Kay Vess is the protagonist ofStar Wars Outlawsand while she meets a lot of NPCs along the way, there is only one thing that matters to her: Nix. Nix is a small creature of unknown origin that Kay rescued as a child. Together they make an unstoppable team from story moments to actual gameplay segments.
Kay and Nix are not the first pairing seen inaStar Warsgamethough years prior there was Cal Kestis and BD-1 inStar Wars Jedi: Fallen Orderalong with the sequelStar Wars Jedi: Survivor. Between Nix and BD1, who is the better companion for their heroes? With spoilers on, let’s determine it.
8Visionary Skills: BD-1
This Little Robot Can See All
Players can press up on the D-Pad to scan an area of enemies with Nix. The range is limited but items and upgrades can widen the area. BD-1 comes more prepared in the scanning department because Cal can use him as binoculars.
BD-1 can also be used to relay hologram messages or other communications and he has a lamp that can light up the darkest locations. Kay can do all of those things withoutNix inStar Wars Outlaws, but it’s still great that BD-1 has so many visual aids built into one handy and cute unit for Cal.
7Destructive Skills: Nix
Grenades Cause Accidents All The Time
BD-1 cannot directly attack enemies as he is more ofa support droid. Nix can eventually kill enemies with a skill that allows players to detonate grenades on enemies. Before that upgrade, players can use Nix to trigger explosive barrels to explode upon contact.
This won’t even trigger an alert status on Kay, allowing players to still sneak in the shadows. It doesn’t make sense why enemies don’t just gun Nix down after he causes such an explosive ruckus, but that lingering question is for another day forStar Wars Outlaws.
6Hacking Skills: BD-1
Make Killer Friends With Droids
While BD-1 cannot directly attack enemies, he will eventually get a dart upgrade that will allow him to hack droids. Several droids are used for puzzle-solving but some attack-oriented droids can aid Cal in battle too. It’s not as cool as BD-1 hopping into a droid like he is a combining robotfromPower Rangersbut the results speak for themselves.
The range of hackable droids is impressive in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor from Droidekas to DT Sentries. Nix, as a flesh and blood being, cannot hack but he can open doors for Kay by pressing buttons which is useful too.
5Gathering Skills: Nix
Look Out For This Little Pickpocket
BD-1 cannot gather items on command for Cal but he can supply him with healing salves. They are quick and easy to use which is great as some of those battles in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor can be brutal.
Nix can do a lot more like going over to a table to retrieve healing items for Kay. He can also pickpocket enemies for cash. Nix can even bring Kaydisposable guns inStar Wars Outlawswhich helps when players are pinned down behind cover and they need some heavier artillery to take enemies out in a jiffy.
4Traversal Skills: BD-1
Grind Through The Many Planets Of Star Wars
BD-1 gets severaltraversal upgrades inStar Wars Jedi: Survivorto help Cal progress through the world. Even though the game is open-world, it’s also like a Metroidvania wherein new abilities will unlock new pathways.
For example, Koboh Matter is a substance that will harm Cal upon touching and BD-1 can break through it with a new part. BD-1 can also help Cal grind on rails which is as fun as it sounds. Kay has a grappling hook, which is useful, but Nix doesn’t help with that tool’s deployment.
3Interactivity Skills: Nix
This Little Guy Loves Alien Corn
Players don’t get a lot of time to bond with BD-1 throughoutStar Wars Jedi: Survivor. They can have BD-1 dance around Cal’s shoulders via the D-Pad but that’s about it. Everything else is more story-based.
In Star Wars Outlaws, players get more opportunities with Nix thanks to a mini-game for food. Ordering up a dish will start a mini-game wherein players have to do a series of Quick Time Events to feed Nix. One of the first ones on Toshara is called Che Mosska and it looks like an alien version of Mexican Street Corn.
2Cuteness Factor: BD-1
Shiny Metal Beeps And Boops
Whether players find BD-1 or Nix more appealing is subjective. Both companions are not fuzzy adorable little monsters on the level ofPikachu or any of the other Pokemonfrom that massive franchise.
Nix is lizard-like with a little fur but he does have great facial animations and a beaming smile. BD-1 is a robot but somehow feels more alive than some of the talking NPCs inStar Wars Jedi: Survivorplus his design is sleek. The beeping communication style has worked since R2-D2 hit the scene in 1977 and it still works for BD-1 decades later.
1Verdict: BD-1
Who Can Resist This Happy Rescue?
Tallying everything up, it seems like BD-1 is the clear winner. As a service droid, it is built to help humans and human-like alien races. From the tools like the binoculars to the hacking dart, BD-1 is loaded for bear. Nix, of course, is beyond useful too from his gathering skills to his ability to explode enemies at the drop of a hat.
While BD-1 is the choice on this list, that doesn’t mean that Nix is a loser. They are both great Star Wars companions in a sea of them and here’s hoping they will be in many more games to come.
