I'm a dog person. I always have been and always will be, and that's because they are the best of what this world has to offer.
I'll be honest, I'm writing this because I just dropped my dog off at the vet. He has pancreatitis, so he's staying overnight for some treatment and will hopefully come back home tomorrow. His name is Yogi, he's a cardigan welsh corgi, and he's been my best friend for all 10 years of his life.
His brother Mickey (also a cardigan welsh corgi) and I miss him, so I started thinking about dogs in video games. None compare to my boys, but there have been many awesome ones portrayed in games over the years that I'm now currently thinking about.
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The best video game dogs
All dogs are amazing, let's be clear. But some dogs are immortal (one wish I would grant if I had the possibility), and that's because they are in video games. Here are our picks for some of the best that games have brought to life.
Angelo - Final Fantasy VIII
One of my first memories of gaming doggies was this pet way back in 1999. Rinoa Heartilly's companion and best buddy is part of her master's Limit Break ability, but also has the potential to randomly show up during battle, flying in like a missile and attacking the enemy party.
And yeah, Rinoa likes to launch her like a rocket from her projectile-launching weapon attached to her arm.
Diamond Dog - Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
DD, or D-Dog, or Diamond Dog, was first rescued as a puppy by Venom Snake during one of the game's missions. After using a Fulton recovery balloon to send him back to base, DD grew up in Mother Base and eventually grew to become one of his possible companions to take on missions in a combat support role.
Dogmeat - Fallout
There's been several Dogmeats throughout the Fallout franchise, but my first introduction to this post-apocalyptic pal was in Fallout 3. Like any other companion, Dogmeat will follow you around and help you in combat, making them an essential part of the game, just like real life.
K.K. Slider - Animal Crossing
When it comes to cool factor, no other dog is beating K.K. Slider. He's a literal traveling musician who shuts down the town square every time he pulls out his guitar and starts jamming.
Yamper - Pokémon
Pokémon: Sword and Shield is one of my least favorite games in the franchise, but its introduction of Yamper makes it worth playing. This canine Pokémon is a freakin' electric corgi with a bolt-shaped tail and a heart shape on it butt. Enough said.
And yes, this is pure bias. As a corgi owner, they are the kings of the dog world.
Riley - Call of Duty: Ghosts
Riley is an excellent example of an innocent creature that is used as a tool of war, like so many dogs in history. There's police dogs, bomb-sniffing dogs, and dogs who are companions of soldiers like this German Shepherd in 2013's CoD: Ghosts. That is the canine curse: loyalty, service, and training.
Riley stood by the side of the game's main heroes, assisting them when needed, and was arguably one of the more memorable characters from that campaign in general.
Sif, the Great Grey Wolf - Dark Souls
I know Sif is not really a "dog" but when it comes to canine companions, she's at the top of the list. First appearing as a boss fight in 2011's Dark Souls, Sif's backstory along with her master Knight Artorias is one of the most tragic and heartbreaking there is.
The imagery of Sif, a massive, grey wolf, wielding a bigger greatsword to protect her master's grave is absolutely unforgettable. So, too, is the boss fight, especially when she starts limping and you question every decision you've ever made in your life up until then.
Sif is always one of my first examples of when I think of the companionship that a canine can bring, and the loyalty that they possess. I highly suggest watching VaatiVidya's explainer video about the story of Artorias and Sif.
Let us know in the comments below who your favorite video game doggo is, and don't forget to pet your dog and tell them I said hello.
The post Dogs are better than humans. Here’s our picks for best pups in video games appeared first on Destructoid.
