The top 20 video game duos

11. Sam & Max (Sam & Max)

Skim through this list and you'll see plenty of daring double acts united by a common cause. Some come together to best a nasty boss, while others are thrown in by the strange hand of fate. In either case there's usually some form of outside pressure prompting their cooperation. Most are little more than circumstantial allies--that is to say--neither party would look twice at the other if it weren't for the demands of the plot. Sure, many go on to form a firm friendship, but few, if any truly choose their companion.

Not so with LucasArts' Sam & Max. These freelance detectives may occupy opposing ends of the personality spectrum, but they do really choose to work together. After all, there's no mystery or adventure out there that specifically demands the attentions of a sharply dressed dog and his wisecracking rabbit thing. No one has a gun to their heads, though I suppose that's largely a non-issue in a world where everyone learned to shoot at the Stormtrooper school of marksmanship. Still, when you can skip right through all the 'getting to know you' guff and move right on to the 'palling around' part, everyone's a winner baby!

10. Donkey Kong & Diddy (Donkey Kong)

How many barrels do you think Donkey Kong had to sort through in order to discover his young nephew? Perhaps he was never really after Jumpman at all. Perhaps that meddling pre-Mario just happened upon one of the ape's efforts to locate his missing kin? Maybe Princess Toadstool was just lending a hand? No matter, it's all water under the bridge now. Donkey's slapped a big ol' sticker on the side of Diddy's favourite casks and all is well. Well apart from those poor animals he routinely chucks them at, with Diddy still inside Are you allowed to call the R(/A)SPCA to report another animal? Hmm.

All talk of heinous animal-on-animal crime aside, Donkey and Diddy make for a pretty efficient duo. Donkey brings the brute strength, Diddy supplies the authentic jungle-made jetpack. Together they work to rid DK Island of the nasty little critters unleashed by the villainous King K. Rool. While they may not be the most talkative of double acts, these plucky primates do share something of an interesting relationship. As an uncle, Donkey has all of the fun of a Father-figure but with none of the lame responsibility. It's a bit like your own uncle, you know the one, who owns a motorcycle and agrees to buy all the kids booze. What a guy.

9. Chief & Cortana (Halo)

No fancy space suit is complete without a softly spoken satnav suffering from a bad case of verbal diarrhoea. In Cortana's defence, Halo's iconic blue companion is just a wee bit bonkers, having opted to ignore a mandatory expiration date intended to prevent just that. If Chief's long-time ally were a snack food, she'd be an 8-year-old packet of Rolos; tasty, soft-centered and quite liable to get you killed.

Together, she and the Chief make for an affectionate odd couple. John's a straight-laced military man from the future, Cortana's a 'rampant AI with identity issues'. Simply put, they level each other out. Imagine if you can an alternate cut of Blade Runner in which Harrison Ford's character decides to buddy up with Rutger Hauer's dying cyborg. United, they take to the stars and do battle with evil space crusaders. That's essentially the dynamic at work here. While the action often takes precedence, Cortana occasionally pops up with some twisted nugget of truth, or an existential musing that paints her 'flesh and blood' buddy as the more machine-like of the two. That's pretty deep maaaan.

8. Marcus & Dom (Gears of War)

Alright, so maybe I've squeezed out every last pun in the bro department. Maybe I have gone to the 'bro well' once too often. Maybe I am no wait: 'Army of Broo'? Does that work? No, no I was right earlier, it's overshame really, these two grizzled grunts are about as macho as it gets. Marcus, grumbles, spits and swears, and Dom well Dom does the exact same thing.

Like most brotherly relationships, these two titanic warriors barely, if ever betray their emotions, that is unless you count white-hot burning rage. Deep down, these big, hulking brutes do love each other (and yes, that's in a purely platonic way, you potential trolls you, I see you lurking)... Of course, both men would just as soon take a chainsaw to the chops than actually admit all that. This is the stuff of Stallone and Schwarzenegger, Van Damme and--to a far lesser extent--Steven Seagal: pure 80s, 'arm-wrestling as a handshake' camaraderie. Break up this bro-down at your own peril.

7. Banjo & Kazooie (Banjo Kazooie)

They say that opposites attract. They also say that you shouldn't play with matches or walk down strange alleys after dark. Whoever 'they' are, they're right, and I've got the flaming shank wounds to prove it When it comes to video games, folks don't get any more opposite than Rare's own Banjo & Kazooie. He's the nice but dim honey bear, she's a beaky old bird channelling a movie mobster's wife.

Unlike some duos, wherein both characters share a set of separate, if complementary attributes, i.e. 'she fights, while he jumps a little bit higher', B & K's particular quirks really do work to improve one another. Everyone is just a little bit mean to Kazooie, except that is for Banjo, who never has a bad word to say about his mouthy accomplice. Likewise, Kazooie's thirst for adventure is the only thing capable of tearing a bashful Banjo away from an utterly laidback lifestyle. Being supportive and nudging people into new things, that's pretty much the big one-two on top of the imaginary friendship charter. You're right, I probably should draw that thing up for real

6. Lee & Clementine (The Walking Dead)

Few things are as simultaneously heart-warming/ wrenching as this atypical twosome. Well, apart from heartburn, that chest-infesting knave! Lee Everett and Clementine 'surname still pending' meet up during the events of the Robert Kirkman zombie invasion. No, not an invasion of zombie Robert Kirkmans--that'd just be silly--though almost certainly lucrative. Anyhoo, both of these characters were specifically created for the Telltale adaptation of Kirkman's series. Lee is a convicted killer who never quite made it to prison, (thanks zombies) while Clem is a resourceful tween left on her lonesome in the wake of the plague.

While the game does offer a wide degree of choice, most decisions will invariably see Lee & Clem getting along like a ghoul on fire. Choose to play things any way but 'straight up mean' and you'll be rewarded with one of the more touching and ultimately tragic friendships in gaming history. A friendship made all the more meaningful by the fact that Lee has no zero compunction to help Clem. He risks everything, in a world bursting with monsters, zombified and otherwise, simply because it was the right thing to do. Let's go ahead and give this surrogate father/ daughter duo a hand, preferably one with a heartbeat.

5. Ratchet & Clank (Ratchet & Clank)

The intrepid adventurer/last of his kind, and the snooty, mechanical butler who's left a life of combat behind. Now, where have I seen that one before? Ah yes, that's right. Ratchet & Clank are Batman and Alfred! I mean, just look at their silhouettes. The Caped Crusader's big pointing ears, Alfie's hairless chrome dome and five-inch torsoyes well it's not a perfect analogy, is it? Where Ratchet & Clank opt for an air of colourful whimsy, The Dark Knight Detective stands for the absolute polar opposite. Still, there's a certain level of similarity between the two.

Ratchet is brave and bold, with a burning desire to uncover the truth behind his people's disappearance. He's also a fine engineer, a great warrior and an altogether upstanding citizen. Clank, by contrast is a well-spoken advisor-type, who's reluctant to involve himself in any fighting but more than capable when push comes to shove. Like Batman & Alfred, R & C share a largely unspoken, nigh-unbreakable connection. Not to mention, they take 'watching each other's backs' to a whole new level.

4. Sonic & Tails (Sonic the Hedgehog 2)

If the tale of the tortoise and the hare has taught us anything, it's this: stupendous speed is all fine and dandy, but it won't do you much good up against a slower-moving, more determined foe Who can fly. The turtle can fly right? Oook, well there goes nine-tenths of that analogy. Suffice to say, Sonic's brisk pace isn't without its drawbacks, issues that his bosom buddy Tails is uniquely placed to address.

Having trouble crossing that gorge? Why not allow 'big ginger' over there to take you up for a romantic, Superman 1-style outing among the clouds? Just friends? Alright, that'll work too Unlike the vast majority of Sonic's supporting cast, Tails truly warrants his place alongside the Blue Blur. Integrating into an already successful franchise is no mean feat--just ask Poochie the Dog--so it's a real credit to Sega's favourite double act that these two creatures gel so well. Plus, the inimitable orange fox is kind of, sorta immortal, which turns his many, many deaths into form of light relief. Talk about a team player.

3. Jak & Daxter (Jak & Daxter)

Not every humorous duo has to adhere to the age-old 'straight man/ funny man' shtick, but it's a winning combo nonetheless. From silent simpleton to rage-spewing typhoon, Jak has always been more of the former, while his plucky partner in crime; the lovable, smart-alec Daxter continues to crack wise. While Jak does most of the fighting, Dax proves himself pretty handy in a pinch, squeezing into small spots and rescuing his blonde-haired bud from the cruel machinations of the Metal Heads. That's evil alien monster Metal Heads mind you, not the larynx-shattering, head banging kind. Moving on

It turns out that Jak owes his pal something of an informal life debt; having accidentally transformed the once-human Dax into the mouthy weasel creature we know and love today. So, it's a little bit like the Han Solo/Chewie situation, except of course Daxter isn't as likely to best you at a game of chess or rip out both of your arms and beat you with them. Simply put, Jak's determination to see his error undone is matched only by Dax's anguish at having failed to save 'J' any earlier, meaning both of these buds are 100% committed to one another. Awww.

2. Mario & Luigi (Most Mario titles)

Who knew that two pint-sized plumbers from Italy, decked out in brightly coloured suspenders and Stalin-esque moustaches would prove so darn popular? I mean, by that token, Nintendo might as well have paired two Swedish carpenters, in plaid shirts and jean shorts with a goatee, or something. It really is a mystery. Mario's games may be great, but is that really enough to sell us on such an unusual look? Maybe that specific set of features is just gold dust in gaming form, or the holy grail of mascot design.

In any case the fact remains that Mario and Luigi ARE popular, and why not, they're a fun bunch of dudes with a massive set of interests. I mean, who else are you going to hang around with that enjoys everything from tennis, to golf, athletics, go-karting and even the occasional kick about? These fellas have more activities on the go than an overbearing holiday rep. And what's more, they actually appear to enjoy one another's company, a trait that likely comes in handy when facing off with the many minions of Bowser.