I guess there isn't a middle ground because when it comes to sidekicks in games then there isn't really a middle ground.
Either they are done brilliantly to suit the game (Alyx is the perfect example) where they are not too strong, weak or stupid. Or they are done badly (pretty much any game with them to be honest) and it can be frustrating as anything. The opportunity for middle ground means that they will have at least one quirk which is annoying or frustrating, and when the game then depends on the use of your sidekick then this quirk will come to the fore and suddenly you move from middle ground to a badly done sidekick.
A good example is Jericho. While a good example of many things to do wrong, the squad-sidekicks have one really fatal flaw. The game descends into one of running around in circles reviving all your team-mates. Sometimes the squad works well and people are firing and its pretty fun, but this only happens a few times and purely by chance. Once you turn to revive someone then the fire intensity is lost and everything falls apart. The constant use of suicide bomber enemies which only you seem to be able to take out serves to exacerbate this problem.
Sidekicks are almost universally annoying, as any one little trait that seems less then ideal will evolve into a massive point of frustration through the game's progression.
Either they are done brilliantly to suit the game (Alyx is the perfect example) where they are not too strong, weak or stupid. Or they are done badly (pretty much any game with them to be honest) and it can be frustrating as anything. The opportunity for middle ground means that they will have at least one quirk which is annoying or frustrating, and when the game then depends on the use of your sidekick then this quirk will come to the fore and suddenly you move from middle ground to a badly done sidekick.
A good example is Jericho. While a good example of many things to do wrong, the squad-sidekicks have one really fatal flaw. The game descends into one of running around in circles reviving all your team-mates. Sometimes the squad works well and people are firing and its pretty fun, but this only happens a few times and purely by chance. Once you turn to revive someone then the fire intensity is lost and everything falls apart. The constant use of suicide bomber enemies which only you seem to be able to take out serves to exacerbate this problem.
Sidekicks are almost universally annoying, as any one little trait that seems less then ideal will evolve into a massive point of frustration through the game's progression.
