in the game are useful to bring along for fights, but Nick brings a little something extra that makes him a truly enjoyable traveling companion. Although Nick cannot be romanced, his skills, personality, and story leave an impression. There are a few areas to discuss regarding Nick Valentine in Fallout 4, and they should put forth a very strong argument for his status as an iconic companion in both the game and the entire series.
Nick Valentine In Fallout 4 Is A Great Synth Detective
As a detective, Nick Valentine in Fallout 4 is devoted to finding the truth and making sure that justice is served. Even beyond the cases given to him by his clients, he is loathe to pass by someone in need without offering his assistance. Even when viewed with suspicion as a synth in Fallout 4, he strives to do good. When the Sole Survivor meets him, he is in the middle of a sticky situation that he fell into while trying to find a missing girl, which acts as a perfect introduction to Nick himself as well as his personality. In fact, assisting him in closing the case is the first step toward his friendship with the Sole Survivor.
Nick's niceness is even woven into the game mechanics. Each companion in Fallout 4 has a relationship level with the Sole Survivor that goes up or down depending on actions that the player performs in their presence. The fastest way for the player to put themselves into Nick's good graces is to put their own kindness on display, helping the people of the Wasteland and acting courteous to people in general. With so many people in the Wasteland in need of help, there are plenty of opportunities to impress Nick Valentine in Fallout 4. The only arguably immoral action that Nick approves of is hacking, and that could be explained by him being a detective who uses all paths to search for the truth.
These facts combined paint Nick as an incredibly moral and upstanding man who holds tightly to his ideals. He is a man of justice, the kind that the savage wasteland of the Fallout universe needs to act as a savior to the unfortunate. He is one of the kindest individuals that the Sole Survivor can find in the Wasteland, and it is very fortunate that they have the option to let him accompany them on their adventure. Nick Valentine in Fallout 4 is truly a reliable ally.
Nick Valentine In Fallout 4 Has An Interesting Story & Quest Chain
Every follower in Fallout 4 has their own story, explaining their life before meeting the player. Each of them hit emotional notes, such as Cait's past life as a slave or Codsworth losing his beloved master for countless years after the bombs fell. Once again, it is Fallout 4's Nick Valentine who comes out on top in this regard, with a backstory full of action and emotion, which is especially impressive when one considers that part of it isn't actually his.
The original Nick Valentine in Fallout 4 was a detective from Chicago who was called in to Boston to help bring down an infamous mob boss named Eddie Winter. Unfortunately, not only was Eddie able to escape justice, but he had Nick's fiancé killed as retribution. This failure haunted Nick for the rest of his days, and after his death, data from his scanned brain was used in the creation of a new synth, the first with the ability of independent thought. Since synths in Fallout 4 can be given real people's identities, this synth took on the identity of Nick Valentine, and retained the memories and personality of the former detective. That set his life's path into motion, and he became a private eye operating out of Diamond City. Even with the city's suspicion of synths, Nick became a trusted and respected member of the community through his good work and personality.
This leads into where the player first meets Nick Valentine in Fallout 4, in the midst of a confrontation with a gangster and a girl who ran away to be with him as a result of yet another case. Nick's story comes to a head in his personal quest, where the player helps him to track down a ghoulified Eddie Winter and make amends for failing to bring the man down those countless years ago. From there, the story of Nick Valentine depends on what path he and the Sole Survivor take and which faction in Fallout 4 is joined. Although with the stakes in the main plot, it is sure to live up to his past adventures.
Nick Valentine In Fallout 4 Is Just Plain Cool As A Companion
The last reason to travel with Nick Valentine in Fallout 4 is more shallow than the others, but by no means valid. On every level, both conceptually and practically, Nick is just a cool character. Whether one takes into account his personality or his robotic traits, Nick is an excellently designed character, full of reasons for players to choose him as a companion even from a cursory glance.
Nick is a hard-boiled detective straight out of a pulp novel, with the twist that he is a robot with glowing eyes and exposed metallic parts. He has an old-school science fiction aesthetic about him that combines perfectly with his detective personality. Nick is an incredible living fusion of genres. He is a truly unique character who has no real comparison in the world of gaming, and that is one of the things that makes him such a desirable companion.
Even beyond his memorable concept, Nick Valentine in Fallout 4 is an enjoyable character to have around. Fitting his detective background, he wields a revolver that he is deadly competent with, making him a major asset in combat. He also has more than his fair share of commentary for many of the places that he travels to with the Sole Survivor. A lot of his quotes sound like he's narrating the story of his latest case, and for such a friendly character, he also has a bitingly funny sense of snark to him. With Fallout 4's Commonwealth being so vast, Nick will rarely lack an interesting comment.
In the large world of the game, it should be clear that Nick Valentine in Fallout 4 is the companion of choice for the Sole Survivor. He brings a compelling quest of his own to complete alongside the main story, and he remains cool and likable the whole way through. Any player making their way in the Commonwealth should definitely consider picking up Nick as an ally, for he is guaranteed to please.