I’m not sure if there’s any soulslike other than Lies of P that has a companion in it that accompanies you throughout your journey through the game. And many people didn’t enjoy Gemini because of his quippy nature and retelling of main plot points when they happen.
Are you among those people who did not like Gemini? If yes, why and how could Round 8 have made him more to your liking?
And would you be opposed to an NPC follower that is your constant companion? Think, Solaire went along with you the entire game and helped in battle. Would you enjoy that?
I don’t think the style of game matters as much as the way it is implemented in that game.
Companions suck in a lot of games. Bioshock Infinite did it pretty well.