It wouldn’t be an understatement to say that Baldur’s Gate 3 has some actually standout characters so that you can work together with.
Virtually as quickly as you dive into the sport, you get the possibility to fulfill all kinds of characters that run the gamut of fantasy races and creatures. Some are simply befriended and may give you support, whereas others see you as a risk or a nuisance and deal with you as such. Every has their very own persona, and a number of other might be interacted with in methods which are mind-blowing in comparison with the extra static NPCs present in different video games.
However amongst these notable characters stand two of the bestest boys that ever did beg for pets. They exemplify what makes animal characters and companions so darned irresistible, and are simply a draw for anybody who hasn’t dived into Baldur’s Gate 3 so far. These two indomitable forces of cuteness are Scratch the Canine and the Owlbear Cub, and dang in the event that they aren’t two of my favourite animal companion characters of 2023.
![](https://twinfinite.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Baldurs-Gate-3-Scratch-Clenching-Gift-for-Player-Between-His-Teeth.jpg?resize=640%2C360)
Granted, they could not appear that impactful whenever you first encounter them. Scratch is your typical canine companion by means of and thru. He’s at all times completely satisfied to simply accept some neck scritches, will carry a ball to you so he can play fetch, and may discover or dig up objects for you within the open world. The Owlbear Cub, in the meantime, does a lot the identical factor, besides he’s restricted to begging for pets and being lovely.
It’s nothing anybody who has performed a online game previously few a long time hasn’t seen earlier than. Quite a lot of titles have featured comparable pets and furry pals for gamers to soak up, and so they’ve been simply as lovely of their appearances as both of Baldur’s Gate 3’s animal pals.
And but, they’ve one thing greater than their contemporaries. It isn’t a on condition that they’ll be a part of up with you, and it takes each luck and making the right decisions with a purpose to guarantee they’ll stick with you all through the remainder of the sport. Being too merciless towards them at key moments, or failing to offer them the time and area to simply accept you, may end up in them avoiding you indefinitely.
Greater than that, they’re true characters with storylines that play out alongside the plot. Scratch solely joins up with you as a result of his precise proprietor died, and it takes him time to course of this loss. The Owlbear Cub, in the meantime, has a whole questline that may be devoted to him. You possibly can hint his journey from being completely satisfied together with his mom to shedding her in a goblin raid, and may play a key position in him being free of their clutches.
![](https://twinfinite.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Baldurs-Gate-3-Owlbear-Cub-Visiting-Camp-to-See-if-its-Safe.jpg?resize=640%2C360)
These storylines even collide whenever you handle to persuade each to hitch your camp. When the Owlbear Cub has a nightmare about every part he’s gone by means of, Scratch is there to assist him by means of it and assist him till he’s assured that he’s lastly protected. He does so as a result of he remembers the fears of his personal childhood, made all of the extra tangible by his personal current loss.
It’s a drop in an ocean of tales and plotlines you encounter, however goes up to now to flesh them out past how online game pets often are. I felt extra linked to the sport’s pup and cub as a result of they had been greater than a considerably anticipated characteristic. They existed on the earth earlier than I stumbled into it, and continued to take care of their very own issues even after becoming a member of up with me. They had been legit characters versus mechanics or options to work together with.
What’s extra is that it makes you care about each of them that rather more. Their antics round your camp collectively turn into greater than cute; they’re proof that each are persevering with by means of their very own private narratives. Scratch continues to be transferring on from the lack of his authentic proprietor, and is doing his obligation because the Owlbear Cub’s new de facto protector and good friend.
There are nonetheless loads of different video games set to launch this 12 months, and it’s greater than potential they’ll characteristic memorable animal companions. Nevertheless it’s onerous to consider any of them can measure as much as the pair of lovable critters Baldur’s Gate 3 brings to the desk. Each Scratch and the Owlbear Cub have earned a spot in my heckin’ good boy corridor of fame, and in case you