If you remember my article some days back about the possibility of Link gaining a voice of his own, you may also recall the 70 or so comments stating that Nintendo shouldn’t do it because Link is a “link to the player” and is a representation of you.
Well, Nathan of ZeldaInformer has decided to take a deeper look at that particular argument in his newest article, entitled “Link is Not You”.
Loading ...
November 27th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
I actually think, just the idea of Link talking is ridiculous. I mean, it's better that way; It's not like LINK IS ME, AWESOME! , I NEVER felt like that.it's like… We've created some kind of special affection with them. We can see what they are feeling by their actions or expressions, and that's just awesome. With no talking at all, you can feel he is a true hero. It's the same with Samus; when I look at her figure, I don't see quite a heroin, what I see is sorrow… I know how she feels, and I don't need her to talk at all. See, this way, we all have bounds with the characters, and we feel that they are closer with us; that they are fighting alongside us. Not like that they are in their world and not giving a damn. And I love all that…!
November 27th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
YES. THE FANS ARE CORRECT AND THE CREATORS OF LINK ARE COMPLETELY WRONG.
He isn't the player, but he is a link between the player and the world of Hyrule. Why do you think his name is LINK?
November 27th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
I agree. Its not Link is supposed to be you, in the literal sense! Link is supposed to be a universal character that appeals to most gamers who play the game. For instance, Characters who talk in games like Ratchet, or Mario, they either become one demensional, or onesided, and therefore takes away from the experience for the gamers, individually. Its more effective and memorable when characters in games don't speak a lot. It's a lot like reading a book. Thats why most people seem to say, "The Book was better than the Movie."
November 27th, 2009 at 7:45 pm
actually, I once heard that "link" is how you pronounce the Japanese word for left, and Link is left handed… and….yeah. you know what never mind. that actually sounds kinda stupid
November 27th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
Movie versions of books are always shit because Hollywood is a conniving, thieving rapist who doesn't respect the authors original vision at all.
November 27th, 2009 at 7:54 pm
Personally, I don't really care whether Link gets a voice or not. maybe its because I've only been playing Zelda since 2003. but what I do want is for Link to have a solid, 3 dimensional, well rounded personality. thats what makes protagonists work.
I'm no pervert, but was it just me or were those two girls kinda……….dam.
November 27th, 2009 at 7:55 pm
HA! I misspelled Damn on purpose so it would show up! take THAT ZU censors!
November 27th, 2009 at 7:55 pm
wait……..
November 27th, 2009 at 8:06 pm
I always thought his name was Link, because he is a "Link" of the Triforce of Courage "chain", or he is "linked" to each of the other heroes.
November 27th, 2009 at 8:10 pm
I think Link works the way he is, though, it's just that different players see him in different ways. He is a universal character that is supposed to have a connection with the player. That doesn't mean he IS the character; it just means he doesn't speak and is generally emotionless so that the thoughts and emotions of Link are left for the player to decide.
November 27th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
I'm third-ing this opinion. It doesn't matter what the fans may think, it really is the developers choice and artistic freedom. The name Link is enough evidence of what he is supposed to be. Perhaps he's not an 'avatar' you can shape into a digital representation of oneself in a specific digital world… but he is the connection of the player to the world of Hyrule. It doesn't matter if you are a guy or a girl, it doesn't keep Link from fulfilling his purpose though, and it doesn't stop people from feeling a connection with this character whether they are a boy or a girl.
Link in general is a very neutral character which makes Zelda games very accessible I believe. Although I'm sure the majority of of Zelda fans and players are male, I also believe that Zelda games have a larger female user base then other game franchises with a male lead character who speaks. This I believe is thanks to him having a very neutral personality even if Link shows emotion and reacts to a situation.
I know the article claims that we don't really get a choice in sections where we get to choose 'yes' or 'no', but most of the time the question being asked is whether we got everything that was said. So in those cases if you respond 'no' naturally the game character is going to repeat what it said so you can get everything that they say. In a lot of other cases you can say 'no' but it means you simply don't progress because you refuse to give an item or help someone you know.
Which is your choice as the player, just keeping in mind you just won't get to go farther then that. In the end though I've been a fond supporter of silent video game hero's… Mario, Samus, Link, Isaac (Golden Sun), Amaterasu, Quote (Cave Story fame is the best most recent silent hero)… they are becoming fewer and fewer and I don't feel Link has to change in this way to produce a better Zelda.
November 27th, 2009 at 8:35 pm
I think the gap between those who have playing video games before 1995 (around the time voice acting start to become integrated in video games) and playing Zelda specifically before 2003 is why there is still a strong faction of gamers who don't need voice acting.
I still read books just as much as I watch movies. To me classic video games without voice acting are the equivalent of reading a book… today's video games are much more akin to movies. I personally don't believe that Link is lacking a solid, rounded 3 dimensional personality that makes good protagonist…. in fact I think Link's silence has been a greater source of depth and allowed for greater discussion and theorizing of the character then other video game series.
There's actually more to talk about with a character like Link then say of Kratos from God of War. I've had longer talks about the character of CommanderVideo or Quote then Kratos. They are just more interesting because they are a lot more open to interpretation. Even the best artworks out there are great because it's not specifically spelled out for people… to think that giving someone a voice makes for more depth is not necessarily true.
November 27th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
I think that link is German, not Japanese, for left
November 27th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
um, okay what is up with the censors? I wrote- oh crap! I meant snicker! I-, I'm an idiot! and deaf. I thought it was with two Gs! I'm sorry! I'm not a racist! I honestly thought it was spelled with 2 gs. man I'm such a retard! I meant Snicker okay? you know, like a synonym for chuckle? yeah…..it's snicker. I'm a dumbass.
November 27th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
wait no, is that the candy? how the hell do spell that stupid word!
November 27th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
I feel that I'm Link all the time. I sometimes like to act out his emotions while playing. And you do end up feeling like you are him when ever you save Hyrule and all. But to be honest… you feel sorry for Link at the end of all the Legend of Zelda games, and that feeling is for him, not for you! Because of that, I would say at some point Link would be you and wouldn't be you. Therefore I feel that Link is evenly us and not us. Nintendo has done a good job yes… but it's up to the public! Do we want a 100% us Link, 100% not us Link, or a 50-50% us and not us? It's all up to us!
November 28th, 2009 at 1:42 am
he could still scowl and laugh and stuff and still be all that what you just said. I do that with almost all videogame characters, even when their personality is written into the script and plain as day.
November 27th, 2009 at 9:56 pm
How could being silent give him more of a personality? We never know what Link himself is thinking. wait no, I don't mean silent. as I said, I don't care if Link starts talking or not. What I want is for him to DO more actions, presumably in the cut scenes. In the cut scenes, or whenever someone is talking to him, he's just standing there, starring at them with a blank look on his face. Yes, Link has gotten a few more facial expressions lately, but I personally don't think that's enough. right now, that's just used to give the player a hint as to what to do next. I want him to truly and sincerely REACT to what is going on around him. I want him to scowl when he gets angry. I want him to smile and snigger when he thinks something's funny. and hey, as much as we all hate the people who make fun of the fact, we all have to agree that Link isn't exactly the most macho, masculine, manly man in videogames. So if the situation truly allows it, maybe he could even get a little teary eyed, like when Zelda is presumed dead or something. or maybe that could just be used for young Link. whatever. I'm just sick of Link have the personality of a robot. it's just, remember the first time you met Ooccoo? I personally was like "what in Sam's hill is THAT?!" but judging Link's reaction, he was like "I accept your right to exist as a living creature. I will now wait patiently as you explain your presence here." Link is not just a "link" he's a Character.
November 28th, 2009 at 2:15 am
But that's the thing you think he would scowl and laugh, I don't think he would. Maybe a slight smile here and there, he's a bit awkward and shy perhaps, I mean it must be weird to be called out on being some chosen or special one.
That's what makes Link a great character though and even though I could enjoy a game where Link talks and has a personality given to him by Nintendo, I like the freedom to interpret him the way I feel he is.
November 28th, 2009 at 1:00 am
Snicker is the 'laugh' while Snickers is the chocolate bar brand. The difference between the two is a simple 's'. In any case I don't feel Link is a robot he displays plenty of reaction and emotion. Also I should note that in a lot of cases when Link meets or is talking to someone his back is towards the player so you don't actually see his face or expression. It's a choice I'm guessing the dev's choose to do to not put their own opinion of what Link should be.
We the player decides what Link is, how we feel he may act or think in certain situations. One thing I've noticed as this discussion already is how everyone has their own interpretation of how link "Should Act" based on how they already perceive him. For that reason he is a more enjoyable character… as opposed to say Nintendo telling us what Link is.
If he was to start behaving a certain way, as an example they choose to make him more compassionate and cry perhaps, you'd likely have a lot of gamers disgusted by this characteristic because they never felt Link was that type of character and that now he was maybe a wuss or something.
Or on the flip side perhaps they make him more like the anti heroes who are emotionally torn and aggressive as they wrestle with their issues of loss… and to another Zelda fan they don't feel that's what Link should be like either and because they've always felt he was more lighthearted.
The problem with trying to apply more emotion and personality so to speak is that sadly no doubt going to distance Link from certain players who feel that's not what Link is in their opinion. I mean from the comments I've seen a lot of people here have their own interpretation on what Link is and how he acts and his personality.
November 28th, 2009 at 2:48 am
so…you just imagine him reacting and stuff?
November 29th, 2009 at 7:19 am
No this is what I believe his character to be based on the reactions I've seen. Which are for the most part fairly neutral. My guess is though you wouldn't think the same thing from seeing his reactions.
November 30th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
YOU PEOPLE HONESTLY DIN’T NOTICE THAT LINK HAS TALKED BEFORE….WOW. HE HAS SAID “COME ON!” IN WIND WAKER YOU KNOW LOL. AND FOR ALL YOU PEOPLE WHO SAY LINK IS A LINK BETWEEN YOU AND THE GAME ..THATS ONLY HALF RIGHT! HE IS A LINK TO THE PAST AND FUTURE. HELLO! “THE LEGEND OF ZELDA:A LINK TO THE PAST” EVER PLAYED IT?? LOL AND HE IS NOT SIMPLY JUST A “LINK” ANYMORE HE HAS FEELINGS AND PERSONALITY NOW. HE IS NOT U! IF HE WAS U THEN YOU’D BE THE ONE BUSTIN UR A** THROUGH GOD’S GREEN HYRULE AND HE’D BE THE ONE HOLDING THE CONTROLLER LOL