The Voice-Acting Debate

The more I play Twilight Princess, and the more I play other current plot-driven games, I find it harder and harder to understand why voice-acting is not being used in the Zelda franchise. I can see that some fans are completely against it because they say it would take away the charm of the series, and I understand how they could feel that way since the voice-acting was done so terribly in the CDi games, but those weren't even realy Zelda games; why should that hinder our judgement for voice work in future Zelda games?

Going back to the whole charm of reading text, wouldn't the game have more personality and charm if the characters had their own distinct voices? I understanf people do not want Link to talk, but I'm talking about the non-playable characters. Giving major characters (like Zelda or Ganondorf) or even less important characters (townspeople), even done with the quality seen in Metroid Prime 3, would do nothing but improve the overall experience because it would have so much more personality to it. Imagine those corky characters like the Bombers or Tingle having their own voice. Imagine how much more dramatic scenes with Zelda and Ganondorf would be.

One thing that I noticed in The Wind Waker, and even moreso in Twilight Princess, is that characters move their mouths, but nothing comes out. It is extremely awkward, and makes the cutscenes seem like they are incomplete or the voices went mute. It is even more awkward when you having Midna moving her mouth with a voice coming out, and Zelda is doing the same thing, and you only here the sound of the text apearing at the bottom of the screen. I can't help but feel detached from the character in scenes like that.

Characters can be very developed without having voices, but they do seem a lot more real when they have voice attached to their face. Since Zelda games have been becoming more cinematic since Ocarina of Time, isn't it about time the franchise stops living in the N64 era, and take the next step to ensure a richer and more charming experience?

Aye, while recently replaying TP I feel like a dog who has a bone dangled in front of him. Like you said, seeing the character's mouths move while nothing comes out of them is just wierd. Nintendo appears to taking the series down a more cinematic path, and if they hope to do that then voice-acting is a must. There's nothing cinematic about having to look at a block of text rather than the characters themselves, especially when they're becoming so much more expressive.

If they can add such great voice-acting to Metroid, a series which barely even had dialogue to begin with, I see no reason why they can't just spend a few extra bucks on some decent actors. And if they're worried about too many fans disliking it, they can put in an option for the player to turn it off or on at their preference.

There's no reason for them to ignore it anymore; should they not have it in some form for the next game, it'll just be a terrible showing of how stubborn they can be.

Before they invest in VA, I would prefer that they invest in better story writers. And change the way they develop the story; in tandem with gameplay, sure, but the bulk of the story should be finished in the concept stages of production. That's how the best-told VG stories of our time always have been done.

Originally Posted by KeeSomething

Since Zelda games have been becoming more cinematic since Ocarina of Time, isn't it about time the franchise stops living in the N64 era, and take the next step to ensure a richer and more charming experience?

YES!

I agree that NPCs should have voices. In a world as amazing and developed as Hyrule, the next step to bringing everything to life is the sounds. I have recently seen what quality VA can do for a game, and I am rather impressed.

At the same time though, I would like to keep an option around to use text. There's just a factor of nostolgia.

On somewhat of a related side note: when do you think Zelda will become fully orchestrated?

I think Zelda should have voice acting, but leave Link a mute, you could at first have them speaking Hylian and then you can unlock English!

It's about time someone saw things from the same point of view as I. Personally, I believe that actual voice acting could do wonders for the series, although I'd like something a little better than Corruption.

I'm not sure why a lot of people seem to be against voice acting. I mean, consider Turok 2 for a moment: the game wouldn't have been as in-depth and as real as it was. Besides, I'd rather listen to Adon's speeches than read them. Other good examples include Halo and Area 51. Even if you didn't like them, you can't deny that both have superb voice acting that made the experience a little more real. This is what I want in the Zelda series.

Actually, now that I think about it, some fans don't want voice acting because of the issue of having the characters saying the names you gave Link and Epona. If done right, I'm sure Nintendo can devise a way for NPCs to pronounce the names you gave them...or, if that's impossible, then have all of the characters say things a tad bit differently than the text. This was done in Oblivion and it worked magnificently.

Originally Posted by Evil duck

I think Zelda should have voice acting, but leave Link a mute, you could at first have them speaking Hylian and then you can unlock English!

Naw, If everyone else is going to talk, then Link should too. Also, Hylian voice acting would be pointless.

I don't think Link should talk. According to Nintendo, Link is a unique character in the game: he's himself, a well-defined character in his own right, but he's also you. Link says whatever you want him to say.

Originally Posted by mr_bigmouth_502

Naw, If everyone else is going to talk, then Link should too. Also, Hylian voice acting would be pointless.

If Link is to talk, make him a man of few words. The silent hero just seems to fit best for him.

Originally Posted by Eiji Aonuma Interview, 1up

1UP: The character Link, he obviously doesn't talk much, and whenever he does it's only through text and without voice. It seems very much that Link is a simple vessel for the player to identify with instead of a real personality; it's more that the player creates the character in his mind. Can you give us some insight into this? Why is Link such an interesting character to you?

Aonuma: When a player is playing a Zelda game, my desire is for the player to truly become Link -- that's why we named him Link, so the player is linked to the game and to the experience. Of course, the player can always change Link's name to their own name to further that notion should they want. But if we did give him a voice, that would go against the whole notion of Link being you, because Link's voice should really be your voice.

Alright we all agree Link should never talk, although in all honestly I wouldnt mind him having something said in text... not alot but a few small things

But as for the other characters in the game, I would support VA. It can really add to the game experience.

Originally Posted by The Great Panda

Actually, now that I think about it, some fans don't want voice acting because of the issue of having the characters saying the names you gave Link and Epona. If done right, I'm sure Nintendo can devise a way for NPCs to pronounce the names you gave them...or, if that's impossible, then have all of the characters say things a tad bit differently than the text. This was done in Oblivion and it worked magnificently.

Or Nintendo could pull a Final Fantasy X and cleverly avoid ever saying the main characters name. They can refer to Link as "the hero", "kid", "the one in green", "the couragous one", or simply "hey you!"

It seems like the opinion polls have changed, mroe and more fans, atleast here, want voice acting in Zelda. I think it is possible considering Nintendo is getting more with the times by giving Corruption voice action, and fully orchestrating Mario Galaxy's music.

Before they invest in VA, I would prefer that they invest in better story writers. And change the way they develop the story; in tandem with gameplay, sure, but the bulk of the story should be finished in the concept stages of production. That's how the best-told VG stories of our time always have been done.

Why not kill two birds with one stone? Have a great story with voice acting?

On somewhat of a related side note: when do you think Zelda will become fully orchestrated?

Maybe never. Orchestrated music is more likely than voice-acting though. Even if fans complain and complain, Nintendo has a way of convincing fans that their flaws are for artistic (or whatever) purposes.

Originally Posted by Tasslehoff

On somewhat of a related side note: when do you think Zelda will become fully orchestrated?

I would be a very, very happy man.

Originally Posted by KeeSomething

Or Nintendo could pull a Final Fantasy X and cleverly avoid ever saying the main characters name. They can refer to Link as "the hero", "kid", "the one in green", "the couragous one", or simply "hey you!"

I suppose that could work if done right, although what works for one game might not work for another.

I think if they choose the right people to do it, it will be good.
I think Drake Bell would do Link's voice pretty good. Does anyone agree?

I don't particularly like Drake Bell, but he could make a good Link. I think they should look at other actors first. My current pick is Matthew Broderick. He has a very fitting voice for Link.

Originally Posted by The Great Panda

I don't particularly like Drake Bell, but he could make a good Link. I think they should look at other actors first. My current pick is Matthew Broderick. He has a very fitting voice for Link.

He would work too. Who do you tink would make a good Zelda? My choice would possibly be Moranda Cosgrove but she's busy doing ICarly

Depends if Zelda is mentioned in the next installment. If she were, I'd go with Jen Taylor.

Originally Posted by The Great Panda

Depends if Zelda is mentioned in the next installment. If she were, I'd go with Jen Taylor.

Sounds good to me!

I've been thinking for a long time that The Legend of Zelda series should have voice acting in it, but not all the time. Cut-scenes only, I think. It would get annoying to hear every townsperson and supporting character talk every time you went up to them and pressed A. It's nice when a character's mouth moves in Twilight Princess, both in cut-scenes and when you talk to them. Obviously, Link shouldn't talk, as most Adventure/RPG Game heroes don't, even if the game does have voice acting. I'd love to hear characters like Zelda and Ganondorf talk, rather than just grunt and gasp, as well as supporting characters and enemies. But the real question is; would the voice acting be in Japanese, English, or Hylian? I know a lot of Japanese wannabes... I mean, "people" would want Japanese, but which option would be more likely?