History Main / GameplayAllyImmortality

* ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 3}}''. After you find [[spoiler: your Dad]], he sets off to Rivet City, which is about half a map away. On foot. If you decide to take a walk with him, you get to watch him take the highway into D.C., right through everything from raiders carrying missile launchers to super mutant masters with miniguns, wearing nothing but his jumpsuit - and "become unconscious" over and over again... [[DeathIsCheap just to get up half a minute later and continue on his merry way]]. [[spoiler: And to make the trope even more fitting, all this so later the plot can kill him anyway.]]

** ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 1}}'' and ''[[VideoGame/{{Fallout2}} 2]]'' totally averted this, though. If you are so inclined, you can kill ''every single NPC'' and still win. (Apart from the residents of Arroyo ? killing them is possible, too, but this ends the game.) The sole exception in Fallout 1 is, of course, the Vault 13 Overseer, until it's... his time.
** VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas has this in full effect for all of your companions, [[FinalDeath unless you play in Hardcore mode]]. There are a few exceptions though. In particular, the quest Birds of a Feather can result in the death of [[spoiler: Cass]] if you comply with their orders.
--->[[spoiler: ''Hi. I'm Jean-Baptiste, and you're about to stop being a pain in my ass." [[GroinAttack *blasts her in the nether regions with his laser rifle*]] ]]

*** Yes Man is also essential. If you kill him his personality will just download into another Securitron.

** This is explicitly stated in ''{{VideoGame/Fallout 4}}'', companions are always immortal and only stunned, when asked the developers basically said "if the [[CanineCompanion dog]] dies, it's an [[SaveScumming instant reload]], it wasn't impactful, just inconvenient."

* In ''Franchise/FireEmblem'', where death is permanent, most allies not under the players control will simply be injured and leave the fight if they run out of health instead of dying. ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTellius Radiant Dawn]]'' has a level with Kurth, who is believed at this point to be a civilian with no combat skills. He does, however, have much more health and defense than any of the player's characters. This means he can be used as an effective guard (albeit one that doesn't fight back).

* The 2D ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' games where you can play as Sonic and have Tails following you, Tails can get killed numerous times but still [[StayingAlive come back a short time later]]. This made boss fights a lot easier if you had a friend playing with you as you could have Tails attack the boss without worrying about taking damage.

** The sequel, ''[[VideoGame/DeusExInvisibleWar InvisibleWar]]'' had several immortal [=NPCs=] as well, but it also de-emphasized the issue by segregating the player from them. A lot of conversations with plot-relevant characters took place over video screens and across unbreakable walls.

* In ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsI'' and [[VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII its sequel]], you allies will get up a few minutes after losing all their health. If you lose all your health, however, it's an instant game over. This is probably justified, since they are [[DisneyDeath Disney characters]].
** The in-game justification for this is glossed over ''very'' quickly, but basically boils down to your partners simply being knocked out, and Sora ''losing his heart'' any time he dies. Because the Heartless/Nobodies are very vulnerable to the Keyblade, they don't take any chances.

** Both played straight and subverted by the Dream Eaters in ''VideoGame/KingdomHearts3D''. While your own Dream Eaters ''can'' die off for good by running out of HP and not receiving assistance, the temporary ones you can call to your side using friend portals are completely indestructible and simply get knocked around by attacks.

** ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind Morrowind]]'' averts this trope. All [=NPCs=], up to and including [[PhysicalGod physical gods]], can be killed if you're strong enough. You do get a warning if a killed NPC was critical to the main plot, but that's it.

* ''VideoGame/AgeOfMythology'' plays this game. Story [[PlayerCharacter PCs]] will be able to rise again if allies are around and enemies are not. Could be justified by Athena watching your crusade. One character notably has to block Arkantos's team from getting to him to make a HeroicSacrifice.

** Somewhat subverted in ''[=SoF=] 2'', where although friendly soldiers can't be killed by enemies, they CAN be killed by friendly fire, and if that happens, you spontaneously die as well.

** In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'', the four allies who help you board the Divine Beasts cannot be harmed by either you or the Divine Beasts. It's justified with Riju and Yunobo, as they have magical abilities that shield them from harm.

* All important allied characters in ''VideoGame/DeusEx'' are unkillable. A lot of the generic UNATCO troopers in the early levels are immortal as well, though only in areas without enemy presence. However, the game also had a few memorable subversions: among all the invincible UNATCO soldiers after the first mission is a single vulnerable one, and killing him gets you some extra dialogue with Manderley. Much more importantly, [[spoiler: you can kill Anna during the confrontation with Lebedev]].

* Averted in the older ''VideoGame/RainbowSix'' games, where characters are subject to PermaDeath; when they're gone, they're replaced by RedShirt reserve agents.

* Both subverted and played straight throughout the ''VideoGame/WingCommander'' series, depending on the specifics. In some games and missions, {{NPC}}s can die (complete with funeral scene), while in others they eject to be available the very next mission in others... or at least remain available until [[PlotlineDeath they're doomed by the plot]].
* Averted in the ''VideoGame/MedalOfHonor'' series, where although your allies [[MadeOfIron can take a licking]], they are not invincible. Needless to say, if any non-{{redshirt}} (eg EscortMission) NPC's are killed, you get GameOver.

** This is played straight with Elizabeth, however - during combat she is invisible to (and invincible against) all enemies.
*** This is justified, as troops loyal to Comstock think Elizabeth's their messiah. The Vox Populi may just be prioritising hazards.

* Averted in ''VideoGame/StreetsOfRogue''. Some floors will have quest givers that provide optional missions but other than that these are treated exactly the same as any other NPC. [[ImmersiveSim Given the chaotic and unpredictable nature of the city]] it's extremely common for these characters to get caught up in random acts of NPC violence, sometimes they will die before you even have time to reach their part of the map and the only indication that they ever existed is the "mission failed" sound effect that plays when they're slain.
** Unsurprisingly also averted for the nameless ally mooks you can recruit (for example other members of your gang if you're either of those classes), however the degree to which the Slavemaster averts this is notable. The skill set of the class strongly promotes a WeHaveReserves approach to problem solving, the easiest way to deal with most situations is to just send your explosive slave allies off to die all over it.

* ''VideoGame/{[SOS}}'': Downplayed. While people in your group are immune to some things that would cause you to lose 5 minutes, like fire and falling chairs, they are not immune to falling or drowning.

** In ''VideoGame/{{Halo 4}}''[='s=] ''Spartan Ops'', you're occasionally teamed up with AI-controlled Spartans who sometimes happen to be invincible.

* Your fellow heroes in ''Franchise/{{Fable}}'' are immortal, much to the annoyance of people who'd really like to off the deplorable Reaver.

* In ''KingdomHearts'' and its sequel, you allies will get up a few minutes after losing all their health. If you lose all your health, however, it's an instant game over. This is probably justified, since they are [[DisneyDeath Disney characters]].

** This is explicitly stated in ''{{VideoGame/Fallout 4}}'', companions are always immortal and only stunned, when asked the developers basically said "if the [[CanineCompanion dog]] dies, it's an instant reload, it wasn't impactful, just inconvenient."

* ''Franchise/{{Suikoden}}''

* Seen in ''GearsOfWar'', and featured via legacy code in the vast majority of Unreal Engine 3 games based off the GearsOfWar game code (i.e. ''VideoGame/{{Turok}}'', ''[[VideoGame/Area51FPS Blacksite: Area 51]]'', ''VideoGame/{{Haze}}'', etc). If one of your NPC squadmates is severely injured in a firefight, instead of dying, they'll simply drop to their knees in pain. They get back up again good as new once all nearby enemies are dead, or if you simply walk up to them and give them a pat on the back.

** Used as a plot point in SonicForHire [[spoiler: unsuccessfully]].

* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'' uses this trope to varying degrees across the series.
** In ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsArena Arena]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIDaggerfall Daggerfall]]'', the allies important to the storyline were all sprites whose interaction was limited to talking to them -- they couldn't die, but they were of no help, either.
** ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind'' averts this trope. All [=NPCs=], up to and including [[PhysicalGod physical gods]], can be killed if you're strong enough. You do get a warning if a killed NPC was critical to the main plot, but that's it.
** In ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion'', plot-important {{NPC}}s don't die, they only "fall unconscious". Due to the nature of the game, this means that you can use your unkillable allies to grind your stats to ludicrous levels. Occasionally, a plot-important character will follow you around for the duration of their quest and can effectively be used as an invincible escort as a result. [[note]]The [[http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Oblivion:Followers "Followers" page]] on the Oblivion wiki notes who is plot-important ("essential"), and even provides basic instructions on how to load up your followers with improved gear, so that you can have ''the Emperor'' [[BackToBackBadasses at your back]] with incredible glowing equipment.[[/note]]
** ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim'' continues the tradition with two different variants: Essential [=NPCs=] can be brought down to a point where they ''ought'' to die, but will simply become invulnerable and stand back up a few seconds later. Protected [=NPCs=] (such as the player's spouse or followers) go into submission mode when their health gets low enough, and whatever enemy was attacking them will stop and move on to attack the player. The player, however, can still kill protected [=NPCs=] in submission mode, meaning that the number one cause of death for your followers will probably be your own mis-timed axe strokes or Shouts.
*** However, the DLC 'Dragonborn adds the 'companion insight' affect, which means that attack, shouts and destruction spell do no damage to your followers while in combat. Exceptions exist but it does make it a lot harder to kill them accidentally.

* Seen in ''GearsOfWar'', and featured via legacy code in the vast majority of Unreal Engine 3 games based off the GearsOfWar game code (i.e. ''VideoGame/{{Turok}}'', ''[[Area51FPS Blacksite: Area 51]]'', ''VideoGame/{{Haze}}'', etc). If one of your NPC squadmates is severely injured in a firefight, instead of dying, they'll simply drop to their knees in pain. They get back up again good as new once all nearby enemies are dead, or if you simply walk up to them and give them a pat on the back.

* In pretty much every ''Franchise/{{Ultima}}'' game, while your allies could get killed as easy as anything, a quick trip to Lord British (or someone else filling the role) is all that's needed to get them back on their feet. The main character gets the same benefit - even saving the effort of hauling back the corpses. DeathIsASlapOnTheWrist, indeed.

** ''VideoGame/SuikodenI'' averts this in a few cases, leading to some HilariousInHindsight deaths, such as If you get everyone's favorite JerkAss [[spoiler: Luc]] killed well before the role [[spoiler: he plays as BigBad of SuikodenIII .]]

** This is explicitly averted in ''{{VideoGame/Fallout 4}}'', companions are always immortal and only stunned, when asked the developers basically said "if the [[CanineCompanion dog]] dies, it's an instant reload, it wasn't impactful, just inconvenient."

* In ''VideoGame/{{Strife}}'', shopkeepers and plot-essential characters, the Front's leader Macil and the Oracle, can't be killed [[spoiler: before you're supposed to be able to kill them]], even though you can shoot everyone around them. However, a number of other [=NPCs=] that you need to progress can be killed, often [[TheDevTeamThinksOfEverything dropping the item you require or having a switch that opens the path they were meant to]].

** In ''VideoGame/SuikodenV'', a character who is killed during one of the [[UnexpectedGameplayChange real-time war battles]] is KilledOffForReal and LostForever, making it impossible to gain OneHundredPercentCompletion... ''except'' if the character is an important storyline character (read: has at least one line in future cutscenes), in which case they'll manage to retreat to safety.

*** ''VideoGame/ResidentEvilRevelations'' plays this trope straight with any NPC partner that you have.
*** As does ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil6'', as long as you're playing on single player and not co-op.

*** At one point in the first level, Sarge, as he is affectionately known, tells Master Chief "If you get scared, you can hide behind me." A surprisingly viable tactic!

* In ''{{Strife}}'', shopkeepers and plot-essential characters, the Front's leader Macil and the Oracle, can't be killed [[spoiler: before you're supposed to be able to kill them]], even though you can shoot everyone around them. However, a number of other [=NPCs=] that you need to progress can be killed, often [[TheDevTeamThinksOfEverything dropping the item you require or having a switch that opens the path they were meant to]].