Poll: Silent Protagonists.

[Chased]

Depends on the game. Worked really well in Half Life 2, where everyone was telling Gordon to go do X thing a certain way and then when he'd accomplish said task they'll praise him and he just stares. It was almost satirical, added a bit of dark humor. Another somewhat silent protagonist that works is Link, even with dialogue options in the new Skyward Sword he still lacks a voice. Since I started playing Zelda games Link has a certain kind of voice in my head that I wouldn't want to be replaced by an actor/actress. Skyrim is another great example since it adds to the whole role playing as whoever you want element.

On the flip side, having a voiced character allows a deeper story to be told relating to the protagonist. An example would be Resident Evil 4 where Leon's past was revealed through dialogue. Another game with a solid voiced character was Deus Ex: Human Revoultion. He had a grizzly "I'm the Batman" voice which added to his persona of being a bad ass.

 

[ImperialSunlight]

Depends on the game, but more commonly silent. If a game has any role-playing elements at all, a silent protagonist works better so that you can imagine the character how you want (Legend of Zelda, Elder Scrolls, etc. ). Characters such as Hawke in Dragon Age II are okay but they can cause role playing to suffer, as it did in that game.

 

[Fishyash]

I don't really care. Voice/dialogue is simply a tool to express a character. Voice acting can also be rather time consuming, so it's understandable if you don't want a Protagonist to comment on everything or initiate a dialogue with the other characters.

Since you can express your character's feelings and create responses through something like a facial expression through other means, then you don't really need your character to talk really.

 

[Fireface]

It really does depend on the game, at times it just works having them not say anything such as Chell or Gordon freeman.

 

[The Funslinger]

silent protagonists are just lazy development.

Not particularly. I think things like that are a roleplay style of thing. You're meant to envision what your response is meant to be.

I also don't get why Master Chief is considered a silent protagonist when he speaks in cutscenes. Yeah, not in gameplay, but the same goes for a lot of characters who are considered speaking protagonists.

I think it just comes down to Halo being one of the quintessential FPS games and a stereotypical FPS thing is an unspeaking protagonist with no personality.

At least I find having him be silent in gameplay to the infuriating repetitive one liners some protagonists spout. I swear to god, as fun as the game is, if I hear the guy from Just Cause 2 say "son of Amia!" one more time, I'll break my television.

 

[go-10]

it depends really Nintendo is really good with silent protagonist and for good reason. Samus had been silent for years the minute she started speaking we all wished she would shut up, the same with Link in the cartoon at least that was proof enough he should remain silent, everyone else in the world can talk (voiced or otherwise) but some protagonist need to stay quiet

 

[SFMB]

Silent protagonist is way better. Usually, when the player character is voiced, it gives the production team the option to fuck up the story by putting idiotic words and decisions in the cutscenes for the guy you are supposedly controlling. Think back and if you haven't seen one cutscene in which (after slaughtering countless minions, finally reaching "the boss"), the player character gives a pause to allow the bad guy either get away or get in to a better position, all while rambling so stupid crap about "I cannot kill him for he is my father" or something similar... Better just let the environment to do this by breaking down, not making the protagonist an utter imbecil.

 

[Chemical Alia]

I don't mind either way. As long as the developers thought it out and made a clear decision, so the dynamic between the player and other characters is balanced and natural.

 

[CrazyGirl17]

Eh, it kinda depends. I like games like the Legend of Zelda and Chrono Trigger in which the hero doesn't talk... but on the other hand, I prefer the main characters to be vocal.