Quickies: M. Shadows speaks out about Link's voice.

Quickies: M. Shadows speaks out about Link's voice. 

Source: IGN, Youtube 

Sometimes you click on a video and actually hear something that actually makes sense. I just never expected to hear good video game logic coming from the mouth of the frontman of Avenged Sevenfold.  Here's the video in question, here. 

                              

I find much amusement at the notion that despite Greg Miller's boasting about HD graphics, M. Shadows just goes on to state that the reason why the Zelda series is popular is because of the core elements of the series. I also enjoyed hearing his thoughts on the overplayed notion that the game should have voice acting.  

Immersion is a large part of the gaming experience, and the key to immersion is the user's imagination. We all have a particular vision of what characters are like in books and video games. Once a voice actor comes into play, that particular vision is broken. "That's not how he sounds like in my head" is the most common thing heard when comparing movie adaptations of books, or animated versions of comics of manga. Granted there are times where this works out, but I agree with M. about there being some sort of statute or limitation with certain established characters. Particularly Link.

Link has almost no spoken dialogue in the game series, except for his grunts (not including the CD-i version). Prominent facial expression has only been visible since the series appeared on the Nintendo 64. Link's creator, Shigeru Miyamoto has said in interviews that his conceptualization of The Legend of Zelda, and of Link, was based on his childhood memories of books, movies, stories and personal experiences. He tried to make people identify with Link and have the opportunity to be heroes like the character.^[2][3] Although at the end of some games, Link becomes vastly talented in physical and magical arts, he usually starts off the game as a regular boy. On the origin of the name "Link", Miyamoto had this to say: "Link’s name comes from the fact that originally, the fragments of the Triforce were supposed to be electronic chips. The game was to be set in both the past and the future and as the main character would travel between both and be the link between them, they called him Link.”

 In the last eight years of me running this blog, I've discussed the arguments that people have for Link having a voice actor at least twice. I've said it before, and I'll say it again - If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

-Game On!