Quote Originally Posted by Kirika- View Post
The 1.0 version of the game did have a companion you choose and would then follow your path (adventures).
You could choose this companion NPC from almost any Job (Gladiator, Lancer, Archer, Conjurer, and Thaumaturge) and either sex (some limitations) of the races.
That system was not carried over in its original form form 1.0 into ARR.
The Chocobo was the replacement, which was mainly done to eliminate one of the primary issues with 1.0 Path Companions, their limited functionality.
Your companion was only useful with the job you had chosen for them, as in Lancer/Archer/Thaumaturge = DPS only, Gladiator = Tank only, Conjurer = Healer only....
A fully ranked up Chocobo is all three.

That said, it was kinda fun with the different personalities and such.
https://finalfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Path_Companions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpvHE6asMP0
^This.

The main issue with the Path Companion though was that it was meant to be a means of playing through the main scenario solo, even as a Disciple of the Hand or Land (the Path Companion could technically do the fighting for you). Needless to say, that didn't work quite as well as they had hoped.

I still miss my Path Companion Imarah though and her thinly-veiled come-ons to my character and would love to have the Path Companions return in leiu of the Chocobo Companion, but alas, I think she is gone forever.