Daily Debate: Does More Extensive Voice Acting Improve The Zelda Series Or Mess With Its Charm?
Posted on August 31 2024 by Sean Gadus
One of the biggest changes that Nintendo made to the Zelda series with Breath of the Wild was the addition of more extensive voice acting for key characters and cutscenes. While some Zelda games featured limited voice acting like Navi’s “Hey Listen” in Ocarina of Time or Midna’s gibberish in Twilight Princess, voice acting in games prior to Breath of the Wild was usually consisted of short sound clips for laughter, pain, and exertion. The decision to expand the role of voice acting in the series and the actual voice performances in games like Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom are still significant subjects of debate among Zelda fans.
With some distance from the original decision to expand the role of voice acting in the Zelda series, as well more time to reflect on the voice acting in Breath of the Wild, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, and Tears of the Kingdom, does more extensive voice acting improve the Zelda series, or does it mess with its charm?
While many discussions about voice acting in the Zelda series relate to the quality of the voice performances in games like Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom, I would argue against voice acting in the Zelda series on a more foundational level. One of the series’ biggest charms is how the games generally has its own direction (art style, plot, and world design) rather than being clear part of a single linear narrative. This unusual storytelling structure makes the Zelda series feel like a collection of interconnected mythology, with the basic story of a hero being told differently each time. The lack of extensive voice acting in the series meant that players were free to imagine or picture how the characters sound and speak with great freedom. On the other hand, some fans might argue that the expanded voice acting helps more clearly define the various characters in a game, and the voice acting might give more emotional weight to key story moments.
What do you think? Does more extensive voice acting improve the Zelda series, or does it mess with its charm? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Sean Gadus is a Senior Editor at Zelda Dungeon. His first Zelda game was Ocarina of Time, and he loves all of the 3D Zelda games from 1998-2011. He is currently replaying the narrative ghost story Oxenfree, and taking his first stab at playing Dark Souls. He wants to help build a kinder, more compassionate world. You can check out his other written work at The-Artifice.com.
