Topic: Do you think Nintendo will ever make a game where Link will talk?

Hi y’all!

Ive been thinking about BOTW2 recently, and I was wondering if Nintendo would (at least consider) making a game where link could talk. BOTW and HW: AOC have had full voice-acted cutscenes with other characters, so why not add link? What would y’all think about having a game where link could talk?

Well Excuuuussssse me but I think I'm personally happy with Link not saying anything much other than "yes" or "no". In Skyward Sword he even manages to have a full relationship with the girl behind the counter with that limited vocabulary.

I feel like Link has always been one for action rather than words. Not to mention, his expressions generally convey him quite well such as when Link finds the missing children in Twilight Princess, or when he gets launched out of a Cannon in Wind Waker. Words seem inelegant for Link, so I am more than happy for him to not speak. To be fair though, technically Link does speak in Skyward Sword, even if you never hear it and is more him waving his arms around; such as when he is explaining to Zelda's father what has happened to her at the beginning of the game.

@SmashBall35 A lot could be said to explain reasons Nintendo doesn't create a Link that talks. Since NES/SNES, we've bought Legend of Zelda games for the action/adventure/world roaming/puzzle solving with some story.

As soon as you add voice acting dialog, your mind instantly decides if the voice acting as charming, corny, funny, unfunny, annoying, which is very hard to please everyone, and impossible to ignore. Whereas with reading text, your mind automatically adds your own idealized personality to all the dialog - it's always right/acceptable without the labor of tailoring it to every person playing the game from different countries, genders, ages. So, in a way, less dialog, or use of text dialog has a wider appeal = maximizing sales.

The same formula applies to Mario & Luigi; They typically barely say any more than a brief word to express an emotion/reaction.

That's how I understand it anyway.

Folks usually prefer that their protagonists to be silent. Bad voicework could easily butcher an otherwise great experience. Unless Nintendo decide to gender flip Link and Zelda as an option. Give use a Linkle saving Sheik adventure, only Sheik is actually a guy.

Twist!

Yeah... Linkle would be the only talking hero incarnate I think. She has too much of a personality not to be voiced.

Didn't he talk.in the CD-i games??

We know all the Links secretly have a 90's surfer dude voice and attitude.

After that TV show, I think I'm good.

I would like too but not getting my hope high

@Magician it works very well for the Witcher for instance

@mantarobuster300 Best part.

Hope not. It's not needed. It's easier to imagine yourself as Link. And it's quite unique these days.

Only if he sounds like Bobcat Goldthwait

I highly doubt they ever will. He's always been that way to let the player make him their own. Even before in game voice acting, Link hasn't had actual dialogue, instead the player choosing vague questions or answers. It's long since been part of the character. Some of my favourite characters have been that way because they don't talk and let you fill in who they are or in some cases, let you immerse more because they don't have a personality. Gordon Freeman is one, Samus used to be one too before they started having her talk for some reason.

He says stuff in Mario Kart 8. Hell yeah he does.

Look at what happened when they gave Samus a voice in Other M.

Surely they wouldn't make the same mistake twice?

Also Samus is the opposite, since she spoke in Metroid Fusion without voice acting, whereas Link often has a voice but doesn't really speak.

Then again, what if Samus’ voice was part of the problem. It was so monotone and sad…

Maybe if she had a valley girl or Disney Princess style voice it would’ve been different!

Quick, imagine Snow White reading her lines.

(Btw she also has lines in Super and Zero Mission)

I’m fine with the grunts and yelling. Part of the charm of Zelda games is that Link is so flat. He is the generic hero in myth while the other characters are the real people whose deeds will be forgotten or overshadowed by embellished tales of Link. It fits the passed down tale nature of the series. Also he is in general a very boring character. Even when given a backstory/family. I live and die by Zelda games but trying to make him the main character rather than the narrative vehicle (moves the plot but not really part of it) would send me packing.