Does anyone else remember the old meta (if there was one)?
Or at the very least, companions who were very popular in the old days, but you don't really see being used as often anymore? Not the ones who have always been good, like El Toro, nor the ones who glowed up, like Old Scratch.
Off the top of my head, a lot of people used their starting companions throughout the story, or at least until the end of Mooshu. I think Kobe Yojimbo was the most popular, too, and he still is! A lot of people also loved Egg Shen, and rightfully so, because he is so nice 🩷
Bonnie Anne was everyone's girl and go-to musketeer, a lot of the girls immediately made her firstmate as soon as they got her (I was definitely one of them). I think that she, Louis, and Wing were your starting team for a good duration of the early and mid game as a musketeer. Wing was your tank (kinda), while you, Bonnie, and Louis were the ranged units. She is still loved by the community, but Chantal straight-up outclasses her now 🙁
Ratbeard was very popular too! Even though he is great for defense (even better now than before), I hardly see people use him now compared to before, especially in late-game. I love using him as a "hold the line wall" when I am playing defensive tank on buccaneer or privateer and questing/farming with others. Most buccs use Peter Quint now or farm pack companions (mainly Bellator and Holkun)
Monkey King was everywhere as well, even in casual PVP. Shiruku Neko is regaining her popularity as well thanks to her new rework, and I am so happy! I have been using her the most on my swashbuckler, I plan to go for a ninja/martial arts look.
I also saw Zeena, Hawkules, and Nausica a lot-- I think Nausica was the main P2W girl when you did PVP back in the day. She and Zeena were a must for musketeers, while Hawkules was more for buccaneers.
I think PVP back then also wasn't as P2W as it is now.... mainly because a lot of us were broke kids at the time too so we didn't have a lot to spend on crowns and shop packs 😅 The most P2W we had was bundle companions-- Hugo Victor, Nausica, Hoodoo Cornelius.