Voice acting in Zelda:

I always wanted the Zelda series to have voice acting whenever a character is speaking.

If you remember the ancient days before Twilight Princess came out, there were rumors spreading saying that the characters in the game were gonna have voices behind them, but that didn't happen. Voices make the game seem more professional, in my opinion.

So what do you think, should there be voice acting in the future Zelda games?

I don't want voice acting. Why tamper with a game series that's been kicking butt for over 20 years?
I like the fact that the characters each have maybe a word or two that they said, and of course plenty of sound effects, but adding in full voice acting would just take away from the series in my opinion. I've gotten used to, and grown to love the way the characters are in Zelda.

Voice acting would be fine, they did it well in metroid prime 3, though I think the most important fact of voicing characters would be to keep Link mute such as they did with Samus. I wish I could remember which interview it was that I read it, but when Miyamoto was asked about Link speaking and voice acting in the game, he stated the irony of Link's name is that he is a direct link from the game to the player. It's the player that creates the dialog for link (with very few times when the game asks what you want to say) The importance is that the player creates the emotions and dialog to what link is actually saying/feeling

I don't think I want to hear them speak. it's not that I don't like speech, but English dubs on Japanese games are often just not that good. I did think it was neat that Midna had a voice in TP, even though I couldn't understand a single word of it.

English dub on jap is NORMALLY not good, but I have enough faith in Nintendo that they would do it right. Look at Metal Gear Solid, that series has IMO the best voice acting of any franchise to date, and it's a dub

I guess voice acting would be okay, but I really don't like it. I like trying to create a voice for the characters. Besides, it would get kind of boring listening to someone talk about something major in the plot; it is a lot faster to read. And sometimes I like to imitate my idea of a characters voice. That wouldn't feel right if I knew what the character "actually" sounded like.

I am so/so on voice acting. I think it should be done to please everyone who wants it there, but for people who don't like it, there should be an option to turn it off.

I was watching a cutscene for Twilight Princess yesterday and I noticed that when they spoke, their mouth moved.

I think in the next Zelda (or at least after the sequel to TP) they will start doing voice acting. It set back TP in the reviews...

I feel its a step Nintendo needs to take now... Most games nowadays have voice acting, why shouldn't Zelda?

Personally, I would prefer the games to have voice acting, so long as Link remains mute and the voice acting is limited to cutscenes.

Mm-hm, because we all want a bunch of American kids to ruin the atmosphere.

What would they do when they talk to link? They can't say the name you chose, so they would have to either
1) have them call you something else
or
2) not let you name him.

"Hey kid, get over here"
"Hey Link, get over here"
"Hey you, get over here"
"Hey (name), get over here" The name wouldn't be said.

I dont mind voice acting in other games, but it would ruin the zelda series for me. Me, I like staring at a gameboy with the sound off playing zelda in my room. I guess in a couple years I would accept other characters than Link speaking.

I think Nintendo should try it in 1 game, and if it doesn't work out, they won't do voice acting.

I think everyone EXCEPT link should have voice acting. I mean, come on, this is 2008, most games have had VA since the 1996.

Sound effects > voice acting.

Most certainly.

I mean, the varying grunts, shouts, and noises emitted by Link and others are perfectly fine. If there was voice acting... please no. If it completely took over text messages, then there'd be no option but have the sound of if you don't have headphones and is in for example a train. Also, how'd you be able to think through each sentence? Now, you can look at the text for how long time you want (usually), but with voice acting in that way it would either be very awkward or non-constructive towards the player.

Also, I for one think it's silly with human voices in games like that. It should at least be just an option. I'll take Pokémon Battle Revolution for an example. It's extremely lucky that the game announcer-voice there is optional, because the "IIIIIIT'S CHARIZARDD!!!11" in a very over-enthusiastic voice and glossy tone is terrible. It would probably be the same with Zelda, especially with so many characters there would be in need of voice acting. And Zelda would probably emit an extremely awfully wimpy feminine sound every time she speaks.
And voice-acting would take time that Nintendo could spend on developing more interesting things in the game.

Originally Posted by KiKi

What would they do when they talk to link? They can't say the name you chose, so they would have to either
1) have them call you something else
or
2) not let you name him.

"Hey kid, get over here"
"Hey Link, get over here"
"Hey you, get over here"
"Hey (name), get over here" The name wouldn't be said.

Thats a pretty big issue. Up till now the NPCs have been very friendly, but if they can't ask or use your name, then they could seem kinda rude.

Originally Posted by KiKi

What would they do when they talk to link? They can't say the name you chose, so they would have to either
1) have them call you something else
or
2) not let you name him.

"Hey kid, get over here"
"Hey Link, get over here"
"Hey you, get over here"
"Hey (name), get over here" The name wouldn't be said.

Originally Posted by langford

Thats a pretty big issue. Up till now the NPCs have been very friendly, but if they can't ask or use your name, then they could seem kinda rude.

Wow, you can't name him. So what! He has a name, its link. If he was a video game character who didn't have a name (ie. Jedi Exile from KotOR 2) then it would make sense to have a naming system, but hes not that kind of character! I don't see why Nintendo even included that option, I name every file Link. I think keeping up to date with the rest of the world is more important that naming your file.

Voice acting in Zelda in my opinion is not a good idea.
No VA has worked fine for all Zelda games, so why risk bringing in something as major as that when it could turn out really bad. Not only that but i wouldn't like to see it in any Zelda game.
So.. umm voice acting... bad idea.

Originally Posted by zeldagamer

No VA has worked fine for all Zelda games, so why risk bringing in something as major as that when it could turn out really bad.

I bet they said that same thing about making Zelda 3D with OOT, giving the production of OOX to Capcom, making WW cel shaded, and making FS a multiplayer, and they all turned out excellant games. Any big change has risk.

Originally Posted by ShiekahSage

Wow, you can't name him. So what! He has a name, its link. If he was a video game character who didn't have a name (ie. Jedi Exile from KotOR 2) then it would make sense to have a naming system, but hes not that kind of character! I don't see why Nintendo even included that option, I name every file Link. I think keeping up to date with the rest of the world is more important that naming your file.

I wasn't saying it was a bad thing. It worked fine in FFX. You got to name tidus, and they just called him "kida" and "Hey You".
In Super Mario RPG, you got to name the file and Mario stayed named Mario. I think it would be better if he was still named Link, but you got to name the file.
Not being able to name files when there is three people playing can get annoying.