Let’s get the obvious one out of the way first…
Mario and Luigi
It is almost impossible to make a list of famous video game pairings without talking about this pair of plumbers, who have been working together since attempting to clear turtles, crabs, and flies out of that sewer system back in 1983. Since then, they have grown moderately more famous over the years, but they have (almost) always stuck together. Luigi is even such a great partner that he is willing to put his life (lives?) on the line to save Mario’s girlfriend!
The brothers have always made time to do things together, such as visiting exotic locales like the Beanbean Kingdom, traveling back in time, finally getting the inside story on the arch-nemesis Bowser, and even sharing their dreams (at least Luigi’s) with each other. Even if Mario finds himself traveling to distant galaxies, we can all be assured that Luigi will be there with him. That’s why the Mario Bros. will always be one of the prime pixelated pairings.
Jak and Daxter
When a friendship can survive someone getting the other person turned into a weird otter and weasel combination, it can survive anything. Jak and Daxter are one of the all-time great duos just because how strong their friendship is. Jak tries as hard as he can to find a way to return his buddy to his original form. Daxter, as nothing more than a small furry creature, manages to break Jak out of prison. They are there for each other through thick and thin, no matter how much of a smart aleck Daxter is and no matter how broody Jak becomes. Always destined to be at the forefront of PlayStation duos, don’t be surprised when Jak and Daxter make their long-awaited return in an original game on the PlayStation 4.
Ratchet and Clank
Possibly the only headlining duo in the PlayStation lineup that could top the last pairing is Ratchet and Clank. They originally come together in a partnership of convenience, but soon find themselves close friends as well as allies. Really, despite the thick layers of humor and action, the Ratchet & Clank franchise is a story about two lonely beings: One is the last of his kind and the other the only of his, both finding their place in the universe through the bond they share.
It seems strange to think of such a hilarious and over the top game series being so sentimental, but it really is, especially when players get to the Ratchet & Clank Future games on PlayStation 3. The two form a powerhouse when they are together, and they’ll go across the universe to save each other when they are separated. Ratchet and Clank still have one adventure left on the PS3 with Into the Nexus, but will hopefully find their way to the PlayStation 4 very soon.
Lee and Clementine
Normally, a person suggesting that a convicted felon and a little girl were a great duo would make others question their sanity. The zombie apocalypse doesn’t quite classify as normal however, and the bond that Lee and Clementine share makes them a truly great duo. Lee, a good man suffering the consequences of a terrible choice, takes it upon himself to care and protect young Clementine, whose parents are trapped in Savannah and most likely dead.
The tentative trust that is there in the beginning of the relationship quickly evolves into genuine affection, to the point where Clem is even willing to kill to protect Lee the same way he has protected her. In a game about how the real threat isn’t the dead but the duplicity of the living, Lee and Clementine provide a model of love and plain human decency we would all hope would survive even the most desperate of situations. They give hope to the idea that we can all find a way to love our fellow man, no matter where they come from or who they are; we can all find a common bond.
Nathan Drake and Sully
Many would think of Nathan and Elena being the prominent duo of the Uncharted franchise, and it easy to understand why: They spend much of the games together, they develop a romantic relationship, and even wind up married. However, it is the duo of Nate and Sully that really makes Uncharted tick.
Sully is a strange combination of the surrogate father, crazy uncle, teacher, brother, and best friend for Nate. Sully is always there with a dirty joke just like that one uncle we all have (“This one ol’ girl…”), but still shows fatherly concern for the young treasure hunter by questioning Nate’s motives more than once. Yet, at the end of the day, Sully is always there to help his friend and protege whenever possible, more than once saving Drake’s life. Nate respects and admires the old scoundrel, willing to fight anyone that would question Sully’s loyalty.
When the Uncharted series is viewed in its entirety, it tells the story of a man, (Sully) who has led a difficult life and fallen into an unsavory lifestyle, taking a teenager (Drake) that is following the same path he once took and molding him into a decent (if still a bit roguish) person, and in turn making himself a better man than he otherwise would have been.
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By Travis Tucker
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