I guess it works well in more RPG-esque games, because more of the character is up to you to decide. Same applies, I guess, for more linear, character-defined games. However, if it is all about the character, I'd rather have one fully decided on by the developers. However, I am going to agree with the whole 'speaking from first person' idea. It would work as well as cutscenes.
Your thoughts on 'mute' protaganists
- Thread starter Christopher Waldron
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It really works in most cases where mute protaganists are used. The Half-Life and Bioshock games pull it off especially well. In fact, I cannot recall a game where a mute protagonist annoyed me.
"In fact, I cannot recall a game where a mute protagonist annoyed me"
I agree, although my character in GTA3 not talking annoyed me a bit, but then again I was younger then and had only really just entered the world of gaming then.
I agree, although my character in GTA3 not talking annoyed me a bit, but then again I was younger then and had only really just entered the world of gaming then.
It works for some characters and not for others, it works for Gordon Freeman because at this point I'm not even sure he's really human considering what he's capable of, I mean why does the G-man have such interest in him. The game continues to have so many unanswered questions you're left wondering any possibility, GF himself is a mystery, he doesn't need to speak because any thing he says would be trivial to his actions.
Master Chief is another character that sorta works for me, but unfortunately he does speak and never has much to say. MC is a likable character even for me which I'm not a major fan of Halo, but he's more or less a G.I. Joe action figure you would play with as a kid and fill in the blanks of how bad ass he is.
Jack from Bioshock is where this idea now fails, unlike his Big Daddy counterpart in BS2, he has absolutely no reason not to be able to speak, and considering all the revelations he goes through during the third act, him having nothing to say cheapened the experience. For me he was not a believable one man army type of figure like Gordon or Master Chief, so when it was brought up how he was created in a lab as some super soldier or sleeper agent, I was left rolling my eyes. If they could have at least left out that stupid M. Night Shyamalan/Scooby Doo plot twist, it would have served much better for Jack's credibility and the story.
Master Chief is another character that sorta works for me, but unfortunately he does speak and never has much to say. MC is a likable character even for me which I'm not a major fan of Halo, but he's more or less a G.I. Joe action figure you would play with as a kid and fill in the blanks of how bad ass he is.
Jack from Bioshock is where this idea now fails, unlike his Big Daddy counterpart in BS2, he has absolutely no reason not to be able to speak, and considering all the revelations he goes through during the third act, him having nothing to say cheapened the experience. For me he was not a believable one man army type of figure like Gordon or Master Chief, so when it was brought up how he was created in a lab as some super soldier or sleeper agent, I was left rolling my eyes. If they could have at least left out that stupid M. Night Shyamalan/Scooby Doo plot twist, it would have served much better for Jack's credibility and the story.
These misunderstandings happen. Hard to convey tone thru type, don't worry about itFoggy_Fishburne said:
I was just telling you how I like to play my main characters. I prefer playing the guy that shuts his mouth so I can talk for him.
And I just wanted to point out that that style of main character is just another narrative style, not the developers being cheap. ( Lazy and Cowardly are pretty strong words to throw at the narrative style I enjoy btw )
It is just an old school type of storytelling which dates back to the days when every game lacked voice artists and stories were told with rolling text. There is something old fashioned (and easy) about the silent protagonists.
A mute protagonist is, above all, safe for game developers. I don't think a mute helps you immerse yourself into the role of the character anymore than usual, however it avoids irritating the player with trashy dialogue and cg cut scenes. The developers do not have to waste time getting stellar voice acting and complicated animation sequences.
It is far braver to introduce protagonists who have proper voices and characters, and I feel more games should be prepared to attempt it now with the money and technology available these days. But I don't mind when they don't even try. I see it as the "default" concept for a game.
A mute protagonist is, above all, safe for game developers. I don't think a mute helps you immerse yourself into the role of the character anymore than usual, however it avoids irritating the player with trashy dialogue and cg cut scenes. The developers do not have to waste time getting stellar voice acting and complicated animation sequences.
It is far braver to introduce protagonists who have proper voices and characters, and I feel more games should be prepared to attempt it now with the money and technology available these days. But I don't mind when they don't even try. I see it as the "default" concept for a game.
It didn't bother me in Half-Life (1). Because Valve were too lazy to make any cut-scenes (or even a proper ending cinematic for that matter) you didn't expect to ever hear Gordons voice, and for a while it was fine in HL2 as well. Right up to the part where Alyx says "You don't talk much do you?", or something like that. To me that's like Valve saying "Yes, we're lazy bastards and proud of it". That was almost as infuriating as the ending (or lack of one).
Having said that I'll gladly admit HL1 is still the most enjoyable shooter I've ever played, and HL2 wasn't far behind. It's just that the lack of closure in HL2 makes me believe that Valve's main objective, besides making the best games they possibly can, is to annoy players as much as possible while still denying them a valid reason to complain.
Having said that I'll gladly admit HL1 is still the most enjoyable shooter I've ever played, and HL2 wasn't far behind. It's just that the lack of closure in HL2 makes me believe that Valve's main objective, besides making the best games they possibly can, is to annoy players as much as possible while still denying them a valid reason to complain.
I think it's lazy honestly. It saves the devs from righting up emotions, feelings, complexities, and personalities in general. It's just laziness. That was probably my main problem with Half Life 2. I didn't mind it so much with Crysis, because there was no room for emotion in amongst all those explosions.
Depends on how's it done. The silent hero from the original Persona and every single Link in legend of Zelda suck hairy meatballs. If you want to make a silent hero, you have to make sure that you give him lots of choices to make in-game, so that you can actually feel like you're building a character. In Zelda games, there are no choices. There's just zelda, ganon, and the mute Link, who's supposed to be a hero... A hero that we know nothing about apart 'he's brave'. Stop. That, as I said, sucks.
The perfect silent hero is the one from Dragon Age Origins and subsequently, the old Kotor games. He was silent, but you had so many dialogue and story choices that you built a personality no problem, and you can actually feel yourself or the person you're creating living through the screen.
About 'ready-made' heroes, well, it depends on the writers. I've seen many build up heroes with messed up character developments.
My opinion? The perfect hero, the medium between the two, is Shepard from Mass Effect. He's not silent, but he's not already formed. The only thing you have about him is the voice and some key points in his past, but you can build everything from there. Personality, brutality, moral code... The perfect indication of this is that they make you choose his first name, but the last name still stays Shepard. I love that.
The perfect silent hero is the one from Dragon Age Origins and subsequently, the old Kotor games. He was silent, but you had so many dialogue and story choices that you built a personality no problem, and you can actually feel yourself or the person you're creating living through the screen.
About 'ready-made' heroes, well, it depends on the writers. I've seen many build up heroes with messed up character developments.
My opinion? The perfect hero, the medium between the two, is Shepard from Mass Effect. He's not silent, but he's not already formed. The only thing you have about him is the voice and some key points in his past, but you can build everything from there. Personality, brutality, moral code... The perfect indication of this is that they make you choose his first name, but the last name still stays Shepard. I love that.
Gordan Freeman is everything that is wrong with mute protagonists, not in the sense that he just doesn't talk, but the fact that he is so popular and everyone considers him "badass" when he doesn't ever say a fucking thing! Everyone in the game praises him like they have stupid goggles on their heads and it is really undermined by the fact that you just don't respond. Seriously if it wasn't for the box art you wouldn't even know what he looks like. He is almost imaginary.
As for other mute protagonists, it really depends on the game. In RPGs it doesn't really matter since your choices at least give your character a sense of personality based on yours. In FPSs it can be quite dull unless your character actually participates in cutscenes.
As for other mute protagonists, it really depends on the game. In RPGs it doesn't really matter since your choices at least give your character a sense of personality based on yours. In FPSs it can be quite dull unless your character actually participates in cutscenes.
Let's see here...
Drakkenguard: main character gets a rune on his tongue that makes it so he can't actually speak through the entire game, but gets a badass dragon to compensate for it. Not entirely silent, as he speaks in the game BEFORE this happens, but it explains alot for the majority ofthe game.
Chrono Trigger: Crono might be one of the most recognizable silent protagonists out there. It's just a well made jrpg, and your allies do a good job setting the mood for you. Even without crono in your party, you still want to get him back because he's actually a character that speaks with his actions rather than words.
Chrono Cross: other than the fact that I though lynx was way cooler to play than serge, It's just not as good as trigger. It's like the game is trying too hard to say that it's the sequel to chrono trigger.
It doesn't really make a difference if your hero speaks or is mute, so long as the STORY is told in a manner that it actually makes sense.
Drakkenguard: main character gets a rune on his tongue that makes it so he can't actually speak through the entire game, but gets a badass dragon to compensate for it. Not entirely silent, as he speaks in the game BEFORE this happens, but it explains alot for the majority ofthe game.
Chrono Trigger: Crono might be one of the most recognizable silent protagonists out there. It's just a well made jrpg, and your allies do a good job setting the mood for you. Even without crono in your party, you still want to get him back because he's actually a character that speaks with his actions rather than words.
Chrono Cross: other than the fact that I though lynx was way cooler to play than serge, It's just not as good as trigger. It's like the game is trying too hard to say that it's the sequel to chrono trigger.
It doesn't really make a difference if your hero speaks or is mute, so long as the STORY is told in a manner that it actually makes sense.
If a man with a massive gun went around killing everyone and never said a word in his entire life not even his own mother, frankly, I'd have to consider him at least bit "badass".
I would like to see some voice technology added so that you can interact with people in the game like Fable 2 or Bioshock.