10 Video Game Companions Everyone Hated At First (But Ended Up Loving)

Grand Theft Auto IV might have the most realistic and nuanced cast of characters in the series. A clear testament to this is obviously the game's protagonist, Niko Bellic, but also, more surprisingly, his comic relief cousin, Roman.

At the beginning of the story, Roman is an annoying and incompetent crutch in Niko's new life in America, who constantly puts him in trouble and offers nothing in return. He's lazy, he constantly burdens Niko with his gambling debts, and he never stops bothering you about hanging out while you're busy running errands for criminals or trying to survive amidst an intense shootout.

Despite this, as the game progresses, you start to appreciate Roman's presence. He's the only character who sticks by Niko no matter what he does, and his attempts to stay in touch are the only speck of normalcy in his cousin's otherwise morbid life.

His genuine bond with Niko is what quickly turns him from the worst character into the best and makes it that much harder to bear if you get the ending where he dies.

You don't appreciate going to a sleazy bowling alley with Roman until you realize you'll never be able to do it again.