Summary
Players may wonder why Link never speaks in theLegend of Zeldaseries, and there are some explanations as to why. One explanation was provided to players inThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, though players can’t be blamed for wanting a better one. After all,Breath of the Wildis a more recentgame, and any explanation given is likely more of a retcon than an actual reason as to why Link is a silent protagonist. Besides,there are many Links, and what is true for one isn’t necessarily true for another.
Perhaps the best reason to explain why Link is silent isa completely practical one from a gameplay stance. Alternatively, Nintendo may want to avoid a potential issue that could come from giving Link voice lines. Either way, it seems like Link will continue to be a mostly silent protagonist for one of these reasons.
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Link Does Talk, Just Not On Screen
The Legend Of Zelda Games Imply Link’s Speech Often
The easiest reason to explain why Link doesn’t speak aloud inZeldagames comes down to how speech is mostly handled in the series. Most characters don’t have fully voiced lines, and instead, their speech is shown in word bubbles. Link is shown in the same way when players indicate yes or no in certain situations, or ask for specific numbers of items at stores. Link may not get extensive lines, but its clear thathe is speaking in some wayto the other characters around him.
While Link does talk, it is undeniable that he is much quieter than those around him, usually saying just a few words in response. From a gameplay standpoint, this is simply becauseThe Legend of Zeldaisn’t an RPG, and dialogue isn’t a big part of the game. In-universe, this has been explained as Link being somewhat shy, at least in certain games.
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InThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, the fifth page of Zelda’s Journal, she reveals thatLink says he feels pressured to stay silentin order to appear strong. The full text — which can be read on theZeldaWiki— also clearly states that Zelda and Link are having a conversation, again confirming that Link does talk, just not on screen.
Voice Lines Risk Making Link Unlikeable
The 1989 Legend Of Zelda TV Series Famously Made Link Annoying
One reason Nintendo may shy away from giving Link voice lines is toavoid making him an unlikeable protagonist. After all, that exact thing happened once already whenThe Legend of ZeldaTV series from 1989 turned Link into a grating whiner. His catchphrase, “well, excuse me, Princess” has since become a joke online.
WithThe Legend of Zeldabeing such an important franchise for Nintendo, the choice to keep Link silent seems like a good call for brand integrity. Giving Link too much of a personality risks making that personality unlikeable. By keeping him mostly silent, players can easily slip themselves into his boots and project their own thoughts and feelings onto him. This makes it much easier for players to connect with Link than it might be if he was fully voice-acted in cutscenes.
