Poll: Link, The Silent Option?

[InsanityManifest]

While dicking about on the internet, I found a neat little Zelda fanfilm trailer. While it wasn't the most epic thing I've seen it did get the fanbnoy gears in my brain churning, which is a rather hard thing to do as of late.

Anyway, the question to Escapist readers is this.

Would Link be better, or worse if he were given more "character"?

By character I don't necessarily mean a voice, although it couldn't hurt. What I mean is maybe a deeper backstory, more exaggerated reactions, perhaps pushing the character into a different attitude?

Like...Maybe have Link be a professional thief? Or maybe instead of being a farmboy Link is the prince of a nation neighboring Hyrule and the two groups are going to war...Something! Or maybe Link could be more rogue-ish rather than the silent do-gooder we all have known him to be?

I know that one of Link's claim to fame has been that he is a "good guy". He doesn't demand from people, he just wants to save the day, but isn't that sort of bad storytelling? Link usually has no motivation FOR saving the day to begin with other than destiny ala sword from the stone.

Maybe I'm wrong about this...I dunno.

 

[Easykill]

I voted no, but that doesn't mean I'm against him having a motivation. And I liked your prince of a rival nation thing, but maybe with him as a soldier and Ganondorf as the king, but he never had to use his evil powers because he was born into power. But when they go to war his powers are unleashed on the battlefield and he goes berserk, killing both armies. Link would survive because of his triforce piece, and tries to get revenge, but still considers the members of hyrule enemies until he meets princess Zelda. This Link would be slightly older and a hell of a lot less naive and... surprised than TP. And maybe the mandatory annoying companion could be some sort of fire creature that gives Link a limited ability to control fire. Because Link hurling fireballs would be cool. Okay, I thought about that way more than I should have.

 

[knumpify]

giving a character like link a background story is like putting nice new wallpaper in the resident evil mansion. It seems like a good idea at first, but you only have so many options before it becomes the same overused pattern all over again.
town has boy,
boy meets girl,
girl gets kidnapped by 6'6 green dude,
boy saves girl and impales said green dude through forehead, 'nuff said. classic

 

[Logan Westbrook]

I would love it if Link were given a deeper characterisation, but alas, it isn't going to happen. It as actually against the design philosophy for the character. Link is really just a tool for the player to interact with the world of Hyrule.

It is a shame however that Nintendo have taken this position, as it could add some much needed vitality to the series. I loved Twilight Princess, and I enjoyed Phantom Hourglass, but I'll be the first to admit that it wasn't exactly new ground. Mixing it up a little and even making small changes to each iteration of Link would make for a much more interesting experience. However, the same argument could be made for adding more RPG elements, or introducing new tools and weapons and these are things that Nintendo are more likely to do.

With regard to Link's motivation, it could be argued that being the bearer of the Triforce of Courage compels him to fight against injustice. In most LoZ games, Link is a more vibrant character than his fellow villagers, suggesting that he has a higher calling.

 

[Alphavillain]

Maybe link should get a kind of "badass attitude" makeover, with his green felt hat turned sideways on his head and spouting rad phrases like "I'm Link, you stink" to his enemies ad calling the Princess his "biitch". Or not.

 

[Logan Westbrook]

Definitely "Or Not".

 

[Logan Westbrook]

*Chuckles* Even if that were the case, that's just one Link, it's a different one in each game.

 

[Irrok the Wide]

I'd prefer a step further than just silent link. I want silent Hyrule. Same goes for all nintendo games. I don't like reading and skipping through the miles of text, just to spoil a surprise I could have uncovered on my own. No zelda game has felt as mysterious as the 1st game, for this reason.

And while I'm on the subject.. my biggest complaint is the useless item descriptions everytime you find a heartpiece, deku seed, ruppee, etc. Stop the press, DUH DUH DUH DUUHHH.. you found a heart container! This allows you to live longer. Did you know that? Now you do! Are you an alzheimer's patient? I'll remind you.

 

[Logan Westbrook]

And while I'm on the subject.. my biggest complaint is the useless item descriptions everytime you find a heartpiece, deku seed, ruppee, etc. Stop the press, DUH DUH DUH DUUHHH.. you found a heart container! This allows you to live longer. Did you know that? Now you do! Are you an alzheimer's patient? I'll remind you.

I was under the impression that threadjacking was bad form.

 

[Irrok the Wide]

I was under the impression that threadjacking was bad form.

Is that what I did? I've wanted to get that off my chest for years. No sense in starting a new topic for it. It was meant as Post Script..

 

[Logan Westbrook]

It certainly looked that way. If was simply meant as an aside then I apologise.

 

[irishdelinquent]

I think that Link should remain silent. There would be little gain from hearing him speak. He'd probably just spout off random nonsense quotes, and would get annoying really fast. Look at what happened with Navi; give her a few lines, and she can drive you insane!

Maybe link should get a kind of "badass attitude" makeover, with his green felt hat turned sideways on his head and spouting rad phrases like "I'm Link, you stink" to his enemies ad calling the Princess his "biitch". Or not.

Definately "Or not". Thank you for your two cents...now please be quiet while the big kids talk.

 

[Logan Westbrook]

I think that Link should remain silent. There would be little gain from hearing him speak. He'd probably just spout off random nonsense quotes, and would get annoying really fast. Look at what happened with Navi; give her a few lines, and she can drive you insane!

But surely the problem with Navi was the fact she only had a few lines. If she'd been able to say a little bit more, then perhaps she wouldn't have provoked such hatred?

 

[ZenMonkey47]

Maybe link should get a kind of "badass attitude" makeover, with his green felt hat turned sideways on his head and spouting rad phrases like "I'm Link, you stink" to his enemies ad calling the Princess his "biitch". Or not.

"Well excuuuuuuuse me, Princess!" Would love to hear him say that, just once in a game. Maybe as a 'perfect ending' or something

Like Chrono, silence works for him. Navi should try it...

 

[FatRabidRamboCow]

Link has spoken in a few games, mainly saying "Hey!" or "Come on!" in Windwaker and such.

 

[Yaotl]

Not really, Link is the silent contemplative hero who survives on luck and inhuman stamina, he isnt human though, what is he... a fearie? Depends on the game I guess. But I prefered what they did in windwaker, wind waker used expressions more than any other zelda game has, Link became a very deep character all through the emotions shown in his face, and for once he felt human, he looked scared and worried, and determined when he should, or amazed even.

In any case when it comes to a game like Zelda, that really is more about a general master plot than the interaction between characters then there is really no reson for the main character to talk. Let's just hope they don't try to make Link badass, part of what gives link bawls is that he doesnt need to show he has bawls, if you ask me Link has more bawls than Kratos.

 

[broadband]

well i think it wouldnt be bad if he could speak, if its done well