Fallout 4has plenty of fantastic and memorable companions, but few stand out as much or have made quite the impact as Nick Valentine. The Synth detective sets himself apart from his robotic brethren due in no small part to the gritty, hard-boiled cop persona implanted by his creators. And one of the best and most fun things any Sole Survivor can do is take the time to explore the Commonwealth alongside Nick as his new partner.
With16 companions to recruit inFallout 4, it takes a lot to stand out from the crowd and, within the group, there are personalities to suit any type of Sole Survivor. From faction-specific characters to guns for hire,Nick offers something a little different and separate from his biological counterparts. Because in a world paranoid about Synths replacing people and the Institute bogeyman, Nick has managed to find his place in this society.
Nick’s Cases Offer Sight Into His Role In The Commonwealth
Better Grab Your Trenchcoat & Fedora
Once Nick has been rescued from Vault 114 and spoken to about Shaun, the Sole Survivor is free to travel with him as a companion. Nick is one of my favorite companions inFallout 4, and I love the comments he makes at various locations and during quests that help me get to know more about him. Getting to know Nick helps him trust the Sole Survivor more, eventually leading to solving cases with him, andthese cases say so much about who Nick Valentine is and the role he’s crafted for himself in the Commonwealth.
Why Nick Valentine Is Fallout 4’s Best Companion
Nick Valentine in Fallout 4 is Diamond City’s cool-headed, charismatic synth detective, and the best companion to bring along in the Commonwealth.
What cases Nick takes says as much about him as the clothes he wears. Nick isn’t just pretending to be an investigator or acting out some strange programming, he is a detective to his core. In a world where everyone can seem to be out for themselves, and it’s easier to shoot first and ask questions later,Nick goes out of his way to help people.
Helping Nick Solve A 200-Year-Old Cold Case Offers Insight & Rewards
Nick Perfectly Balances Cynicism & The Desire To Do Good
Nick’spersonal companion quest, “Long Time Coming,” involves a 200-year-old cold case that was deeply personal to the original Nick Valentine. While investigating a gangster called Eddie Winter,Detective Valentine’s fiancée, Jennifer Lands, was killed to send a message to the police. Nick will confide that this, coupled with the investigation being taken away from the cops, left the original Nick with severe trauma, leading to him being part of the experiment at C.I.T.
A holotape can be found in the BADTFL Regional Office’s evidence locker from Captain Widmark to Detective Valentine, ordering Nick to take part in C.I.T.’s brain-scanning trials.
The quest itself is fairly simple, and the Sole Survivor will have to find 10 holotapes scattered all over the Commonwealth to help Nick find the next clue. Butthe conclusion is far more satisfying, as Nick is finally able to close the case on Eddie Winter, who is now a ghoul. “Long Time Coming” is needed to gain Nick’scompanion perk inFallout 4, but I also find Eddie’s Peace a great reward as the unique .44 pistol comes with the Crippling effect to deal 50% extra limb damage.
However, the quest is about far more than its game rewards and offers a fantastic insight into Nick’s journey since he woke up in the Commonwealth.Nick will explain his confusion and how overwhelming the original Nick’s memories were, leading him, even after Eddie’s death, to question his own identity. Here, the Sole Survivor can offer comfort and advice on how to live free of the original Nick’s ghost.
Nick’s Detective Files Are Short But Rewarding
Both Cases Demonstrate Nick’s Role In The Community
Two more cases can be taken as Nick’s new partner and, although both can be completed without him,I always love to take him along for the extra comments and to feel like detectives working a case. “The Disappearing Act” and“The Gilded Grasshopper”can be started in Nick’s office by either reading the Earl Sterling Case Notes or listening to the Marty Bullfinch holotape. For both, the clues are very straightforward and the quests easy to complete, but what I find more interesting is what both say about the role Nick and his agency have within the wider Commonwealth.
10 Hidden Fallout 4 Quests That Are Really Easy To Miss
Fallout 4 is packed with side quests to keep players busy but some are easier to find and get than others, and can often be mistakenly overlooked.
“The Gilded Grasshopper” shows wonderfully that even people who have parted ways with Nick still see him as someone they can go to for help. Marty had a falling out, but even after that, Nick was someone he knew he could rely on and who wouldn’t cheat him if and when treasure was discovered. Similarly, Earl’s disappearance demonstrates thatresidents of the Commonwealth know Nick will care when someone goes missingand actually investigate it properly, rather than just immediately blaming the Institute and moving on.
Completing these shortFallout 4quests is great, especially for good-aligned playthroughs, as they make the Sole Survivor feel like they are becoming a part of a community in a positive way. However, more importantly, working alongside Nick on this case made me realize thathe isn’t trying to be the original Nick Valentine, but is instead carrying on the legacy. But what really makes me love being a detective alongside Nick is coming to the understanding that of all the memories the Institute could have put into him, they arguably chose the one that would lead to their downfall.
Fallout 4
Bethesda’s action RPG Fallout 4 puts players into the vault suit of the Lone Survivor, a pre-war soldier from an alternate future cryogenically frozen inside Vault 111. After their infant son is kidnapped, they venture out into the irradiated wasteland of the Commonwealth to scour the ruins of Boston for any sign of him. In doing so, they encounter various factions and companions and use an array of skills and abilities to navigate the apocalyptic remnants of society.
