This concept is called the "Silent Protagonist" and is fairly common in JRPGs if I remember correctly. Chrono Trigger is the first one that comes to mind (in terms of semi-recent games), which was later followed with Chrono Cross doing the same thing. Other games that did it include the Zelda series (older ones) and the Breath of Fire series (I think, pretty sure 3 and 4 did it other than certain parts)The idea is to make YOU as the player think of what the main character is saying, rather than the game forcing his dialogue on you
games where the Principal character doesnt talk
Started by Aston, Mar 10 2005 12:42 AM
274 replies to this topic
#252
Guest_tfadius3
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Posted 29 November 2010 - 11:36 PM
I don't mind when characters don't talk. What bugs me is when every other character has voice acting and the main character doesn't despite having things to say. You guys know what I mean? When you can pick what they say, but there isn't a voice?
#253
stormsabrewin
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Posted 30 November 2010 - 10:08 AM
i dont really care about that much... i just think its funny wen the other characters talk for the main char... like golden sun, wenever all the char's r introduced to some one, of of them is like "he's isaac... im garet" and then the other 2 talk for them selves lol... i think i like wen the main char talks for him self better
#254
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Posted 02 December 2010 - 12:21 AM
Silent Main character is more or less Western RPG territory. I don't mind it, since the supporting cast compensates for that. (I.E. Yangus from DQVIII) or HK47 from KOTOR 1 and 2. etc. But there's always the risk that if the main character could talk in an rpg they could be an unlikable toolbox. I have not stumbled across that type of hero yet...
#255
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Posted 02 December 2010 - 03:20 AM
aah... the game with the mute hero. yeah i like it, breath of fire is the best example. no talk action only, it's like the hero is there coincidently and only for action side, let other character handle the story. cnc and starcraft also have mute hero, well we are the actual hero.
#256
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Posted 03 December 2010 - 01:06 AM
Silent Protagonist?Works really well in a game like Legend of Zelda series.However I think it was poorly executed in Chrono Cross.
#257
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Posted 06 December 2010 - 03:00 AM
i don't think it matters that much, mario doesn't speak in almost all of his games and they are still awesome games, but i think it would be nice to hear what the character would say with the choices you made them do
#258
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Posted 10 December 2010 - 02:38 AM
Its all an issue of immersion. Some games are made with a hero who goes out to fight a bad guy, with a specific story and certain things he has to do. Other games are more of a "this wacky thing happens to you. Now you're in another world and what will you do?!" and the focus is more on developing a character that fits you, ie the presence of little personality quizzes or other determiners that change how your game progresses. It all depends on the storyline and the franchise, some games leave it up to the player to lend a little creativity to character creation, while maybe others do it to avoid spending time/money on character development themselves. So it all depends on the game that its present in, sometimes its a good way to make the game work for any number of different players but other times its just apathy on the developers parts.
#259
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Posted 10 December 2010 - 05:18 AM
I think it really depends on the game. In shadow of colossus the main character never talks but it's my all-time favorite games. As long as the rest of the game is interesting, it's okay if the main character doesn't talk xP
#260
Guest_Mikamimi
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Posted 13 December 2010 - 04:27 AM
Caim, the main character in Drakengard, never talked because he gave up his voice in a pact with a dragon. It bothered me at first but then I got used to it.
#261
Guest_barsenalfan1
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Posted 13 December 2010 - 06:06 AM
games that dont talk, thats like food you cant eat. i dont like it at all
#262
Guest_Mandiblez
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Posted 15 December 2010 - 01:28 AM
Dead Space 1, Isaac doesnt talk. But that adds suspense to the game, not know what YOUR OWN CHARACTER is thinking. It was a pretty smart move by the developers, and I'll miss it when they take that away in Dead Space 2.
#263
Guest_sasuke887
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Posted 15 December 2010 - 03:42 AM
the game jak and daxter, jak neverd talked, it was kindof annoying but sometimes it was funny so on my opinion i would say i dont really care if they talk or not
#264
Guest_junior658
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Posted 18 December 2010 - 07:45 PM
I'm not sure. Sure i would love for the guy to talk, adding substance and all that. but 1) it gives the main character a sense of mystery and, 2) if his voice dont match what you expect then, idk, but i guess the mood would be a little diff. like Link in the Zelda series. Small voice, (elf) or macho voice (hero/savior/etc.)?
#265
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Posted 21 December 2010 - 06:50 AM
For my part i don't like it when the main character doesn't talk since I prefer to know how the character thinks and reacts. I also don't like the games where they only sa yes or no. It's better when they talk since they show more personality like that.
#266
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Posted 21 December 2010 - 10:50 PM
Games where the main character doesn't talk aren't so bad. Mario never talked and still doesn't talk to this day. Also Golden Sun is a great game with a good story line, and the main character Isaac doesn't talk.
#267
Guest_Moguri74
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Posted 26 December 2010 - 07:02 AM
I kind of agree with you, I like to get to know the character that I’m playing through his/her own words. At the same time though, there are some very good games in which you don't talk like in Zelda. If I had to choose though, I would prefer that the main character talks though because it makes the game seem more realThe thing in this topic is if you like or dislike if the hero talk or doesnt talk in the game. There are games like crhono cross, alundra, alundra2, where the hero doesnt talk? I dont.It like you are a ghost or you cannot talk by some kind of magic or somethingAnd there doesnt appear any part where at least he is talking with someone even in the endings. I like to have a hero with his own life. for ex. Final fantasy 8He talk about his life, and he has his own opinion because a hero has a stong paper in the game and he need to talk to express wath he feel.
#268
Guest_QuarterQueen
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Posted 26 December 2010 - 08:54 AM
I think it's cute sometimes. Like when Link doesn't talk I always think he just has amazing body language. Other times I wish the stupid character would just talk already.
#269
Guest_Straw-Hat Luffy
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Posted 26 December 2010 - 09:32 PM
I hate these kinda games but some of them are good like boktai for an example
#270
Guest_whoisme
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Posted 01 January 2011 - 03:12 PM
no i dont because you dont know whats happening with the speech
#271
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Posted 26 March 2011 - 03:19 AM
I like games both where the character does and doesn't talk. I think that some games pull it off well while others don't. I think that if the main character doesn't talk then the character can display their personality through body language, expressions, etc. I think one of my favorite examples is Dragon Quest 8. You could tell that the main character had feelings for the princess, by the way he acted. Sometimes actions speak louder than words, but only if the developers pay attention to detail.
#272
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Posted 26 March 2011 - 01:37 PM
I can see how it could be annoying, but I grew up loving paper Mario and found that a protagonist doesn't need to talk. His/ her actions and the world around them speak loudly enough as long as they are fleshed out well ( when they are not it is god awful). For me a hero is someone who doesn't need to speak, but rather has to act, often and consistently with how they've been shown up to that point. So no I prefer games where the hero doesn't talk as long as they're done right.
#273
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Posted 14 March 2012 - 05:17 AM
it really depends on the game. the LoZ series is a great example of a game where the main character doesn't talk, and it still carries a great story. on the other hand, a fire emblem game i've played (the one with Ike, can't remember the name) but the character talked, had his own life, and so on. so in the end, like i said, it really depends ^^
#274
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Posted 11 April 2012 - 11:35 AM
Persona 3 and Persona 4. The 'silent' protagonist but it's okay because they're both really cool looking. Instead of them speaking the game is told in 2nd person. e.g Fuuka is staring at you. Something like that. Very cool 
So in that case I like them cause all their other features make up for it.
So in that case I like them cause all their other features make up for it.
Edited by SparkAngel, 11 April 2012 - 11:36 AM.
#275
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Posted 17 April 2012 - 07:45 PM
Hmmm, I've seen a few, forgot the name, but it don't really make a lasting impression on me, beside it being unique for non-voiced main characters.
Anyways, I don't like them, too much. It doesn't sit well with me, since I'm more of playing the game for the story. Kinda leaves me out of the loop, with the other characters react to something but I don't know what.... just remembered a few examples - Dragon Quest Joker and Fossil Fighter - the sub-characters pretty much does all the talking and the main just nods and does other stuff.
Anyways, I don't like them, too much. It doesn't sit well with me, since I'm more of playing the game for the story. Kinda leaves me out of the loop, with the other characters react to something but I don't know what.... just remembered a few examples - Dragon Quest Joker and Fossil Fighter - the sub-characters pretty much does all the talking and the main just nods and does other stuff.
