I've heard a rumor, not confirmed, that there's going to be Legend of Zelda voice acting in the next game which sounds like the Wii U. I just wanted thoughts on it of the silent protagonist maybe talking now. Me? I'm really not looking forward to it. One of the reasons I didn't like Super Mario 64 and it's sequels is because I hate Mario's voice. I don't think it fit well with his character and I REALLY thought it was stupid sounding with the high-pitchedness of it and his words. But that's just me. Anyone else with thoughts?
I have mixed feelings about it. I am okay with NPCs talking with real voices... but Link... that boy must remain silent throughout the entire franchise.
Link is the cliche silent protagonist(Whoa, whoa, I love the guy, don't hate me), and that needs to stay, Sonic was silent, then he spoke, it ruined his character, and more characters from the older generation of consoles(Not saying that it never works). I highly doubt Nintendo will do this, considering how the fans are very stubborn about Link staying silent(I agree). NPCs I have no problem with, as long as the voice actors are good. I don't want Zelda to sound like a whiny little American teenager, and I don't want the guide to sound like a mouse on helium, and no Russian Ganondorf either, and Nintendo makes Fire Emblem, I know they can get good voice actors.
Dear God... If you guys ever watch Video Games Awesome, see how bad a Zelda voice can get. =3 Anywho... Back on topic, I agree. Link's voice should stay out of it. For the whole NPC, Nintendo, I know you're going for the: "THIS IS FOR KIDS ONLY!!!" route lately, FOR THE LOVE OF EVERYTHING, DON'T MAKE ADULT NPC'S HAVE LITTLE KIDS VOICES!!! Even in Windwaker up to Skyward Sword, it sounded like the voice actors had little kids voices. Also, no make up on Link... Please.
Introducing a voice actor at this late a stage? That's risky as hell. It worked for Mario because it was done early enough in his life span that it soon became iconic, and dwarfed the time period where he was silent. Same for Sonic, except for the fact that they keep friggin' changing his VA (although Roger Craig Smith isn't the worst in the lineup). But Link has had so much time to mature as the shouty kid who can't speak English; at this point it'd just be jarring if they changed that. I hate to oppose a company taking risks with its franchises, considering how stale and cowardly the industry is getting, but it's one thing to try something brand-new and quite another to rewrite a beloved facet of a classic character. Link is kind of a symbol of hope for silent protagonists everywhere, that yes this does still work, no it's not old-hat, yes people can still enjoy a game with a mute bloke playing the lead. Kinda like how Pokemon was a beacon for 2D games everywhere, until... well, let's save that for another thread.
If your whole franchise is based on a character, whom we never hear his/her voice, it should probably stay that way. Don't get me wrong, I love games where the characters talk, but I also just like being able to go around kicking bowsers butt and not having to listen to an annoying voice. I was never much of a Zelda fan, but even I'm sure it'd probably be a big mistake. Of course they could always add an option for no voices, that way people who might like the voice acting can have it. Ah well, what happens happens.
I like that idea, Night... I'd just turn it on once to see Nintendo's interpretation of Link's voice and if I can suffer through it. Gannon's and maybe Zelda. Depends on how bad it is. I still can't stand Mario's voice even ten years later.
I think there'd be trouble if we got voice acting now. We already got some acting in that dumb tv-show, and that was not worth it. Now we're going to get one afte so long with a silent protagonist? The grunts and stuff were fine, and maybe voice acting for the others, but voice acting for Link, I'm scared to find out what's going to happen
i'd personally enjoy full voice acting. maybe not for Link, he could still be the silent protagonist. but i think it wouldn't be a horrible idea for the other characters.
As far as other characters... Ugh, it's so risky though. Mostly I don't know a single English-speaking VA they could get to portray Ganondorf adequately. But I know some of the dudes they're likely to hire, and that thought frightens me.
I think Christopher Sabat could do something pretty close enough. He wouldn't be great for it, but better than a few people.
I just hope that they honestly make it more adultish this time. I'm REALLY getting tired of the kiddy theme *coughs*WindwakerSkywardSword*coughs*. And if they add little kid voices, especially for Gannon, I think I will go in a corner or cry. If they do it with Link and Zelda also, you will never see me again. I will have probably have died from how low one of my favorite franchises have gone.
Honestly, if it were something for like "Wind Waker", I could see Link and Zelda with kiddy voices. Why? They're 13, they aren't gonna be fully developed voice-wise yet. Even then, it's a bad idea. Zelda is too old for this to be added now. Had it been added in Twilight Princess, then it would be fine, because by then they had full voice acting already.
See, that's what I mean. Sabat would fit the bill at times, and at other times totally lose it. His voice isn't refined enough for classic Ganondorf and it's not scratchy enough for new Ganondorf. Considering the number of interpretations available, you figure it wouldn't be hard to find a match. But it seems our VAs just don't have the same sets of vocal traits.
