Funny enough, most of the companions in BG1 were actual characters some of the devs used in their DnD sessions way before the game was even in plans. Minsk for example is character which was invented precisely for these sessions as a half joke, but for genuine roleplay.
That actually may be why many of those characters are more beloved other than nostalgia, because despite any wildness happening, they were grounded in the Dungeons and Dragons the developers themselves had played. The current companions all seem to be completely custom for this game, so while they can compare with the crazier end of BG1 and 2 companions, they lack that grounded quality people remember.
That said I like most of the BG3 companions so far, I just want Non-Origin Companions to also be added, which could deliver on the less complex and out there characters.
