With friendly AI thrown in the mix to assist you in battle, are they unique in style or generic side kicks? How will they affect game play, and what do they add to the game?

Friendly NPC’s that join you do so for a variety of reasons. Some will just join you because you asked them to. Others do so for a quest, or because you had a high speech skill and were able to convince them that going with you is the best way for them to meet whatever objectives they have. They each have different offensive capabilities, but for the most part, will behave like you tell them to. They definitely help getting past tough fights, and some NPC’s that you encounter will react to the NPC’s that you have in tow. The more developed ones have quests that they come along to assist upon, and are uniquely capable of opening areas that the player cannot.