Daily Debate: Should Link Have Talked in Echoes of Wisdom?

So, apparently Link was going to be given some lines in Echoes of Wisdom. However, even with Princess Zelda as the main character, thus freeing up Link to have dialogue of his own as a non-player character, the developers made the decision to keep him silent. Why would they do this? Because, as it turns out, nobody knew what he should say. “I had Link talk a little bit… No matter what I made him say, it just didn’t feel right,” says Co-Director Satoshi Terada. “It felt really strange…” concurs Zelda Series Producer Eiji Aonuma.

Perhaps some of you agree with this sentiment shared by the developers. If no Link has had official dialogue that the audience can be privy to after so many years (although we often receive hints of Link explaining things in game or talking to other characters), what’s the point of him talking now? Or perhaps you are like me and felt really disappointed when you learned about Link’s role in Echoes of Wisdom. I am of the viewpoint that Nintendo should develop Link’s character as the series progresses. While there are little hints to who Link is as a person in this game, mostly courtesy of dialogue from his hometown Suthorn Village, I really wanted to know him better. I wanted to hear how he felt about the events of the story. I wanted to know if he was fine with Zelda stealing his cloak. Dialogue could have explained all of this and more.

I am ultimately satisfied with the decision to keep Link mute for most of the game however, since there was an actual reason given for it in the story. Providing a canon rationale for his silence satiated the irritated twinge that comes up for me when Link is only quiet for “player-insert” purposes. Still, upon finishing the game, I felt like the developers could have let us hear something. At the end of the game, Link does seemingly speak and the other NPCs jump back in shock. The implication that he has earned his voice back felt like an echo of Twilight Princess‘ ending. Midna’s true form was built up and foreshadowed throughout the story, and I felt like Link losing his voice was the same deal, especially because Lueberry remarks that the hero specifically hopes to earn back his voice through courageous acts. Link speaking at the end of the game was a satisfying payoff story-wise, but I think it would have been more satisfying if we actually got to see what he said.

What do you think? Should Link have talked in Echoes of Wisdom? What would he have said? Let us know in the comments!

Aubriel Eastman

Aubriel has been an avid Zelda fan since she was 13, when she discovered Twilight Princess. She loves writing screenplays and composing music, and is currently going to school for a BA in film. Aubriel is a staff writer for Zelda Dungeon.