Larian don't need an "excuse". The game is not out yet, this is an unfinished preview. They don't owe the customers anything yet.
Certainly - They've already got my money, after all. I do, however, expect them to show signs of delivering on what they've promised, and I'm offering feedback to that extent, same as you are. I'm going to be nonplussed if they make commentary that shows signs of them willfully misrepresenting their audience along with very little sign of feedback being taken on board.
Notice how in each of your examples except one, you had to put a caveat or an exclusion on them? How you had to first discount a prior companion before you could reference the dark one(s)? It more illustrates my point than counters it, overall.
As a case in point - Tartucio (who joins you, surprise surprise, AFTER Linzi, the brightest beacon of good in the whole game) is almost comically evil. He's a selfish bastard, twisted by many unpleasant and unfair details in his past, and once you know the full picture there is something to be pitied there... And you get to that point because despite all of that, he actually isn't intolerable to work with, during the short time you do so... Shadow, on the other side, is only tolerable if you never speak to her. Otherwise she's just downright unpleasant.
That aside, I don't need you to agree with me... I'm just pointing out a convention based in tested psychology. They can buck it if they want to, at their peril. Some games can do that well, sure, if the characters are presented well enough to not cause the negative effects I mentioned. So far, these ones are not, and do not.
The companions currently in the game are not "unlikable". YOU just don't like them. Tons of people do, though, which is why the subreddit is flooded with piles of fan art for these companions already.
Yeah, art... they sure are *pretty*. Not a lot of fan-fiction yet though. Funny that. I've seen lots of people fawn over Shadow's visuals... haven't seen much in the way of people talking about what they like about Shadow herself though.
A character doesn't have to be nice to my character, for me to like that character.
Agreed. Shadow just really goes that extra unnecessary mile of insult, abuse and belittlement... What about her do you like, if I might ask? Sell me on a good reason why I should voluntarily subject myself to several hours and multiple conversations filled with nothing but abuse, condescension, belittlement and insults; that's not something I enjoy, personally, so sell it to me: what is it about her that makes that a rewarding, enjoyable experience for you? (I am, in all honesty, curious here, with no ill intention or raised ire)
Just like in real life, different cultures come across strangely to someone not exposed to them, once you take the time to understand that culture then everything makes sense.
They do. Funny thing is, I tried that... I tried to take the time to understand her, multiple times, as I progressed through the act. All it ever got me was abuse, insults and threats. Conversely, I can easily count the number of times she tried to understand me, in any way at all, during that time. It's zero. Zero times.
