The Party Members don't really improve unfortunately. the cowardly one i'm pretty sure has gone under hypnotherapy on Space Marine Level indoctrination and can only fight when KO'd, and his other party member is what you get when someone rolls Barbarian Stupid instead of Conan the Barbarian
If you can ignore the party and focus on MC is an OK story with great animation, but jesus, I find myself jumping through their self pity/ stupidity.